Senate Passes PIPELINE Safety Act as Industry Leaders Push House to Follow
According to Trenchless Technology, leaders from the Damage Prevention Action Center (DPAct) traveled to Capitol Hill in May 2026 to advocate for stronger underground utility protections, following the Senate’s unanimous bipartisan passage of the PIPELINE Safety Act.
Legislative Push and the Stakes for Underground Infrastructure
The Senate-passed PIPELINE Safety Act reauthorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline safety program for five years and includes provisions aimed at tightening excavation damage prevention. One key element limits exemptions to participation in the 811 call-before-you-dig system. DPAct members held meetings with 42 Members of Congress, staff, and agency officials during the Capitol Hill visit, pushing for the U.S. House to pass its companion legislation, the PIPES Act of 2025, and advance a reconciled final bill to the President.
The scale of the problem driving this legislation is significant. According to Common Ground Alliance (CGA) data cited in the article, nearly 200,000 buried utility damages are reported every year in the United States, affecting power, water, internet, and natural gas lines. “Every three minutes on average, a buried utility is hit, creating risks for workers and communities nationwide,” said Sarah K. Magruder Lyle, CGA president and CEO and DPAct executive director. Magruder Lyle called on the House to pass the PIPES Act, noting the legislation “supports the Nation’s energy dominance agenda while protecting the tens of millions of miles of underground infrastructure that Americans rely on every day.”
What It Means for Subcontractors
- 811 compliance is getting stricter. The PIPELINE Safety Act limits exemptions to the 811 system, meaning excavation contractors who have relied on carve-outs may soon lose that flexibility. Make sure your crews are calling 811 on every job, every time.
- PHMSA oversight is being extended and strengthened. A five-year reauthorization signals sustained federal attention on pipeline safety. Subcontractors working near buried utilities should expect continued or increased regulatory scrutiny, not a rollback.
- Watch for the House PIPES Act. Final legislation isn’t law yet. Once the House acts and both chambers reconcile their bills, new damage prevention mandates could move quickly from policy to field requirement. Start reviewing your damage prevention procedures now, before enforcement begins.
- Documentation matters more than ever. With nearly 200,000 reported utility strikes annually, regulators and project owners are under pressure to show compliance. Detailed pre-dig records, locate requests, and incident reporting will be your best protection if something goes wrong on site.
