```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6494 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

                                                 Union Calendar No. 721
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6494

                      [Report No. 118-884, Part I]

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
            pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 29, 2023

  Mr. Graves of Missouri (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. 
Nehls, and Mr. Payne) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition 
      to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

                           December 16, 2024

 Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with 
                              an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                           December 16, 2024

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee 
 of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           November 29, 2023]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
            pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; DEFINITION.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting 
Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act of 2023'' or the 
``PIPES Act of 2023''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definition.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Workforce development.
Sec. 5. Regulatory updates.
Sec. 6. Incorporation by reference.
Sec. 7. Inspection activity reporting.
Sec. 8. Technical safety standards committees.
Sec. 9. Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement prior to rulemaking 
                            activities.
Sec. 10. Office of Public Engagement.
Sec. 11. Class location changes.
Sec. 12. Pipeline operating status.
Sec. 13. Rights-of-way management.
Sec. 14. Study on composite materials for pipelines.
Sec. 15. Competitive Academic Agreement Program.
Sec. 16. Geohazard mitigation study.
Sec. 17. Special permit program.
Sec. 18. Excavation damage prevention.
Sec. 19. Integrity management study.
Sec. 20. Hydrogen study.
Sec. 21. Penalty for causing a defect in or disrupting operation of 
                            pipeline infrastructure.
Sec. 22. Civil penalties.
Sec. 23. Liquefied natural gas regulatory coordination.
Sec. 24. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system.
Sec. 25. Carbon dioxide pipelines.
Sec. 26. Opportunity for formal hearing.
Sec. 27. State pipeline safety grants reporting.
Sec. 28. Inspection of in-service breakout tanks.
Sec. 29. Disclosure of safety information assessment.
Sec. 30. Assessment of certain pipeline safety definitions.
Sec. 31. Report assessing the costs of pipeline failures.
Sec. 32. Study on localized emergency alert system for pipeline 
                            facilities incidents.
Sec. 33. Maximum allowable operating pressure.
    (c) State Defined.--In this Act, the term ``State'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid.--Section 60125 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid.--
            ``(1) In general.--From fees collected under section 60301, 
        there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to 
        carry out section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 
        2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 107-355) and the 
        provisions of this chapter relating to gas and hazardous 
        liquid--
                    ``(A) $181,400,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                            ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
                        Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
                        107-355); and
                            ``(ii) $73,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants;
                    ``(B) $189,800,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                            ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
                        Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
                        107-355); and
                            ``(ii) $75,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants;
                    ``(C) $198,200,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                            ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
                        Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
                        107-355); and
                            ``(ii) $77,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants; and
                    ``(D) $206,600,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                            ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
                        Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
                        107-355); and
                            ``(ii) $79,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants.
            ``(2) Trust fund amounts.--In addition to the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated under paragraph (1), there are 
        authorized to be appropriated from the Oil Spill Liability 
        Trust Fund established by section 9509(a) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 to carry out section 12 of the Pipeline 
        Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public 
        Law 107-355) and the provisions of this chapter relating to 
        hazardous liquid--
                    ``(A) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                            ``(i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
                        in section 12(f) of the Pipeline Safety 
                        Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
                        Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of such Act; and
                            ``(ii) $11,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants;
                    ``(B) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                            ``(i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
                        in section 12(f) of the Pipeline Safety 
                        Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
                        Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of such Act; and
                            ``(ii) $11,500,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants;
                    ``(C) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                            ``(i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
                        in section 12(f) of the Pipeline Safety 
                        Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
                        Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of such Act; and
                            ``(ii) $12,000,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants; and
                    ``(D) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                            ``(i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
                        in section 12(f) of the Pipeline Safety 
                        Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
                        Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
                        section 12 of such Act; and
                            ``(ii) $12,500,000 shall be used for making 
                        grants.
            ``(3) Underground natural gas storage facility safety 
        account.--From fees collected under section 60302, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
        section 60141 $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
        2027.
            ``(4) Recruitment and retention.--From amounts made 
        available to the Secretary under paragraphs (1) and (2), the 
        Secretary shall use, to carry out section 104(a) of the PIPES 
        Act of 2023 and section 102(c) of the Protecting our 
        Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 
        (Public Law 116-260)--
                    ``(A) $3,400,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                            ``(i) $2,890,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (1)(A); and
                            ``(ii) $510,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (2)(A);
                    ``(B) $5,100,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                            ``(i) $4,335,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (1)(B); and
                            ``(ii) $765,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (2)(B);
                    ``(C) $6,800,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                            ``(i) $5,780,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (1)(C); and
                            ``(ii) $1,020,000 shall be from amounts 
                        made available under paragraph (2)(C); and
                    ``(D) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                            ``(i) $7,225,000 shall be from amounts made 
                        available under paragraph (1)(D); and
                            ``(ii) $1,275,000 shall be from amounts 
                        made available under paragraph (2)(D).''.
