WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), along with Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY), introduced the bipartisan Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act, comprehensive legislation designed to overhaul pipeline safety, emergency response, and transparency nationwide—reforms driven directly by the failures exposed following the Sunoco Twin Oaks jet fuel leak discovered on January 31, which contaminated at least six private wells in the Upper Makefield community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Named for the Wojnovich Family, who first raised the alarm, this bill delivers the strongest pipeline safety reforms in more than a decade and ensures communities nationwide never face the uncertainty, delay, and lack of transparency that Upper Makefield families experienced.
From the moment the leak was confirmed, Fitzpatrick led a relentless federal response: urging full shutdown of the pipeline, demanding independent testing and complete remediation, pressing PHMSA, DEP, EPA, and Energy Transfer for answers, and working closely with the Mt. Eyre Neighborhood Resident Task Force to protect families living with uncertainty about the safety of their water and homes.
The Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act is the direct result of those efforts and the systemic failures exposed in the Twin Oaks leak.
Key Provisions of the legislation:
- Modernizes aging pipelines through a new federal grant program to replace or upgrade high-risk hazardous liquid lines.
- Expands public transparency by requiring DOT/PHMSA to overhaul the Pipeline Viewer so families can easily access leak, inspection, and remediation data.
- Protects homebuyers with mandatory disclosure of nearby pipelines, their contents, operators, and incident history before any property sale.
- Strengthens emergency response by requiring localized emergency alert systems and updated, enforceable response plans.
- Improves leak detection and water testing with mandatory in-person sampling and enhanced inspection requirements for older or repaired pipelines.
- Creates real accountability with new multi-million-dollar penalties for leaks, failures, and delayed reporting.
- Supports local first responders by reimbursing fire departments and EMS for equipment, overtime, and cleanup costs.
- Puts communities at the center of oversight by establishing an Office of Public Engagement and requiring regular federal reporting.
“Every page of this bill is shaped by what Upper Makefield families lived through — the gaps in testing, the delays in information, the uncertainty about their water, and the absence of clear standards for communication and emergency response. Working side by side with the Mt. Eyre Task Force and the affected families made it unmistakably clear where federal law was failing them. The Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act closes those gaps with the strongest pipeline safety reforms in more than a decade,” said Fitzpatrick.
He continued: “I refused to accept slow-walking, half-measures, or excuses. From the very first day, we pressed every agency together, demanding action, transparency, and full accountability. This legislation turns that collective effort into permanent protections. And the courage of this community will now strengthen federal law and protect families across the country.”
“The Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to modernize outdated infrastructure, prevent dangerous leaks, and ensure that emergency responders and the public are informed and protected," said Suozzi. "This bill puts public safety first, increases transparency, and ensures local emergency responders are reimbursed for expenses incurred from the cleanup of a pipeline leak or accident. It’s time to make sure our infrastructure meets the demands of the 21st century.”
“When our family first reported the smell of fuel in our water, we were made to feel like we were imagining it — even as jet fuel was entering our home and our neighbors’ wells. Speaking up wasn’t easy, but we refused to stay quiet because we knew something was dangerously wrong. Congressman Fitzpatrick came into our home, saw what we were living through, and stood with our community when not many did,” said Kristine Wojnovich, Mt. Eyre Task Force member and the bill’s namesake. “For our family and our neighbors, this bill means our experience mattered. It means the fear, frustration, and uncertainty we live through will lead to real protections. We appreciate that Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick immediately saw the urgency of this situation to us and our community and has acted on our behalf.”
Why This Legislation Is Needed
The Twin Oaks leak exposed critical failures in pipeline oversight:
- A “slow drip” leak may have gone undetected for 16 months.
- At least six private wells were contaminated with jet fuel.
- Residents received unclear, delayed, or conflicting information.
- Emergency responders incurred unreimbursed costs.
- State and Federal agencies struggled to provide transparent, consistent updates.
Fitzpatrick repeatedly intervened — urging PHMSA to suspend operations, pressing DEP and DOH for independent testing and stronger oversight, calling for EPA involvement, and demanding full environmental remediation.
The Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act ensures no family in America is ever left to navigate such failures again.