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Ford Press Releases - Safety, 1968-1969
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4525573
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Ford Press Releases - Safety, 1968-1969
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D9, folder "Ford Press Releases - Safety, 1968-
1969" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D9 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
19 June 1968
11111
U. S. HOUSE
REPUBLICAN POLICY
COMMITTEE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
REP. JOHN J. RHODES, (R.-ARIZ.) CHAIRMAN
1616 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
TELEPHONE 225-6168
10
HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY
ACT OF 1968 - S. 1166
The House Republican Policy Committee supports the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety
Act of 1968, S. 1166, as it has been reported by the House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee.
This bill provides adequate Federal safety standards for the interstate trans-
portation of gas by pipeline and for pipeline facilties. It would close the safety
gap that now exists with respect to this important mode of transportation.
As reported by the Committee, S. 1166 contains the following major provisions:
1. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to establish within 24
months minimum safety standards for the gathering, transmission and
distribution of gas by pipeline for its storage and for pipeline
facilities used in the transportation or treatment of gas.
2. Each person engaged in the transportation of gas or who owns or
operates pipeline facilities has the duty to:
(a) Comply with the safety standards.
(b) File and Comply with a plan of inspection and maintenance.
(c) Permit access to records, make reports and permit entry or
inspection.
3. The Secretary of Transportation will enforce the standards with
respect to pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas subject
to the Federal Power Commission. Standards for all other pipeline
facilities and transportation of gas will be enforced by the Secre-
tary or by a State agency, including a municipality, that is certified
for that purpose.
4. A pipeline safety standards committee is established and a judicial
review of orders issued by the Secretary is provided.
Today, there are more than 800,000 miles of gas pipeline in the United States.
These lines range in diameter from less than 1 inch to 42 inches with 48 inch lines
under construction. Many of the transmission lines now traverse densely populated
areas and the distribution of much of the gas is handled by mains originally con-
structed for manufactured gas. This means that these distribution systems have been
(over)
in existence for many years and that some of the pipe presently in use is from thirty
to forty years old and perhaps much older.
Although 67 people have been killed in gas transmission accidents from 1950
to November 1967, the overall safety record of the transmission industry has been a
relatively good one. Many of the recorded deaths were attributable to accidents in-
volving trucks or other instrumentalities beyond the control of the pipeline operators.
Moreover, since 1935 there has been in existance and operating an industry safety
code created and developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the
U.S.A. Standards Institute. Secretary of Transportation Boyd has testified that,
"Few industries have devoted the time and attention to safety procedures as has this
one."
The safety record for the distribution systems stands in sharp contrast. A1-
though the information regarding past accidents is sketchy at best, there have been
major accidents in recent months that have given ample warning of the danger that is
present and the need for a step-up in gas distribution safety procedures. On January
13, 1968 there was a fire that engulfed in Queens, Long Island, an area equivalent to
an entire block. In this fire, 7 people were injured and 19 families were left home-
less. On February 19, 1968 there was an explosion in a rehearsal hall in South
Milwaukee, Wisconsin where 250 people had been located just 20 minutes prior to the
explosion. Explosions in Hastings, New York, Logansport, Indiana, Fort Worth, Texas
and St. Louis, Missouri have killed and injured a number of people and caused a great
deal of property damage.
The 63,000 miles of g athering lines located almost entirely in unpopulated
areas have presented no safety problems. This bill exempts these lines from coverage
until such time as the area through which a line runs becomes non-rural, as determined
by the Secretary of Transportation. Then, for the protection of the population which
is affected by the presence of such a line, the Federal safety standards will apply.
Due to the rapid growth of the industry and the population which it serves,
there is a need for a coordinated safety effort in the field of gas transmission and
distribution. This bill provides a sound basis for the introduction and implementation
of reasonable safety standards that will protect the public and help to insure the
uninterrupted transmission and distribution of a vital commodity that is, if impro-
perly handled, inherently dangerous to both life and property.
19 June 1968
⑉⑉
U. S. HOUSE
REPUBLICAN POLICY
COMMITTEE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
REP. JOHN J. RHODES, (R.-ARIZ.) CHAIRMAN
1616 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
TELEPHONE 225-6168
10
HOUSE REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY
ACT OF 1968 - S. 1166
The House Republican Policy Committee supports the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety
Act of 1968, S. 1166, as it has been reported by the House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee.
This bill provides adequate Federal safety standards for the interstate trans-
portation of gas by pipeline and for pipeline facilties. It would close the safety
gap that now exists with respect to this important mode of transportation.
As reported by the Committee, S. 1166 contains the following major provisions:
1. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to establish within 24
months minimum safety standards for the gathering, transmission and
distribution of gas by pipeline for its storage and for pipeline
facilities used in the transportation or treatment of gas.
2. Each person engaged in the transportation of gas or who owns or
operates pipeline facilities has the duty to:
(a) Comply with the safety standards.