    (b) Operational Expenses.--Section 2(b) of the PIPES Act of 2016 
(Public Law 114-183; 130 Stat. 515) is amended by striking paragraphs 
(1) through (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
            ``(2) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
            ``(3) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            ``(4) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
    (c) One-call Notification Programs.--Section 6107 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,058,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting ``$2,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2024 through 2027''.
    (d) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(2) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2021 through 
2023'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2024 through 2027''.
    (e) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.--Section 
60130(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out 
this section.'' and inserting the following: ``, to carry out this 
section, the following:
                    ``(A) $2,250,000 for fiscal year 2024.
                    ``(B) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
                    ``(C) $2,750,000 for fiscal year 2026.
                    ``(D) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
    (f) Improving Technical Assistance.--Section 60130(c)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
        award $1,000,000'' and inserting ``, the Secretary shall 
        award''; and
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``the following amounts:
                    ``(A) $1,250,000 for fiscal year 2024.
                    ``(B) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
                    ``(C) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2026.
                    ``(D) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
    (g) Damage Prevention Programs.--Section 60134(i) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking 
``$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting 
``$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027''.
    (h) Pipeline Integrity Program.--Section 12(f) of the Pipeline 
Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``$2,000,000''; and
            (2) by striking ``2021 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 
        through 2027''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8)(B) by inserting ``and carbon dioxide'' 
        after ``hazardous liquid'';
            (2) in paragraph (18) by inserting ``, a carbon dioxide 
        pipeline facility,'' after ``gas pipeline facility'';
            (3) in paragraph (19) by inserting ``, transporting carbon 
        dioxide,'' after ``transporting gas'';
            (4) in paragraph (24) by inserting ``, carbon dioxide,'' 
        after ``a gas'';
            (5) in paragraph (25) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (6) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), 
        (6), (9), (7), (10), (8), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), 
        (17), (18), (19), (23), (24), (25), (20), (21), (22), and (26) 
        as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (11), (12), (13), (14), 
        (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (23), (24), (25), 
        (27), (28), (29), (30), (32), (33), and (35), respectively, and 
        transferring the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;
            (7) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(1) `carbon dioxide' means a product stream consisting of 
        more than 50 percent carbon dioxide molecules in any state of 
        matter except solid;
            ``(2) `carbon dioxide pipeline facility'--
                    ``(A) means a pipeline, a right of way, a facility, 
                a building, or equipment used, or intended to be used, 
                in transporting carbon dioxide or treating carbon 
                dioxide during the transportation of such carbon 
                dioxide; but
                    ``(B) does not include any storage facility, 
                piping, or equipment covered by the exclusion in 
                section 60102(i)(3)(B)(ii);
            ``(3) `de-identified' means the process by which all 
        information that is likely to establish the identity of the 
        specific persons, organizations, or entities submitting 
        reports, data, or other information is removed from reports, 
        data, or other information;'';
            (8) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(9) `interstate carbon dioxide pipeline facility' means a 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facility used to transport carbon 
        dioxide in interstate or foreign commerce;
            ``(10) `intrastate carbon dioxide pipeline facility' means 
        a carbon dioxide pipeline facility that is not an interstate 
        carbon dioxide facility;'';
            (9) by inserting after paragraph (21), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(22) `non-public pipeline safety data and information' 
        means any pipeline safety data or information, regardless of 
        form or format, that a company does not disclose, disseminate, 
        or make available to the public or that is not otherwise in the 
        public domain;'';
            (10) by inserting after paragraph (25), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(26) `public information' means any data or information, 
        regardless of form or format, that a company discloses, 
        disseminates, or makes available to the public or that is 
        otherwise in the public domain;'';
            (11) by inserting after paragraph (30), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(31) `transporting carbon dioxide' means the movement of 
        carbon dioxide or the storage of carbon dioxide incidental to 
        the movement of carbon dioxide by pipeline, in or affecting 
        interstate or foreign commerce;''; and
            (12) by inserting after paragraph (33), as so redesignated, 
        the following:
            ``(34) `Tribal' means relating to Indian Tribes, as such 
        term is defined in section 102 of the Federally Recognized 
        Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130); and''.

SEC. 4. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Additional Full-Time Equivalent Employees.--In addition to the 
personnel level authorized for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration as of the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of such Administration may increase the number of full-
time equivalent employees in the Office of Pipeline Safety by not more 
than 30 positions for employees who have advanced engineering, 
scientific, or other technical expertise (or equivalent experience) 
to--
            (1) develop and implement pipeline safety policies and 
        regulations; and
            (2) fulfill congressional rulemaking mandates.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to 
Congress a report on--
            (1) any progress made on implementation of subsection (a);
            (2) the implementation of the recruitment and retention 
        incentives authorized in section 102 of the PIPES Act of 2020 
        (Public Law 116-260);
            (3) barriers and challenges to hiring and retention at the 
        Administration;
            (4) staffing levels of inspection and enforcement personnel 
        of the Administration; and
            (5) any additional workforce needs of the Administration.
