New Fees for Pipeline Owners Approved by House Panel After Spill

A House panel approved legislation Wednesday that would impose fees on offshore pipeline owners to clean up decommissioned and abandoned infrastructure in federal waters.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement would impose an annual fee of $10,000 per mile for decommissioned pipelines in 500 feet or more of water, and $1,000 per mile for pipelines in less than 500 feet of water, under the bill (H.R. 2643). Democrats have also included the fee provision in their tax and spending package currently under negotiation.

The Natural Resources Committee advanced the measure in a 25-18 vote less than two ...