Regulations Slashed, Residents Affected? Leaking Pipes, Polluted Water!
Oil and gas pipeline safety oversight in the United States experienced a sharp decline at the start of President Donald Trump's second term. According to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), only 40 enforcement cases were opened between January 20 and the end of June 2025. This number is the lowest in two decades and represents a 68% decrease compared to the same period in Trump's first term eight years ago.
This decline occurred as the Trump administration reinvigorated the dominance of fossil fuels and rolled back several regulations from President Joe Biden's era deemed burdensome to the industry. PHMSA acknowledged that the slowdown occurred because they were revising their enforcement processes, including the method for calculating penalties and information disclosure, which officially took effect last May. "We didn't want to issue new cases while major changes were underway," said Emily Wong, PHMSA's Director of Government and Public Affairs.
However, from early June until now, only five new cases have been opened—far below the historical monthly average of around 17. This has raised concerns about weakened oversight of pipeline operators, which could lead to increased leaks or explosions. One example occurred in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, where a jet-fuel pipeline leak belonging to Energy Transfer LP in January contaminated seven private water wells, but has not yet been fully remediated.
While PHMSA claims to have taken decisive and swift action in this case and the oil spill in North Dakota in April, some in the public and industry watchdogs remain skeptical. Bill Caram of the Pipeline Safety Trust expressed concern that "when the industry feels unchecked, safety failures can increase, both in number and severity."
Source: (ayu-newsmaker)