    (c) Effect on Existing Regulation.--Section 102(c) of the PIPES Act 
of 2020 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and 
inserting the following:
            ``(3) Effect on existing regulation.--In implementing the 
        incentives described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Administrator of the Pipeline and 
        Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, may waive existing 
        regulations.''.

SEC. 5. REGULATORY UPDATES.

    (a) Definition of Outstanding Mandate.--In this section, the term 
``outstanding mandate'' means--
            (1) a final rule required to be issued under the Pipeline 
        Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 
        (Public Law 112-90) that has not been published in the Federal 
        Register;
            (2) a final rule required to be issued under the PIPES Act 
        of 2016 (Public Law 114-183) that has not been published in the 
        Federal Register;
            (3) a final rule required to be issued under the PIPES Act 
        of 2020 (Public Law 116-260) that has not been published in the 
        Federal Register; and
            (4) any other final rule regarding gas or hazardous liquid 
        pipeline facilities that--
                    (A) has not been published in the Federal Register; 
                and
                    (B) is required to be issued under this Act or any 
                other Act.
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Periodic updates.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter 
        until each outstanding mandate is published in the Federal 
        Register, the Secretary of Transportation shall publish on a 
        publicly available website of the Department of Transportation 
        an update regarding the status of each such mandate in 
        accordance with subsection (c).
            (2) Notification of congress.--On publication of a final 
        rule in the Federal Register for an outstanding mandate, the 
        Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a notification of 
        such publication.
    (c) Contents.--An update published or a notification submitted 
under subsection (b)(1) shall contain, as applicable--
            (1) with respect to information relating to the 
        Administration--
                    (A) a description of the work plan for each 
                outstanding mandate;
                    (B) an updated rulemaking timeline for each 
                outstanding mandate;
                    (C) the staff allocations with respect to each 
                outstanding mandate;
                    (D) any resource constraints affecting the 
                rulemaking process for each outstanding mandate;
                    (E) any other details associated with the 
                development of each outstanding mandate that affect the 
                progress of the rulemaking process with respect to that 
                outstanding mandate; and
                    (F) a description of all rulemakings regarding gas 
                or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities published in 
                the Federal Register that are not identified under 
                subsection (b)(2); and
            (2) with respect to information relating to the Office of 
        the Secretary--
                    (A) the date that the outstanding mandate was 
                submitted to the Office of the Secretary for review;
                    (B) the reason that the outstanding mandate is 
                under review beyond 45 days;
                    (C) the staff allocations within the Office of the 
                Secretary with respect to each outstanding mandate;
                    (D) any resource constraints affecting review of 
                the outstanding mandate;
                    (E) an estimated timeline of when review of the 
                outstanding mandate will be complete, as of the date of 
                the update;
                    (F) if applicable, the date that the outstanding 
                mandate was returned to the Administration for revision 
                and the anticipated date for resubmission to the Office 
                of the Secretary;
                    (G) the date that the outstanding mandate was 
                submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for 
                review; and
                    (H) a statement of whether the outstanding mandate 
                remains under review by the Office of Management and 
                Budget.

SEC. 6. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 60102 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subsection (l) and inserting the following:
    ``(l) Updating Standards.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
        years, or if an interested person otherwise petitions in 
        accordance with section 190.331 of title 49, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or successor regulation), the Secretary shall 
        review, and update as necessary, incorporated industry 
        standards that have been adopted, either partially or in full, 
        as part of the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program under 
        this chapter that are modified and published by a standards 
        development organization, as such term is defined in section 
        2(a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 
        1993 (15 U.S.C. 4301(a)).
            ``(2) Discretion in adopting industry standards.--The 
        Secretary may decline to adopt an industry standard that is 
        inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impracticable, 
        including in circumstances where the use of an industry 
        standard would not serve the needs of the Federal pipeline 
        safety regulatory program, or would impose undue burdens.
            ``(3) List of industry standards.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) maintain a publicly available list of all 
                industry standards considered for adoption under this 
                chapter and the agency's adjudication of each 
                considered standard;
                    ``(B) include the reasoning for not adopting an 
                industry standard, whether in full or in part, on the 
                list under subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(C) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
                such list not later than--
                            ``(i) 30 days after completion of such 
                        list; and
                            ``(ii) 30 days after the date of any 
                        subsequent revisions to such list.
            ``(4) Public accessibility.--Any industry standards 
        incorporated by reference, or portions thereof, shall be made 
        available by the entity that developed such standards free of 
        charge for viewing on a publicly available website.''.
    (b) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) conduct a review to determine compliance with section 
        60102(l)(4) of title 49, United States Code; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
        review conducted under paragraph (1).

SEC. 7. INSPECTION ACTIVITY REPORTING.