(b) File and Comply with a plan of inspection and maintenance.
(c) Permit access to records, make reports and permit entry or
inspection.
3. The Secretary of Transportation will enforce the standards with
respect to pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas subject
to the Federal Power Commission. Standards for all other pipeline
facilities and transportation of gas will be enforced by the Secre-
tary or by a State agency, including a municipality, that is certified
for that purpose.
4. A pipeline safety standards committee is established and a judicial
review of orders issued by the Secretary is provided.
Today, there are more than 800,000 miles of gas pipeline in the United States.
These lines range in diameter from less than 1 inch to 42 inches with 48 inch lines
under construction. Many of the transmission lines now traverse densely populated
areas and the distribution of much of the gas is handled by mains originally con-
structed for manufactured gas. This means that these distribution systems have been
(over)
in existence for many years and that some of the pipe presently in use is from thirty
to forty years old and perhaps much older.
Although 67 people have been killed in gas transmission accidents from 1950
to November 1967, the overall safety record of the transmission industry has been a
relatively good one. Many of the recorded deaths were attributable to accidents in-
volving trucks or other instrumentalities beyond the control of the pipeline operators.
Moreover, since 1935 there has been in existance and operating an industry safety
code created and developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the
U.S.A. Standards Institute. Secretary of Transportation Boyd has testified that,
Few industries have devoted the time and attention to safety procedures as has this
one."
The safety record for the distribution systems stands in sharp contrast. A1-
though the information regarding past accidents is sketchy at best, there have been
major accidents in recent months that have given ample warning of the danger that is
present and the need for a step-up in gas distribution safety procedures. On January
13, 1968 there was a fire that engulfed in Queens, Long Island, an area equivalent to
an entire block. In this fire, 7 people were injured and 19 families were left home-
less. On February 19, 1968 there was an explosion in a rehearsal hall in South
Milwaukee, Wisconsin where 250 people had been located just 20 minutes prior to the
explosion. Explosions in Hastings, New York, Logansport, Indiana, Fort Worth, Texas
and St. Louis, Missouri have killed and injured a number of people and caused a great
deal of property damage.
The 63,000 miles of g athering lines located almost entirely in unpopulated
areas have presented no safety problems. This bill exempts these lines from coverage
until such time as the area through which a line runs becomes non-rural, as determined
by the Secretary of Transportation. Then, for the protection of the population which
is affected by the presence of such a line, the Federal safety standards will apply.
Due to the rapid growth of the industry and the population which it serves,
there is a need for a coordinated safety effort in the field of gas transmission and
distribution. This bill provides a sound basis for the introduction and implementation
of reasonable safety standards that will protect the public and help to insure the
uninterrupted transmission and distribution of a vital commodity that is, if impro-
perly handled, inherently dangerous to both life and property.
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
March 3, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., House Minority Leader
Every effort must be made to remove hazards from the job of the coal
miner, to the extent possible.
President Nixon's executive actions and his proposals in the area of coal
mine safety are directed at achieving that objective.
No action that is taken by this Administration or this Congress can restore
the lives of men who have died in coal mine accidents or whose lives have been
choked out by black lung disease. But we can do our utmost to try to prevent
such deaths in the future -- and we must.
President Nixon's Message to the Congress on Coal Mine Safety lays out the
guidelines for a comprehensive program of augmented coal mine safety measures.
I applaud his executive actions, including those to increase the number
of mine inspectors and to insist upon more stringent operating standards, to
establish cooperative labor-management programs at the mine level to reduce hazards
to miners, and to initiate planning grants to the states for their own upgraded
coal mining health and safety programs.
I also urge congressional enactment of the President's legislative proposals
in the field of coal mine safety, including the modernizing of mandatory health
and safety standards and the authorizing of additional and revised standards by
the Secretary of Interior subject to appropriate review.
# # #
O Olice Capy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
March 3, 1969
Statement by Rep. Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., House Minority Leader
Every effort must be made to remove hazards from the job of the coal
miner, to the extent possible.
President Nixon's executive actions and his proposals in the area of coal
mine safety are directed at achieving that objective.
No action that is taken by this Administration or this Congress can restore
the lives of men who have died in coal mine accidents or whose lives have been
choked out by black lung disease. But we can do our utmost to try to prevent
such deaths in the future -- and we must.
President Nixon's Message to the Congress on Coal Mine Safety lays out the
guidelines for a comprehensive program of augmented coal mine safety measures.
I applaud his executive actions, including those to increase the number
of mine inspectors and to insist upon more stringent operating standards, to
establish cooperative labor-management programs at the mine level to reduce hazards
to miners, and to initiate planning grants to the states for their own upgraded
coal mining health and safety programs.
I also urge congressional enactment of the President's legislative proposals
in the field of coal mine safety, including the modernizing of mandatory health
and safety standards and the authorizing of additional and revised standards by
the Secretary of Interior subject to appropriate review.
###