Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Wilfredo Caraballo & Assemblymen Peter J. Barnes, Jr., & John J. Burzichelli

ASSEMBLY PASSES CARABALLO/BARNES/BURZICHELLI BILL RAISING PENALTIES FOR GAS PIPELINE VIOLATIONS

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Wilfredo Caraballo, Peter J. Barnes, Jr., and John J. Burzichelli sponsored to enhance the safety of residents who live near natural gas pipelines.ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:
January 29, 2007

CONTACT:
Assemblyman Caraballo
(973) 350-0048
Assemblyman Barnes
(732) 548-1406
Assemblyman Burzichelli
(856) 251-9801
James Sverapa IV
(609) 292-7065

ASSEMBLY PASSES CARABALLO/BARNES/BURZICHELLI BILL RAISING PENALTIES FOR GAS PIPELINE VIOLATIONS

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Wilfredo Caraballo, Peter J. Barnes, Jr., and John J. Burzichelli sponsored to enhance the safety of residents who live near natural gas pipelines.

The measure (A-792) would allow the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to assess increased civil penalties for natural gas pipeline safety violations, to $100,000 from $25,000, for each day an operator is found in violation.

"While pipelines are considered a safe means of transporting energy products, they have the potential to cause serious harm if ruptured," said Caraballo (D-Essex). "As one of the most densely populated states in the country, it is in the best interest of our residents to ensure the most stringent penalties are in place for violators of pipeline safety regulations."

According to the national Office of Pipeline Safety, there are approximately 68,741 miles of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines in New Jersey - roughly 17,000 more miles than the national average. The sheer volume of pipeline in the state increases the propensity of severely dangerous accidents occurring, said Barnes, who cited three natural gas pipeline explosions the Township of Edison has endured over the past 15 years.

"In 1994, 1995, and again in 2004, we saw firsthand how devastating natural gas explosions can be to a community," said Barnes (D-Middlesex), who represents Edison in the Assembly and is the townships' former director of public safety. "It is essential to do all we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future."

The Caraballo/Barnes/Burzichelli bill also would increase the civil penalty from any related series of violations from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

"Whether cooking, doing the laundry, or heating a home, natural gas pipelines play a vital role in the daily lives of most New Jerseyans," said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). "However, unsafe pipelines cause a real threat to communities. We must ensure the highest possible safety standards are met."

The Assembly passed the measure 79 to 0. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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