Pipelines 21st-century fossil fuel regulations in the United States

pipelines economical way transport large volumes of petroleum products. pipeline , hazardous materials safety administration within u.s. department of transportation responsible enforcing pipeline transport regulations @ federal level. regulations cover hazardous materials transported safety of pipeline itself. series of pipeline safety acts have been passed on years including pipeline safety improvement act of 2002; pipeline safety, regulatory certainty, , job creation act of 2011; , protecting our infrastructure of pipelines , enhancing safety (pipes) act of 2016. individual states have varying regulations transport of oil , out of state boundaries, limits pipelines can built.

protest against dakota access , keystone xl pipelines

as more pipelines built, oil companies profits , investments these companies continue increase. decrease in material costs outweighs net increase in cost of construction. increase in construction costs results largely increased labor , permitting costs. supporters of pipeline transport cite potential job creation, greatest being in construction. estimates job growth vary, , found exaggerated. little evidence has been found support idea oil prices either stabilize or decrease once pipelines constructed.

critics of pipeline transport of oil cite environmental , land rights issues. protests on keystone xl pipeline beginning in 2011 , dakota access pipeline have expressed these same concerns. native peoples have been active protesters. standing rock sioux of south dakota opposed construction plans of dakota access pipeline because ran through symbolically significant area, , expressed concern compromise source of drinking water. since pipelines have been built, multiple pipeline accidents have occurred, resulting in oil spills , contamination of surrounding environment. tribe not involved in planning route pipeline. these protests reflect ongoing struggle native american recognition in united states. in november 2015 president barack obama called stop construction of keystone xl pipeline. in december 2016 army corps of engineers prevented further construction on pipeline near standing rock reservation. on january 24, 2017 president donald trump signed executive order permitting completion of both keystone xl pipeline , dakota access pipeline. on march 24, 2017 permit granted.