    (a) Inspection and Enforcement Priorities.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall establish, and make available to the public in an 
electronically accessible format, a report containing the inspection 
and enforcement priorities of the Office of Pipeline Safety of the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for fiscal years 
2024 through 2027. Such report shall include a description of--
            (1) how the Administrator will use the priorities to guide 
        the inspection program of such Office;
            (2) how the inspection and enforcement priorities will 
        improve pipeline safety; and
            (3) how the Administrator communicates and coordinates the 
        implementation of inspection and enforcement priorities with 
        regional offices and State inspectors operating under delegated 
        authority.
    (b) Notice and Comment.--Prior to publication of the inspection and 
enforcement priorities under subsection (a), the Administrator shall 
solicit through notice in the Federal Register public comment on such 
priorities.
    (c) Summary of Pipeline Inspections.--Not later than June 1 of each 
year beginning with the year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall make available to the public in an 
electronically accessible format a summary of Federal and State 
pipeline inspections conducted under direct or delegated authority of 
title 49, United States Code, during the previous calendar year, to 
include--
            (1) the date of the inspection;
            (2) the name of the pipeline owner or operator;
            (3) the pipeline system or segment inspected;
            (4) the region or regions of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
        Materials Safety Administration in which the inspected system 
        or segment operates;
            (5) the State or States in which the inspected system or 
        segment operates; and
            (6) any violations, or proposed violations, found as a 
        result of pipeline inspections.

SEC. 8. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.

    (a) Committee Reports on Proposed Standards.--Section 60115(c)(1) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``, if applicable'' 
        after ``each proposed standard''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``, if applicable'' 
        after ``each proposed standard''.
    (b) Report.--Section 60115(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ``and provide written notification of such 
reasons to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate at 
the time a final rulemaking relating to the standard is issued'' after 
``publish the reasons''.
    (c) Frequency of Meetings.--Section 60115(e) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``up to 4'' and inserting ``2''.

SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PHMSA ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO RULEMAKING 
              ACTIVITIES.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Secretary of Transportation should engage with 
        pipeline stakeholder groups, including State pipeline safety 
        programs with an approved certification under section 60105 of 
        title 49, United States Code, and the public during predrafting 
        stages of rulemaking activities and use, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, properly docketed ex parte discussions during 
        rulemaking activities in order to--
                    (A) inform the work of the Secretary;
                    (B) assist the Administrator of the Pipeline and 
                Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in developing 
                the scope of a rule; and
                    (C) reduce the timeline for issuance of proposed 
                and final rules; and
            (2) when it would reduce the time required for the 
        Secretary to adjudicate public comments, the Administrator 
        should publicly provide information describing the rationale 
        behind a regulatory decision included in proposed regulations 
        in order to better allow for the public to provide clear and 
        informed comments on such regulations.

SEC. 10. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall rename the Community 
Liaison Services within the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as the Office of Public 
Engagement (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ``Office'').
    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Office are to--
            (1) proactively engage with pipeline stakeholders, 
        including the public, pipeline operators, public safety 
        organizations, and government officials, to raise awareness of 
        pipeline safety practices;
            (2) promote the adoption and increased use of safety 
        programs and activities;
            (3) inform the public of pipeline safety regulations and 
        best practices; and
            (4) assist the public with inquiries regarding pipeline 
        safety.
    (c) Public Access.--The Office shall ensure that activities carried 
out by the Office and information products developed by the Office are 
accessible to the public.
    (d) Community Liaisons.--The Office shall incorporate positions 
known as ``community liaisons'' under the Community Liaison Services.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
implementation of this section.

SEC. 11. CLASS LOCATION CHANGES.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe a final rule amending the 
safety standards for class location changes in parts 191 and 192 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, based on the notice of proposed 
rulemaking published by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration on October 14, 2020, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Class 
Location Change Requirements'' (85 Fed. Reg. 65142), including 
consideration of all documents in Docket No. PHMSA-2017-0151.

SEC. 12. PIPELINE OPERATING STATUS.

    Section 60143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2023, the Secretary shall 
        issue a notice of proposed rulemaking prescribing the 
        applicability of the pipeline safety requirements to idled 
        natural gas or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid 
        pipelines.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Consideration.--In promulgating regulations 
                under this section, the Secretary shall consider the 
                adoption of industry consensus standards.''.

SEC. 13. RIGHTS-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT.

    Section 60108(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(4) Alternative Method of Maintaining Rights-of-way.--
            ``(A) In general.--As part of the review conducted under 
        paragraph (3), the Secretary shall allow for an alternative 
        method of maintaining rights-of-way for pipelines and other 
        pipeline facilities under a voluntary program carried out by 
        the operator if such alternative method achieves a level of 
        safety at least equal to the level of safety required by 
        regulations issued under this chapter.
