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As the new home of NMPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Mexico can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release. 

Pipeline accidents like the one in Carlsbad are not isolated incidents, according to an analysis of pipeline spills in New Mexico by the New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) Education Fund. Joined by Citizens for Safe Pipelines, a group based in Placitas, the groups released a NMPIRG Education Fund report entitled, "Preventing Accidents: Improving Pipeline Safety in New Mexico" which details the state of New Mexico's pipelines and offers ways to improve safety.

"Aging infrastructure, lax safety standards, and weak oversight and enforcement have turned New Mexico's pipelines into accidents waiting to happen," said Jennifer Taylor, Environmental Advocate with NMPIRG Education Fund, "Tragic accidents are preventable, but only with stronger safety standards and better enforcement."

The report "Preventing Accidents: Improving Pipeline Safety in New Mexico" revealed spills from New Mexico's pipelines are common and found states like Washington have implemented tougher safety standards and programs. New Mexico has 13,000 miles of intrastate natural gas pipelines - enough to stretch from Albuquerque to Bombay, India.

The report's major findings are:
· Since 1985, 267,299 barrels (over 11 million gallons) of oil, gas, produced water and condensed gas have spilled from New Mexico's pipelines. Nearly 80% of this volume was spilled oil.

· 84% of the amount spilled was completely lost to the environment and unable to be recovered (226,660 barrels or over 9.5 million gallons).

· Corrosion caused 48% of pipeline accidents in New Mexico, the largest single cause of spills from pipelines.

· None of New Mexico's regulatory bodies have a complete map of all the pipelines in the state readily available for the public. Only, the Public Regulation Commission's pipeline division has a hand-drawn map on its wall. Nationally, the Pipeline Mapping System is similarly inadequate. As of January 2001, they had only 45% of total pipeline mileage received and shown on their maps.

"Pipelines are near people; they run through neighborhoods and near schools and hospitals. We have to make them safer," said Carol Parker, Director of Public Affairs for Citizens for Safe Pipelines. "In meeting our energy needs, the Bush energy plan calls for more pipelines without calling for tough safety standards. We should not sacrifice public safety for more pipelines."

Each year, oil pipelines spill an average of 11 million gallons, an amount equivalent to the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez. Pipeline accidents are increasing - 4 % per year between 1988 and 1998. According to the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), from 1988 through 1998, 226 people died and 1,030 people were injured in major pipeline accidents. Natural gas pipelines were responsible for three-quarters of these fatalities and injuries. Major pipeline accidents also caused $700 million in property damage during the same ten-year period.

The Equilon Pipeline Company is currently seeking to reopen a 43-year old, crude oil pipeline, which runs 406 miles from Jal, NM to Bisiti, NM. The crude oil pipeline would be converted to take refined fuels such as natural gas. Citizens have expressed concern regarding this proposal, since most pipeline accidents in New Mexico are due to corrosion of old pipelines. The old pipeline is exposed in over 20 areas and runs through the parking lot of the Placitas Community Center and within approximately 200 feet of the property of the Placitas Elementary School. In addition, the ten-mile area from the Sandoval County seat to the village of Placitas has experienced three major pipeline accidents in the last four years.

"The concern for Bernalillo Schools is for the safety of the children. The pipeline being so close to the elementary school is a constant reminder that the children may be in harm's way," said Helen Maker, Public Relations Director for the Bernalillo Public Schools. "We support measures that would replace the old pipeline with a new, safer pipeline."

New Mexico legislators introduced several bills to address pipeline safety in the 2001 Legislative Session. Several of them were memorials that asked the federal government to improve safety standards. In Washington State, where a pipeline accident similarly disastrous as the Carlsbad accident recently jolted the public, the state legislature has passed significant pipeline safety reforms. New Mexico state policy makers, in contrast, have been slow to act. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission recently ordered a study and review of New Mexico's pipelines due out in September.

NMPIRG Education Fund makes the following recommendations for improved pipeline safety and accountability:

1) Prevent Pipeline Disasters

Require Better Monitoring: By requiring regular integrity testing of pipelines, better training and oversight of staff and complete mapping and safety data from pipeline companies.

Require Safer Pipelines: By requiring double-walled pipelines especially in high consequence areas, state-of-the-art leak detection systems and automatic shut off valves, minimum setbacks for high-risk areas for pipelines larger than 8 inches and digging up and inspecting pipelines more than 20 years old.

2) Hold Pipeline Companies Responsible for Accidents: By establishing mandatory fines and requiring strict and thorough safety reporting from companies.

"While these bills indicate a willingness on the part of the state to improve pipeline safety, they do not go far enough to fully protect the health and safety of New Mexicans," said Taylor. "New Mexico can and should do more to improve pipeline safety. We hope the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will consider our recommendations to make pipelines safer in New Mexico."