On the recordJuly 26, 2011
I appreciate the thoughts of the gentlelady from Hawaii. Coming from Nebraska, where it's the Sand Hills and the sensitive area and the Ogallala aquifer, I want to make sure that the people in my State have the peace of mind and the confidence that the worst-case scenarios have already been modeled out and written into their plans. In fact, that's the whole premise of PHMSA. And so the analysis of a worst-case scenario spill is already part of the application. It's part of the environmental impact statement and the supplemental environmental impact statement. Furthermore, it's demonstrated its response plan in the event of the worst-case discharge, that the pumps will be stopped in 9 minutes and the valves will shut in 3 minutes. So the worst-case scenarios are actually part of the record so that the entities that have to make the recommendation to the President already have that determination. Then they'll use those facts and figures and models to determine what to recommend to the President. Then the President can make that recommendation. So I believe that this amendment is really superfluous and unnecessary. I reserve the balance of my time.
