Comment from Royal Graves

I hereby state my support for strengthening Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0046 as presented by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). 1.While the country is still reliant on gas, we must make its transport as safe as possible. oThe use of gas in our homes is dangerous for health and safety reasons, from the danger of fires and explosions to exacerbating childhood asthma and impeding cognitive development. 2.This proposal will protect both health and the environment. oWith safer pipeline protocols, there will be fewer large-scale leaks of greenhouse gases, the main driver of climate change. oMethane leaks can cause effects from dizziness and rapid breathing, to injury and deaths from fires and explosions. oThe policy adheres to Justice40, a policy set forth to promote environmental justice, because it protects people in low-income communities and communities of color, who are more likely to live in close proximity to pipelines. 3.Emergency response plans must be updated, and it is crucial to involve multiple parties, including but not limited to: pipeline operators, first responders, relevant government actors from the local to federal agency level, and local hospital systems. oThey need to be prepared for any incident along a pipeline. oOperators must take on the bulk of this responsibility via improved record keeping, realistic risk management, and regular maintenance of pipelines. This process should be redundant in order to spot any issues before a small mistake creates an unsafe situation. oThis will not only protect the health of community members but also increase safety precautions and protections for pipeline workers. 4.We cannot let a disaster like the one in Merrimack Valley happen again. oThis incident caused the evacuation of at least 15,000, loss of gas connectivity to nearly 10,000 homes for several months, 25 injuries including to first responders, and one death. PHMSA exists to ensure safety regulations are in place, making this policy paramount to its mission. This proposal can save lives and should be treated as such. I would like to see PHMSA finalize this rulemaking in such a way that public health, occupational safety, and environmental justice are at the forefront. This should be done as soon as possible to avert another disaster where policy has been lacking. Thank you for proposing this rule and for the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Royal S. Graves