The Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act was introduced in Congress in April as a response to the gas pipeline explosion in Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts, last year that resulted in Leonel Rondon’s death and the destruction of several homes.

The federal bills (H.R. 2139/S. 1097) enact guidelines to increase pipeline safety by specifically requiring licensed professional engineers to approve plans for any “covered task,” which is defined in existing law as any activity, operations or maintenance, that is carried out on a pipeline and “affects the operation or integrity of the pipeline.” Additionally, the legislation does not allow companies to apply for waivers.

Currently, the legislation needs a hearing in either the House or the Senate, and NSPE government relations staff are contacting committee members to try to get this accomplished. NSPE members can contact their elected officials to express support for the legislation.

This federal action follows the lead of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who signed emergency legislation in response to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the explosion. The NTSB found that a professional engineer was not required to review or approve construction plans for the pipeline, and the board called for Massachusetts to immediately end this exemption.

NSPE has challenged two automakers and federal regulators over public safety issues in the companies’ development of autonomous vehicles. On May 14, NSPE questioned petitions from General Motors and Nuro Inc. that seek exemptions from vehicle safety requirements (such as having a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and a gearshift) for the autonomous vehicles they are developing.

In reviewing the petitions filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NSPE found a lack of detail regarding how the companies’ vehicles will actively and successfully protect the general public in a variety of scenarios.

NSPE urged NHTSA to require more details from both companies before granting the requested exemptions. NSPE also strongly recommended that professional engineers be placed in responsible charge of all aspects of autonomous vehicle development and deployment that affect public health, safety, and welfare.

Learn more about NSPE’s actions on autonomous vehicle development.