Communication could be improving between residential and commercial developers and pipeline operators. Legislation requiring more is one step away from final passage. The House bill got Senate committee approval Wednesday. The measure refers to existing pipelines. Tom Fitzgerald is with the Kentucky Resources Council. He said it’s not about adding regulations or lessening restrictions.
“There’s nothing in here that prevents local communities with planning and zoning from going a step further and saying we don’t want developments that have a difficulty in evacuation from being placed in proximity to pipelines. Just common sense,” said Fitzgerald.
A natural gas pipeline explosion near Danville in 2019 killed one person and injured six. Owensboro GOP Representative D.J. Johnson said the Commonwealth has some 6500 miles of natural gas pipeline.
Johnson noted these lines of communication are important.
“As more development gets closer to pipelines, populations density grows, there are additional requirements, operational maintenance requirements for the pipeline operators on those pipelines. And if they don’t know about developments coming in, they may not be able to make the changes to the pipeline necessary to meet federal requirements,” said Johnson.
The legislation was amended in the House to include hazardous liquid pipelines. The bill easily passed the House and now goes on to the full Senate.
