The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Obama Administration wants more restrictive pipeline safety regulation in response to the gas explosion in California and the Michigan oil spill. "The proposal follows several accidents, including last week's huge gas explosion in suburban San Francisco, that have called attention to the nation's aging pipelines and how they are monitored. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said his department 'needs stronger authority to ensure the continued safety and reliability of our nation's pipeline network.'"
You can find a copy of the proposed legislation here. But how do these accidents relate to the elimination of the exemption for natural gas gathering lines in rural areas contained in the bill?