Pipe regulators' draft found to paint rosy picture

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/06/MNPQ1KVJNN.DTL


The nation's top pipeline regulators have produced a draft report on the state of the nation's gas-transmission system that misrepresents accident statistics, overstates the industry's track record, and omits key issues arising from the San Bruno explosion and other recent disasters, according to a copy obtained by The Chronicle.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood ordered the report in April in reaction to pipeline accidents in Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida, as well as San Bruno. A draft version was presented to a gathering of industry executives, government officials and two safety advocates in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 2. It is undergoing more review before it will be released, the pipeline agency said.

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"This report as currently configured is not credible," said Richard Kuprewicz, a pipeline safety consultant from Redmond, Wash. "It contains many errors of fact."

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"The crux of the issue" is to "build confidence" in pipeline safety, said Andrew Drake, a Houston natural gas utility executive representing the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.

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they have long way to go to "build confidence". telling the truth would help.

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1. kicking back to pg. 1

to annoy the Barons