            ``(B) Purpose.--An operator considering implementing an 
        alternative method described under subparagraph (A) may 
        consider incorporating into the plan for implementing such 
        method 1 or more conservation practices, including--
                    ``(i) integrated vegetation management practices, 
                including reduced mowing;
                    ``(ii) the development of habitat and forage for 
                pollinators and other wildlife through seeding or 
                planting of diverse native forbs and grasses;
                    ``(iii) practices relating to maintenance 
                strategies that promote early successional vegetation 
                or limit disturbance during periods of highest use by 
                target pollinator species and other wildlife on 
                pipeline or facilities rights-of-way, including--
                            ``(I) increasing mowing height;
                            ``(II) reducing mowing frequency; and
                            ``(III) refraining from mowing monarch and 
                        other pollinator habitat during periods in 
                        which monarchs or other pollinators are 
                        present;
                    ``(iv) an integrated vegetation management plan 
                that may include approaches such as mechanical tree and 
                brush removal and targeted and judicious use of 
                herbicides and mowing to address incompatible or 
                undesirable vegetation while promoting compatible and 
                beneficial vegetation on pipeline and facilities 
                rights-of-way;
                    ``(v) planting or seeding of deeply rooted, 
                regionally appropriate perennial grasses and 
                wildflowers, including milkweed, to enhance habitat;
                    ``(vi) removing shallow-rooted grasses from 
                planting and seeding mixes, except for use as nurse or 
                cover crops; or
                    ``(vii) obtaining expert training or assistance on 
                wildlife and pollinator-friendly practices, including--
                            ``(I) native plant identification;
                            ``(II) establishment and management of 
                        regionally appropriate native plants;
                            ``(III) land management practices; and
                            ``(IV) integrated vegetation management.
            ``(C) Savings clause.--Nothing in this section exempts an 
        operator from compliance with the applicable requirements under 
        this chapter or any applicable regulations promulgated under 
        this chapter.
            ``(D) Consultation.--
                    ``(i) Available guidance.--In developing such 
                alternative methods, an operator shall consult any 
                available guidance issued by--
                            ``(I) the Secretary; or
                            ``(II) an applicable State agency carrying 
                        out compliance activities on behalf of the 
                        Secretary in accordance with section 60105.
                    ``(ii) Leading industry practices.--In the absence 
                of the guidance described in clause (i), an operator 
                may consult leading industry practices and guidance to 
                develop and implement such alternative methods.''.

SEC. 14. STUDY ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR PIPELINES.

    (a) Study on Use of Composite Materials.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall complete a study assessing the potential and 
existing use of pipelines constructed with composite materials to 
safely transport hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas.
    (b) Study Considerations.--In completing the study under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consider--
            (1) any commercially available composite pipeline 
        materials;
            (2) any completed or ongoing tests and data regarding 
        composite pipeline materials available to the Secretary or 
        other Federal agencies; and
            (3) any recommended standards, including consensus 
        standards, and Federal agency authorizations relating to use of 
        composite pipeline materials.
    (c) Public Participation.--To ensure adequate public participation 
in completing the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) hold a public meeting with interested stakeholders, 
        including the affected industries, interest groups, and other 
        individuals with relevant expertise;
            (2) release a draft version of the study for public comment 
        for a period of not less than 60 days; and
            (3) address any substantive comments submitted by the 
        public during the public comment period under paragraph (2) in 
        preparing the final study.
    (d) Public Meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the closing of 
the public comment period under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall 
hold a public meeting to present the findings of the study under this 
section and any responses to public comments received under such 
subsection.
    (e) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months after the meeting 
described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall issue a rulemaking 
that includes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to allow for the use of 
composite materials for pipeline transportation of hydrogen and 
hydrogen blended with natural gas.

SEC. 15. COMPETITIVE ACADEMIC AGREEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Federal Share.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the Competitive Academic 
        Agreement Program pursuant to section 60117(l) of title 49, 
        United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation may allow 
        for a 100-percent Federal share of financial assistance for a 
        project carried out by small and mid-sized institutions.
            (2) Written request required.--The Secretary may only allow 
        the use of a 100-percent Federal share under paragraph (1) if 
        the applicable institution has provided a written request to 
        the Secretary prior to the award of Federal assistance under 
        such Program.
            (3) Small and mid-sized institutions defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``small and mid-sized institutions'' means 
        academic institutions eligible for a grant under the 
        Competitive Academic Agreement Program with a current total 
        enrollment of 17,500 students or less, including graduate and 
        undergraduate as well as full- and part-time students.
    (b) Report.--Following any award of grants under the Competitive 
Academic Agreement Program, the Secretary shall provide to Congress a 
written report detailing--
            (1) the recipients of such grants; and
            (2) any grantees that were provided a 100-percent Federal 
        share under this section.

