Obama Budget Includes Money for More Pipeline Inspectors

President Obama's budget proposal today includes an increase of nearly $75 million in funding so that states can ensure higher pipeline safety standards in the wake of the 2010 San Bruno explosion, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said.

The president's budget calls for $276 million for PHMSA, of which $177 million would go toward pipeline safety.

Most notably, the budget includes a request to add 120 new pipeline inspectors nationwide. The California Public Utilities Commission, which gets funding from PHMSA, was criticized after the PG&E pipeline explosion in the Crestmoor neighborhood because it only had nine inspectors, who were each responsible for overseeing the safety of an average of 11,000 miles of pipeline.

The CPUC has since added nine more safety inspectors.

The Pipeline Safety Trust applauded the funding increase.

"In multiple hearings before Congress over the past two years the Pipeline Safety Trust has consistently argued that PHMSA needs more personnel to get the job done effectively and to investigate pipeline incidents," the organization said in a statement. "We are heartened to see that our beliefs for improving pipeline safety in this country are now reflected in the Obama Administration's pipeline safety budget request."

The increase in pipeline safety funding isn't final, however. Congress has to approve Obama's budget, and there will likely be changes made.

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