Former Pipeline Safety Chief Brigham A. McCown Says Potential CPUC Decision Undermines Pipeline Safety

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The former federal chief pipeline regulator says Tuesday's recommendation by CPUC administrative law judges could have disastrous effects on Californians if accepted.

Former Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) head, Brigham A. McCown, has closely followed the CPUC's actions. A vocal critic of PG&E following the 2010 San Bruno Pipeline explosion, McCown now says the ALJs' recommendations should be immediately withdrawn.

"Blindly accepting these recommendations would only undermine safety, and that makes us all less safe," said McCown. Calling out the over $2.7 billion already spent by PG&E on pipeline safety improvements, McCown says the $1.4 billion fine does little to help Californians, and curbs further safety improvements, especially when nearly $1B would go to the California General Fund, and not to utility safety improvements.

"Disallowing safety upgrades made since an incident sends the wrong signal to the regulated community. It tells everyone not to spend a dime making the system safer unless ordered to do so." McCown says sending such a signal is "contrary to the basic tenants of safety."

"In order to ensure safety, the CPUC must come along side PG&E, and lead by example" according to McCown. One that "requires all sides to move beyond the finger-pointing. Instead, the CPUC must lead the effort, roll up their sleeves, and bring everyone together to improve safety for all Californians."

Appointed by the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, Brigham A. McCown served as the first head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in Washington, D.C. where he was responsible for overseeing two-thirds of all energy products transported by air, rail, truck, vessel, and pipeline.

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SOURCE Brigham A. McCown