WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the United States Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has awarded two grants, totaling $1,752,293 to research and improve the safety of pipelines in Ohio.
“Pipelines run through communities across the country, sometimes right through families’ backyards. That’s why we must ensure that public utility lines are as safe as possible,” said Brown. “This funding will give the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) and Edison Welding Institute (EWI) the opportunity to make a difference in the area of pipeline safety.”
The two grants will go toward:
- $1,023,843 to Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to help fund a portion of the state’s pipeline safety program.
- $728,450 to Edison Welding Institute, Inc. (EWI) in Columbus to assess the nondestructive examination (NDE) to detect, size, and characterize defects and damage in non-metallic pipe (NMP).
PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Core Research Program focuses on developing new technologies or products to advance pipeline safety. The program also provides the new knowledge gained during research to pipeline decision makers. The awards will be provided to recipients selected in response to PHMSA’s solicitation for proposals that could best address issues related to pipeline threat prevention, underground gas storage, liquefied natural gas, and pipe materials. To learn more, please visit https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.