FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025
CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (276) 289-1018, dan@appvoices.org
Late yesterday, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., introduced the Pipeline Accountability Act, a reintroduction of the formerly named Pipeline Accountability, Safety and Environmental Standards Act of 2025, which will make several improvements to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s authority and capacity to regulate fracked gas, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide pipelines and ensure public safety.
Key provisions in the bill include establishing an Office of Public Engagement tasked with coordinating outreach and communication with impacted communities, requiring older pipelines to be updated with modern safety features and requiring pipeline operators to share important safety information with the public. This is the second bill introduced recently that will take steps to reduce the risk pipelines pose to the environment and communities, following the Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025, sponsored by Sens. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Markey, and Reps. Scott Peters, D-Calif., and Troy Carter, Sr. D-La.
Statement by Government Affairs Specialist Quenton King
“We applaud Sen. Markey’s and Rep. Trahan’s Pipeline Accountability Act for prioritizing public safety and environmental stewardship. This legislation ensures greater transparency, robust community engagement, and critical protections for landowners and communities affected by pipeline routes. It is critical that the Senate pass this bill or include its important safety improvement provisions in a PHMSA reauthorization package, which Congress has been working on for several years.”
Statement by Virginia Field Coordinator Jessica Sims
“Since the Mountain Valley Pipeline became operational in 2024, residents continue to seek information about whether safety standards are being enforced. Expanding pipeline monitoring and opportunities for the public to make informed decisions about the welfare of their homes and families is critical.”
More Stories
