Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines Meets with White House Staff
On May 1, 2024, members of the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines participated in a 30 minute meeting with White House staff from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Executive Office of the President (EOP). The OMB serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his or her vision across the Executive Branch. The EOP provides the President the support he or she needs to govern effectively.

The purpose of the meeting was to share concerns over the regulatory gaps that currently exist in the Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Material Administration’s rules, and to make recommendations for change that would help minimize CO2 releases and keep people safe from harm in the event of an accidental release.  Coalition representatives Lan Richart, Martha Ross, Kathleen Campbell and Rick Stuckey outlined Coalition concerns that included impacts to environmental justice communities, pipeline setbacks, Illinois geo-hazards, inadequate emergency response plans and corporate transparency.

The group left behind a full slide presentation and back-up materials. A full copy of the presentation can be viewed below.

Background
On May 22, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a notice of intent to undertake a rulemaking to improve the safety and oversight of CO2 pipelines. This rulemaking followed the completion of PHMSA’s investigative report for a pipeline rupture owned by Denbury Gulf Coast Pipeline, LLC. That rupture caused a 40-foot crater in the ground, lasted for four hours, traveled over a mile to the town of Satartia, caused the evacuation of 200 people and caused 45 to seek medical attention at nearby hospitals.

On February 2, 2024, PHMSA submitted its draft proposed rule on improving carbon dioxide safety to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  The contents of the proposed rule are unknown at this time, but the OMB review is the final stage before the proposed rule is released to the public (expected in May). As part of the final review process OMB and the Executive Office of the President have been holding listening sessions, in order to get input from stakeholders.