Energy industry officials say they need more than an hour to report oil spills, gas leaks

Energy officials: Time needed to report incidents

WASHINGTON — Energy industry officials say a bill that would require them to report oil spills, gas leaks and other incidents within one hour doesn’t provide enough time.

The energy industry is under scrutiny after a recent gas explosion in California and an oil spill in Michigan.

Officials told a House committee hearing Thursday that a requirement to report incidents within one hour to a national response center could lead to many false alarms.

The House is expected to vote Friday on a bill containing the notification requirement.

Industry officials say they want the federal government to force states to eliminate exemptions that allow state and local agencies to do digging work in the vicinity of oil and gas pipelines without notification.