Pipeline operators gain legal shield for safety disclosures—residents lose lawsuit access
S. 2979 — PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing Act · Filed by Jerry Moran (R-KS) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Oct 7, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary system for pipeline operators, safety experts, and public advocates to share pipeline safety data and lessons learned without fear of legal punishment. The system will be governed by a 15-member board (5 government, 5 industry, 5 public safety advocates) and managed by a third-party data firm. Shared data will be kept confidential and protected from lawsuits and regulatory enforcement, except for criminal violations or data already required to be reported.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a confidentiality and litigation-exclusion framework that protects pipeline operators from liability for safety data they voluntarily share. While framed as a safety-improvement measure, the core effect is to create a safe harbor for operators to disclose hazards without legal consequence.
What the text implies
- Operators can disclose known safety risks to the VIS and remain shielded from using that same data as evidence in private lawsuits or regulatory enforcement, even if the data shows a pattern of negligence.
- The Governing Board's supermajority requirement (11 of 15 members) means industry and government together (10 members) can block disclosure of safety findings, even if public advocates object.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
pipeline operators (gas transmission, gas distribution, hazardous liquid); pipeline contractors and service providers; third-party data management firms (appointed by Governing Board)