SEC. 16. GEOHAZARD MITIGATION STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare 
a report containing--
            (1) the results of a study that--
                    (A) evaluates Federal and State, as applicable, 
                requirements for gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon 
                dioxide pipeline facility design, siting, construction, 
                operation and maintenance, and integrity management 
                relating to geohazards, including seismicity, land 
                subsidence, landslides, slope instability, frost heave, 
                soil settlement, erosion, river scour, washouts, 
                floods, unstable soil, water currents, hurricanes, 
                dynamic geologic conditions, tsunamis, tornados, 
                wildfires, floods, ice storms, or other hazards that 
                may cause a pipeline to move or be affected by abnormal 
                external loads;
                    (B) evaluates any industry consensus standards or 
                best practices related to the requirements described in 
                subparagraph (A);
                    (C) evaluates the implementation by operators of 
                Federal and State regulations related to geohazards and 
                application of recommendations included in the Advisory 
                Bulletin of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
                Administration titled ``Pipeline Safety: Potential for 
                Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement 
                and Other Geological Hazards'', issued on May 2, 2019 
                (PHMSA-019-0087);
                    (D) identifies any discrepancies in the 
                requirements described in subparagraph (A) and 
                advisories, industry consensus standards, or best 
                practices for operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and 
                carbon dioxide pipeline facilities; and
                    (E) identifies any areas relating to geohazards not 
                addressed under subparagraphs (A) through (D); and
            (2) any recommendations of the Government Accountability 
        Office based on the results of the study under paragraph (1).
    (b) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the report under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary 
of Transportation, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate the report.

SEC. 17. SPECIAL PERMIT PROGRAM.

    (a) Compliance and Waivers.--Section 60118(c)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Limitation on terms.--The Secretary shall 
                impose no terms on a waiver under this paragraph that 
                do not apply to known pipeline safety risks applicable 
                to the standard being waived under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) Publication.--Upon completion of the 
                application requirements under section 190.341 of title 
                49, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor 
                regulations, the Secretary shall publish notice of the 
                application in the Federal Register.
                    ``(E) Review of application.--The Secretary shall 
                complete a review of each such application not later 
                than 18 months after publishing a notice in the Federal 
                Register described in subparagraph (D) with respect to 
                the application.''.
    (b) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
        submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the implementation by 
        the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
        Safety Administration of the amendment made by subsection (a).
            (2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    (A) a listing of each special permit application 
                applied for under section 60118(c)(1) of title 49, 
                United States Code;
                    (B) a brief summary of the purpose of each such 
                special permit;
                    (C) the date on which each such application was 
                received;
                    (D) the date on which each such application was 
                completed or, in the absence of completion, the status 
                of the application;
                    (E) the date on which the Secretary issued a 
                determination on the application; and
                    (F) the explanation of the Secretary for any 
                decision made outside the review period identified in 
                section 60118(c)(1)(E) of title 49, United States Code, 
                if applicable.
    (c) GAO Report.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of the 
report under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report assessing the Secretary's 
implementation of, and compliance with, subparagraphs (C) through (E) 
of section 60118(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 18. EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION.

    (a) Grants to States.--Section 6106 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b) by inserting ``adoption or progress 
        toward adoption of the leading practices listed in subsection 
        (b) and'' before ``legislative and regulatory'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Leading Practices.--A State one-call program shall implement 
leading practices that--
            ``(1) identify the size and scope of a one-call ticket for 
        standard locate requests, including process exceptions for 
        special large project tickets;
            ``(2) restrict the longevity of a one-call ticket for 
        standard locate requests, which may include process exceptions 
        for special large project tickets;
            ``(3) examine and limit exemptions to one-call programs to 
        prevent common excavation damage incidents, including--
                    ``(A) excavation or demolition performed by the 
                owner of a single-family residential property;
                    ``(B) any excavation of 18 inches or less when 
                maintenance activities are performed;
                    ``(C) repairing, connecting, adjusting, or 
                conducting routine maintenance of a private or public 
                underground utility facility; and
                    ``(D) municipalities, public works organizations, 
                and State departments of transportation for road 
                maintenance;
            ``(4) specify tolerance zone horizontal dimensions and 
        requirements for hand-dig, hydro, vacuum excavation, and other 
        nonintrusive methods;
            ``(5) specify emergency excavation notification 
        requirements, including defining emergency excavation and 
        identifying the notification requirements for an emergency 
        excavation;
            ``(6) specify the responsibilities of the excavator, 
        including the reporting of damages due to excavation 
        activities;
            ``(7) define who is an excavator and what is considered 
        excavation;
            ``(8) require the use of white lining or electronic white 
        lining, allowing for exceptions for special large-project 
        tickets;
            ``(9) require a positive response, such as the utility, 
        municipality, or other entity placing the marks positively 
        responds to the notification center and the excavator checks 
        for a positive response before beginning excavation;
            ``(10) require newly installed underground facilities to be 
        locatable;
            ``(11) require the marking of lines and laterals, including 
        sewer lines and laterals;
            ``(12) require training programs and requirements for 
        third-party excavators performing excavation activities that 
        are not subject to pipeline construction requirements under 
        part 192 or part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations;
            ``(13) require training for locate professionals; and
            ``(14) require the use of commercially available 
        technologies to locate underground facilities, such as 
        geographic information systems and enhanced positive response.
