2009-0210
Title
Proclamation: "National Pipeline Safety Day"
Body
P R O C L A M A T I O N
WHEREAS, on June 10, 1999, a pipeline leak caused a massive explosion in Bellingham, Washington, taking the lives of two 10-year old boys and an 18 year-old man, destroying a salmon stream, and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and economic disruption; and,
WHEREAS, even though pipelines are the safest method to transport huge quantities of fuel, and chemicals, pipeline incidents such as the 1994 pipeline explosion in Edison, New Jersey that left 100 people homeless, the 1996 butane pipeline explosion in Texas that left 2 teenagers dead, the 2000 pipeline explosion near Carlsbad, New Mexico, that killed 21 people in an extended family, the 2004 pipeline explosion in Walnut Creek, California, that killed 4 workers, and the 2007 propane pipeline explosion in Mississippi that killed a teenager and her grandmother are still occurring; and,
WHEREAS, in response to these tragedies and several other pipeline explosions across the Country, Federal Legislation was passed in 2002 to strengthen our pipeline safety regulations, passing the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, increasing penalty fines, improving pipeline testing timelines, providing whistleblower protection, and allowing for state oversight; and,
WHEREAS, in 2006, Congress reauthorized the 2002 law by passing the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act; and,
WHEREAS, there are presently over 2 million miles of pipeline in the United States, including a number of miles in St. Charles Parish, that are out of sight and therefore out of mind for the majority of individuals, local government, and businesses, leading to pipeline damage and general lack of oversight; and,
WHEREAS, National Pipeline Safety Day can provide a focal point for creating greater pipeline safety awareness; and,
WHEREAS, June 10, 2009, is the 10th Anniversary of the Bellingham, Washington, pipeline tragedy that was the impetus for many of the above mentioned safety improvements and would be an appropriate day to designate as "National Pipeline Safety Day".
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL AND THE PARISH PRESIDENT, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 10, 2009 AS
"NATIONAL PIPELINE SAFETY DAY"
V.J. ST. PIERRE, JR. CAROLYN K. SCHEXNAYDRE
PARISH PRESIDENT COUNCILWOMAN AT LARGE, DIV. A
TERRY AUTHEMENT PAUL J. HOGAN, PE
COUNCILMAN AT LARGE, DIV. B COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT IV
BILLY RAYMOND, SR. LARRY COCHRAN
COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT I COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT V
SHELLEY M. TASTET MARCUS M. LAMBERT
COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT II COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
WENDY BENEDETTO DENNIS NUSS
COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT III COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VII
NATIONAL PIPLINE SAFETY DAY.