New Emergency Valves on Pipelines to Avoid Disasters

U.S. Officials adopted a new rule that required companies to install emergency valves that would shut off the flow of oil, natural gas or other hazardous fuels if the pipelines rupture. This rule aims to reduce the number of deaths and environmental damages from oil and gas pipeline failures.

There has been resistance to this rule due to expenses and the possibility of accidental shutting off fuel supplies, but these pipe installations would generate numerous advantages. It would protect against large methane releases, and prevent people from harm by pipeline explosions. The new rule is not comprehensive; it does not include old pipelines but rather new construction or during replacement operation, and the rule does not include standards of equipment that can detect when and where leaks occur, which can cause faulty leak detection systems.