    ``(c) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        implementation of subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to 
        the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
        Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report detailing--
                    ``(A) the implementation of the leading practices 
                described in such subsection;
                    ``(B) recommendations to increase the adoption of 
                such leading practices and recommendations for the 
                reduction of excavation damage incidents; and
                    ``(C) the number of underground facility damages 
                per 1,000 one-call tickets in each State for the 
                reporting year.
            ``(2) Additional reports.--Not later than once every 2 
        years after the submittal of the report under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
        and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing--
                    ``(A) the implementation of the leading practices 
                described in subsection (b);
                    ``(B) recommendations to increase the adoption of 
                such leading practices and recommendations for the 
                reduction of excavation damage incidents; and
                    ``(C) the number of underground facility damages 
                per 1,000 one-call tickets in each state for each year 
                covered by the report.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall make a grant 
award to a State by the Secretary pursuant to section 60107 or section 
60134 for a State program certified under section 60105 or section 
60106 contingent on compliance by the State with all leading practices 
described in subsection (b).''.
    (b) State Damage Prevention Programs.--Section 60134(c) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``In making grants'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--In making grants''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Considerations.--In evaluating criteria for 
        determining the effectiveness of the damage prevention program 
        of a State, the Secretary shall consider whether the State has, 
        at a minimum--
                    ``(A) effective, active, and consistent enforcement 
                of State one-call laws (including consistency in the 
                application of enforcement resources, fines, and 
                penalties to all relevant stakeholders, such as 
                operators, locators, and excavators);
                    ``(B) data reporting requirements such as those--
                            ``(i) to the local one-call center for 
                        excavation damage events on pipelines and other 
                        underground facilities, that are not privately 
                        owned, including (if available at the time of 
                        reporting)--
                                    ``(I) information about the nature 
                                of the incident, including the facility 
                                damaged and the apparent cause of such 
                                damage (with supporting documentation);
                                    ``(II) the organizations or 
                                entities involved;
                                    ``(III) the impact to public 
                                safety, utility operations, and 
                                customer service; and
                                    ``(IV) the impact to the 
                                environment; and
                            ``(ii) to a nationally focused nonprofit 
                        organization specifically established for the 
                        purpose of reducing construction-related 
                        damages to underground facilities, of damages 
                        and near-miss events to underground facilities 
                        from excavation damages, including potential 
                        contributing factors, facility damaged, type of 
                        excavator, work performed, equipment type, and 
                        State;
                    ``(C) data reporting requirements, to a nonprofit 
                organization specifically established for the purpose 
                of reducing construction-related damage to underground 
                facilities, of damage and near-miss events to 
                underground facilities from excavation damage, 
                including root cause, facility damaged, type of 
                excavator, work performed, equipment type, and State; 
                and
                    ``(D) performance measures to determine the 
                effectiveness of excavation damage prevention 
                efforts.''.

SEC. 19. INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academies under which the National 
Academies shall conduct a study of the effectiveness of integrity 
management regulations applicable to natural gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline facilities.
    (b) Data Sources.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a), 
the National Academies shall--
            (1) use publicly available data from the Pipeline and 
        Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, State pipeline 
        regulatory agencies, and other public sources; and
            (2) consult with pipeline stakeholders in the development 
        of findings under the study, including State and Federal 
        regulators, pipeline operators, public safety organizations, 
        and environmental organizations.
    (c) Elements.--The study described under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a review of previous assessments of integrity 
        management program implementation produced by or for the 
        Secretary or the National Transportation Safety Board;
            (2) a review of the implementation and enforcement by the 
        Secretary of integrity management regulations and any 
        modifications of the regulations issued by the Secretary 
        pursuant to section 60109 of title 49, United States Code;
            (3) a trend analysis and assessment of pipeline safety 
        incidents, accidents, and repairs for high consequence and non-
        high consequence areas, including comparing--
                    (A) the frequency of such incidents, accidents, and 
                repairs before and after the implementation of the 
                Federal integrity management requirements described in 
                subsection (a); and
                    (B) the frequency of such incidents, accidents, and 
                repairs during the period of time such integrity 
                management requirements have been in effect;
            (4) development of metrics to gauge the effectiveness of 
        the implementation and enforcement of such integrity management 
        regulations;
            (5) an assessment of how integrity management informs 
        operator activities, including planning and completion of 
        repairs, and whether the implementation of integrity management 
        regulations by operators of pipeline facilities has had a 
        demonstrable effect on improving gas and hazardous liquid 
        pipeline safety; and
            (6) identification of areas where pipeline safety has 
        improved and where it has not improved due to integrity 
        management.
    (d) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) require the National Academies to submit to the 
        Secretary a report on the results of the study under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate such report.

