Oil & Gas Pipeline Oversight Called For

Michigan’s two U.S. Senators want more oversight of the oil and gas pipelines that run through Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters joined eight of their Senate colleagues to send a letter urging the White House to nominate a permanent administrator to lead the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The senators say the agency plays a vital role in protecting communities across Michigan from spills, and it needs to have a director. The most recent permanent administrator left the position last October, and still has not been replaced.

The letter says a permanent administrator ensures accountability, developing long-term plans and responding quickly when things go wrong.