Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 10, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke statement on pipeline safety bill

"The effort to pass a strong and meaningful pipeline safety bill does not end with the House's action today. Options remain open to get a bill through Congress this session or possibly next.


"I will work closely with the Washington delegation as well as the leaders of the House and Senate to get a strong law passed.

"We cannot allow any more tragedies like those that occurred in Bellingham and New Mexico. With some 20,000 miles of underground pipelines carrying petroleum and natural gas in Washington, we remain vulnerable to other accidents.

"Congress must pass a law imposing the strictest standards for issues such as operator training and certification, leak detection and accident preparedness and response."

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive