Support for PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

October 7, 2025

The Honorable Ted Cruz
Chairman
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
254 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Todd Young
Chairman
Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
554 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
Ranking Member
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
254 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Gary Peters
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
428 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, Chairman Young and Ranking Member Peters:

The Damage Prevention Action Center (DPAC) is writing to express its support for the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, which seeks to strengthen pipeline safety and incentivizes states to adopt policies that will help reduce excavation damages to our Nation’s pipeline infrastructure and other vital underground utilities. As a coalition of energy, utility and construction industry leaders, DPAC members advocate for public policies and industry practices that protect America’s critical underground utility infrastructure and those who work and live near these important assets.[1]

Every year, dig-ins to buried pipelines and utilities cost our communities $30 billion – and according to the Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report,[2] the annual rate of damages to buried infrastructure in the U.S. has remained stagnant for most of the last decade. Each of the hundreds of thousands of yearly damages to underground utilities can disrupt businesses and families, cut off essential utility service, and can result in injuries and fatalities. As America’s infrastructure continues to expand, it is crucial that Congress pass legislation that safeguards our critical buried utilities and pipelines.

DPAC commends the bipartisan PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 for encouraging states to adopt leading practices in their damage prevention programs as part of the criteria PHMSA considers when states apply for damage prevention grant dollars. These leading practices include limiting exemptions to state damage prevention laws; requiring positive response before excavation; requiring newly installed underground facilities to be locatable; and requiring the marking of sewer lines and laterals. Critically, the PIPELINE Safety Act also requires PHMSA to consider whether a damage prevention program “engages in effective, active, and meaningful enforcement of State one-call laws, including the efficacy of fines and penalties.” The Common Ground Alliance’s most recent DIRT Report confirms that enforcement of state damage prevention laws is essential to reduce dig-ins to buried infrastructure.[3]

DPAC appreciates that the Senate Commerce Committee is considering this bipartisan legislation, and we also commend the similarly strong bipartisan bill approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last month—H.R. 5301—which includes provisions that would further strengthen damage prevention outcomes. While both bills share common goals, we believe certain elements of the House approach warrant adoption to maximize the effectiveness of the final legislation.

While Section 211 of the Senate bill requires states to “limit exemptions to State damage prevention laws,” we strongly urge the Committee to adopt the more specific approach found in Section 18 of the House bill, which directs states to “examine and limit exemptions to one-call programs to prevent common excavation damage incidents,” and lists specific categories of exemption. Municipal exemptions in particular represent a significant gap in many state damage prevention programs that could be closed with this legislation.

DPAC also encourages the Committee to consider the House bill’s explicit reference to technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) and enhanced positive response systems. Requiring standardized digital data of our Nation’s utility infrastructure will significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of construction planning and execution, resulting in tremendous cost savings on projects while reducing the risk of damages.

The PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 provides an excellent framework for advancing the integrity of our Nation’s energy infrastructure. With the targeted strengthening of exemption language to match the specificity found in H.R. 5301, this legislation will provide even greater protection for underground infrastructure and the communities that depend on it. DPAC looks forward to continuing our collaboration with this committee and Congress to pass comprehensive pipeline safety legislation that protects the underground utility infrastructure on which America relies.

Sincerely,

Sarah K. Magruder Lyle
Executive Director, Damage Prevention Action Center

[1] Damage Prevention Action Center members: https://damagepreventionactioncenter.com/members/

[2] CGA’s 2024 DIRT Report: https://dirt.commongroundalliance.com/Portals/9/Common-Ground-Alliance-DIRT-Report-2024.pdf

[3] CGA’s 2024 DIRT Report – Recommendations for Breaking Through the Damage Prevention Plateau: https://dirt.commongroundalliance.com/2024-DIRT-Report/Recommendations-for-Breaking-Through-the-Damage-Prevention-Plateau#mainContentAnchor