Oil and Gas Pipeline Infrastructure and the Economic, Safety, Environmental, Permitting, Construction, and Maintenance Considerations Associated with That Infrastructure
Statement of
Paul W. Parfomak
Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Policy
Before
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
U.S. Senate
Hearing on
“Oil and Gas Pipeline Infrastructure and the
Economic, Safety, Environmental, Permitting,
Construction, and Maintenance
Considerations Associated with That
Infrastructure”
June 14, 2016
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
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Congressional Research Service
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Good morning Chairman Murkowski, Ranking Member Cantwell, and Members of the Committee. My
name is Paul Parfomak, Specialist in Energy Policy at the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS
appreciates the opportunity to testify here today about oil and gas pipeline infrastructure. In accordance
with our enabling statutes, CRS takes no position on policy or legislation.
Introduction
The United States’ pipeline network is integral to the nation’s energy supply and provides vital links to
other critical infrastructure, such as power plants, airports, and military bases. Recent growth of domestic
natural gas and crude oil production—primarily from shale—has resulted in an unprecedented expansion
and reconfiguration of this network.
From an energy market perspective, continued expansion of U.S. pipelines has the potential to improve
the efficiency of gas, oil, and refined products transportation—linking new producing regions with
traditional consuming markets more directly, with greater capacity and reliability. Such linkages may
lower average transportation costs and may reduce regional price differences for energy commodities.
Especially in the case of crude oil, they may also reduce the volumes shipped by rail, truck, and barge.
Pipeline expansion may also support jobs in energy production and pipeline construction, and may create
economic benefits among industries that rely on oil and gas as key inputs. However, the future operation
and expansion of the pipeline network also face significant challenges related to public safety,
environmental risk, and energy market economics.
Safety and Security
Pipelines are a comparatively safe means of transportation compared to other modes. Nonetheless a single
uncontrolled pipeline release can be catastrophic in terms of human life, property damage, and the
environment. Uncontrolled releases in Michigan, Arkansas, California, and other states have raised
congressional concern about pipeline risks and increased local intervention in pipeline development. Over
the last 15 years, Congress has acted repeatedly to strengthen federal oversight of pipeline safety and
security. Additional safety regulations are being finalized and new safety legislation is pending in the
Senate. Congress is likewise examining the federal oversight of pipeline security, addressing both
physical threats and the growing threat of cyber attacks. New safety regulations and evolving security
guidance are intended to reduce overall pipeline network risk, but their associated costs and their practical
impacts have yet to be determined.
EPA Emissions Rules
In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Clean Power Plan to regulate
greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. Last month, the EPA also issued new regulations to
reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from the oil and gas industries, including
pipelines. The Clean Power Plan may encourage natural gas-fired generation to replace coal-fired
generation and to firm up renewable power. Such an outcome could increase demand for pipeline capacity
and could potentially increase gas and power interdependency. Regulations to reduce pipeline system
direct emissions will likely affect how pipelines are operated and maintained, with implications both for
the environment and public safety. Taken together, these new EPA regulations may become a major factor
affecting U.S. pipelines—complicating policy debates about energy supply and influencing investment
decisions.
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Price Volatility/Financial Uncertainty
Energy markets are in a period of significant price volatility. In January, for example, the price of Brent
crude fell below $29.00 per barrel, dropping over 45% in about three months. Last week, Brent crude
traded back above $50.00. Likewise, since 2012, Henry Hub natural gas prices have fluctuated from
under $2.00 to over $6.00 per million Btu. Such price volatility creates financial difficulty for domestic
producers. It also adds significant risk premiums to capital investment decisions for pipeline developers.
The as-yet undetermined effects of new federal regulations create additional investment risk. One result
of these uncertainties may be greater caution among developers before committing additional capital to
new pipeline projects, or the cancellation of existing projects, such as the Northeast Energy Direct
pipeline, which failed to attract enough customers. The oil and gas sectors tend to have a long-term
perspective on infrastructure investment—often 20 years or longer—so short-term price volatility may not
change their long-term plans, but the timing and location of their pipeline investments may have
important implications for regional markets.
Public Perception
Public perception of pipeline infrastructure has long been a consideration in pipeline development, but its
importance seems to have intensified over the last several years. Public concern about pipeline safety has
prevented new pipeline siting in certain localities and increased development time and costs in others.
Controversy surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Constitution Pipeline are just two recent
examples of projects heavily influenced by public opinion. Even where there is federal siting authority,
state and community stakeholders retain many statutory and regulatory avenues to affect siting decisions.
Consequently, public perception is likely to be an ongoing priority in planning and policy related to
pipeline development.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee. I will be happy to elaborate on my
opening remarks and address any questions you may have.
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
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