The U.S. Department of Transportation issued repeat warnings to Enbridge Energy Partners, owner of a pipe that leaked an estimated 1 million gallons of oil into southwest Michigan's Kalamazoo River, to address the safety of its system.
The Kalamazoo River oil spill comes as Congress was already holding hearings on a pipeline safety bill.
Standards for protection and maintenance of pipelines vary across the United States; more than half of the 165,000 mile of pipeline fall outside of "high consequence" areas, and require less vigilance. The pipeline that burst near the Kalamazoo River was one of these requiring lower standards. The location of high consequence areas is kept secret by industry and government.
Regulation of oil pipelines is overseen by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, which some say receives too much oversight and input from industry.
"The regulatory agency has given the industry too much authority in overseeing itself," U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek told the Detroit Free Press. A portion of the Kalamazoo River affected by the oil spill flows through Battle Creek. Schauer sits on the House committee with authority over PHMSA.
Thanks to Nina Misuraca Ignaczak
FULL STORY: Michigan oil spill has some asking: Are regulations too lax?
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie