To the Editor:
Jason Mark’s reporting on the Pipeline Safety Trust is a powerful reminder that meaningful reform often begins with local grief and civic resolve.
Bellingham’s 1999 pipeline disaster was not just a tragic accident; it exposed systemic regulatory failures and a profound breach of public trust. That such a catastrophe gave rise to the nation’s only independent pipeline safety watchdog is both inspiring and sobering.
Inspiring, because community members refused to accept silence or complacency. Sobering, because more than two decades later, a 10-person nonprofit remains the sole national advocate focused on pipeline safety across 3.3 million miles of infrastructure.
This imbalance should concern us all. Pipelines are ubiquitous, aging and too often invisible until something goes wrong. The statistic of roughly one rupture per day underscores the urgency. Yet oversight still leans heavily on agencies that have historically struggled with transparency and industry influence.
The Pipeline Safety Trust demonstrates what informed, persistent public engagement can achieve, from stronger federal laws to lifesaving safety measures. Its work deserves not only recognition but sustained public and governmental support.
Bellingham’s tragedy must continue to serve a purpose: ensuring no other community learns these lessons the same way.
—Micki Jackson, Bellingham; May 20, 2026