The growing influence of environmental and citizen groups is being felt in an increase of constraints at the local level on the shipment of liquid energy products by pipeline. Railroads, however, fall outside of the scope of such local efforts, and may stand to gain or retain business from the energy industry because of it.

According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), nearly a million shipments of hazardous materials move throughout the U.S. each day.

Within the last few months, three bills intended to improve pipeline safety and protect local property rights were overwhelmingly approved by the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure C...