Tag Archives: Regulation

Posted by Secretary Ray LaHood on January 3, 2012 at 7:04 PM EST

Ed note: This has been cross-posted from the Department of Transportation’s Fastlane blog

When we say at DOT that safety is our number one priority, we are not kidding around. And today, as part of that important goal, President Obama signed into law the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act.

Last April, following several fatal pipeline accidents, we called upon U.S. pipeline owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work. We also convened a Pipeline Safety Forum with state officials, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss steps for improving the safety and efficiency of America’s pipeline infrastructure.

In one of their final actions for 2011, the House and Senate passed a pipeline safety bill consistent with the legislative proposal we submitted to Congress last year. This legislation gives the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an important part of DOT, stronger enforcement tools and increases civil penalties for pipeline operators who do not meet safety regulations. It’s another terrific step forward for greater pipeline safety.

Not only will this legislation help keep America’s communities safer; it also helps give pipeline operators the certainty they need to run their systems more effectively.

To advance pipeline safety, the bill doubles the maximum fines that pipeline operators face for safety violations. The Bill requires PHMSA to issue new pipeline safety standards requiring operators to install automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves and excess flow valves in new or replaced transmission pipelines. As U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller said, “Communities can rest a little easier knowing that Congress has implemented tougher safety rules.”

The bill authorizes PHMSA to award $110 million in safety-related grants each year. These include state damage prevention programs, technical assistance to local communities, emergency response training, and one-call system improvements. And PHMSA is authorized to add a number of new pipeline inspectors to support its investigation and enforcement obligations.

To promote regulatory certainty for the pipeline industry, the new bill prohibits PHMSA during a two to three year Congressional review period, from issuing regulations establishing leak-detection requirements or expanding integrity management requirements beyond high-consequence areas. However, this restriction would not apply if a condition poses any risk to public safety, property, or the environment.

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee observed, “By providing greater regulatory certainty, the bill will help create a better economic environment for U.S. businesses to create jobs.”

This bill is a win for safety and a win for America’s communities. And, by signing it into law on the first business day of the new year, President Obama has sent a clear message that this Administration believes we can achieve greater safety and stronger economic growth at the same time.

I can’t think of a better way to start 2012.

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Getting the facts straight on regulation

11/27/2011 Nativegrl77 2 Comments

a Bloomberg News analysis found that the Obama administration has passed fewer regulations than George W. Bush had at this point in his presidency — and on top of that, they’ve come at far lower costs to the economy than the annual high mark for regulatory costs set by the first President Bush, or regulatory costs in President Reagan‘s last year for that matter.

It’s funny, because a favorite theme from Republicans these days is that the President is passing an exorbitant number of regulations at crippling costs. John Boehner has said it’s “misguided” for the President to be “imposing so many new rules with such enormous costs.” Rep. Eric Cantor has said President Obama should “reevaluate his position on regulations.”

This news kind of makes all those claims about “job-crushing government regulations” seem like what they are: political talking points with no basis in the truth.

Let’s take a quick look at what this administration has actually done regulation-wise:

— President Obama has taken huge steps to reduce regulatory burdens and costs, and to make regulations more transparent. He signed a landmark executive order requiring agencies to develop tools to cut ineffective, burdensome regulations; issued a memorandum directing agencies to provide taxpayers with easy, comprehensive access to regulatory information; and has, for the first time ever, required those agencies to actually engage with the folks who would be affected by a potential regulation before they propose it.

— This administration has made it a priority to do away with the burdens of unnecessary regulations. So far during this administration’s tenure, tens of millions of hours of regulation-related paperwork have been eliminated, saving businesses hundreds of millions in related costs. And the President initiated a plan to roll back hundreds of burdensome, unnecessary regulations – all told, this overhaul will save businesses more than $10 billion in the next five years. An example of one of the regulations getting cut? An EPA regulation defining milk as an “oil.” This change is going to save the dairy industry $1.4 billion in the next decade.

— The regulations that the President has put in place have filled gaps, closed loopholes, and protected taxpayers. Wall Street reform closed the regulatory gaps that allowed banks to grow “too big to fail” in the first place. And it puts consumer protections in place to make sure financial institutions can’t continue the deceptive and abusive practices of the past — shifting interest rates, unfair late fees, and other hidden charges.

Here’s what it comes down to: This administration is in favor of smart regulations that protect middle-class families and consumers, and against burdensome ones that don’t do anything but waste time and taxpayers’ money.

And this campaign is committed to spreading the truth — not baseless attacks. So help us do just that: Get the word out about how wrong Republicans are on the President’s regulatory record.

Share this article on Twitter: http://my.barackobama.com/Bloomberg-Analysis-TW

Or, just forward this email.

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O’Malley Dillon
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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wicked weather Wednesday … &some News

11/02/2011 Nativegrl77

featured photo by Nick Lippert

just another rant … dang it’s cold

I received a comment in response to an article about Government regulations which I appreciate

HIM: Submitted on 2011/11/01 at 11:32 AM |

In reply to Stopping Obama/any President …and Regulatory agencies such as EPA, HHS, from issuing demands upon the people which will hurt us……kill our economy « Ordinarycitizenextraordinarytimes Blog.

ME:re: Getting the facts straight on regulation.
What we need are MORE Regulatory agencies doing their jobs … period
No disrespect, but the notion that there is over or excessive regulation going on in a time when lack of it created our … the USA financial crisis , it created the BP spill and tell me you have not forgotten the Massey Mine disaster have you? There are things that need strict guidelines and most parents want Clean Air, Clean Water and not only affordable health care but some of us would actually pay a smidge more to make sure that food, flights and anything else that seems too big to handle for an individual can be by the Government and not privatized. If, folks believe privatization only creates more jobs please remember that it also means your cost for services will go up and isn’t that what folks are already complaining about now? An increase in insurance premiums would be just a start. I like having firefighters, cleared roads, police, the EPA and FEMA available and they are all worth paying the Government to act for everyone not just a select few. I will not forget the man who failed to pay his protection fee which resulted in his house burning down; that is what privatization does. I expect the Government to be our children’s watchdog for their health and our future. I would say corrupt regulators need not apply and while you and the Heritage Foundation have a different attitude about regulations, it is my contention that your opinion should not be driving what Republicans in Congress do or say, especially in both Chambers of Congress. A lack of Regulation along with people who got used to excessive behavior drove our economy to the edge of disaster. The Grover Norquists of the world and Heritage foundation like organizations just do not understand that they only represent a small percentage of voters and after having read your 10/12 article; it definitely sounded like the Heritage Foundation would love to go around the voter if they could. I find it almost amusing to read how conservative groups rationalize their feelings about regulations. Then again, it just puts the light on how out of touch your group is and if this is the meme being pushed on members of Congress who are not only supposed to be working for the people paid by we the people, truly a sad example of what being members of Congress means.
The quote below is from ordinarycitizenextraordinarytimes

“Holding Congress Accountable- Congressional approval of proposed new rules would be an important step toward holding both regulators and Congress accountable for the regulations imposed on the private sector. It is no panacea for the problems of excessive regulation. But, especially if combined with other steps, it would be a significant step forward.”

Sir, again, a lack of Regulation with a big R is just the tip of the sinking ship and though I totally get Capitalism … I believe it should be with a lower case c, which includes small businesses, and those who aspire to get ahead not just or only for big C as in Corporations who more often than not seem to send opportunities and jobs overseas to avoid regulations which is harmful to everyone.