SEC. 20. HYDROGEN STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on existing natural gas pipeline systems that, as a 
result of hydrogen-natural gas blending, contain a percentage of 
hydrogen that is greater than 5 percent by volume to identify the 
changes that operators have implemented, including--
            (1) modifications or alternatives to--
                    (A) odorants and leak-detection methods;
                    (B) pipeline materials; and
                    (C) operational standards; and
            (2) modifications to pipeline infrastructure.
    (b) Additional Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) an identification of any technical challenges with 
        repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure to allow such 
        infrastructure to be used for hydrogen-natural gas blended 
        service; and
            (2) an examination of hydrogen-natural gas blended pipeline 
        systems currently operating, including in the United States, 
        the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong.
    (c) Considerations.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General shall consider--
            (1) any changes that domestic and international operators 
        of natural gas pipeline systems have implemented to the 
        processes, pipeline materials, metering, and operational 
        standards used by such operators to account for the operation 
        and integrity of natural gas pipeline systems that use a 
        hydrogen content at variable percentages above 5 percent by 
        volume; and
            (2) how such operators have taken into account the effects 
        of hydrogen-natural gas blending on different types of--
                    (A) natural gas pipeline systems materials, 
                including cast iron, steel, composite pipe, and plastic 
                pipe; and
                    (B) components of such systems, including valves 
                and meters.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of 
the study conducted under subsection (a).
    (e) Rulemaking.--The results of the study under subsection (a) 
should inform the rulemaking efforts of the Secretary relating to 
hydrogen-natural gas blending. The Secretary may determine that 
rulemaking efforts related to hydrogen should be advanced before 
completion of the study under subsection (a).
    (f) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit or otherwise limit the authority of the Secretary 
to issue regulations relating to hydrogen prior to the submission of 
the report under subsection (d).

SEC. 21. PENALTY FOR CAUSING A DEFECT IN OR DISRUPTING OPERATION OF 
              PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE.

    Section 60123 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Penalty for Causing a Defect in or Disrupting Operation of 
Pipeline Infrastructure.--
            ``(1) In general.--A person shall be fined under title 18, 
        imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, if the person 
        knowingly and willfully--
                    ``(A) causes a defect in a pipe, pump, compressor, 
                or valve in the possession of a pipeline operator to be 
                used in construction of any pipeline facility described 
                in subsection (b) that would affect the integrity or 
                safe operation of any such facility; or
                    ``(B) disrupts the operation of any pipeline 
                facility described in subsection (b) by causing or 
                undertaking the unauthorized or unplanned turning or 
                manipulation of a valve.
            ``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `in the 
        possession of a pipeline operator' means, with respect to a 
        pipe, pump, compressor, or valve, that such pipe, pump, 
        compressor, or valve is--
                    ``(A) in transit to a pipeline component staging 
                site or construction site;
                    ``(B) at a pipeline component staging site; or
                    ``(C) at a construction site.''.

SEC. 22. CIVIL PENALTIES.

    Section 60122(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$2,000,000'' and inserting ``$2,500,000''.

SEC. 23. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS REGULATORY COORDINATION.

    (a) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish and convene a Liquefied Natural Gas Regulatory Safety 
Working Group (in this section referred to as the ``Working Group'') 
through the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas 
Safety to clarify the authority of Federal agencies in the authorizing 
and oversight of LNG facilities, other than peak shaving facilities, 
and improve coordination of the authority of such agencies.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Working Group shall consist of certain 
        representatives of the Federal government, as such term is 
        defined in clauses (i) through (v) of section 111(a)(3)(F) of 
        the PIPES Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-260), as designated by 
        the Secretary of Transportation or appropriate Federal agency 
        leadership.
            (2) Chair.--The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
        Materials Safety Administration or a designee of the 
        Administrator shall serve as chair of the Working Group, unless 
        an alternate member of the working group is selected by 
        unanimous consent of the Working Group.
            (3) Responsibilities of chair.--The Chair of the Working 
        Group shall establish an agenda and schedule for the Working 
        Group to accomplish the objectives described in subsection (c).
    (c) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The Working Group shall evaluate 
        individual Federal agency authorities pertaining to the siting 
        and design, construction, operation and maintenance, and 
        operational and process safety regulations of LNG facilities.
            (2) Negotiation.--The Working Group shall negotiate Federal 
        agency agreements pursuant to subsection (d) to establish 
        procedures for--
                    (A) the application of the respective authorities 
                of each Federal agency in ensuring safety in a manner 
                to ensure effective regulation of LNG facilities in the 
                public interest;
                    (B) resolving conflicts concerning overlapping 
                jurisdiction among the Federal agencies; and
                    (C) avoiding, to the extent possible and if 
                appropriate, conflicting or duplicative regulation, 
                inspection protocols, and reporting obligations.
    (d) Memorandum of Understanding and Interagency Agreements.--Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
agencies represented on the Working Group shall enter into interagency 
agreements or memorandums of understanding regarding best practices and 
individual agency safety oversight enforcement responsibilities 
regarding LNG facilities, other than peak shaving facilities.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after entering into 
interagency agency agreements or memorandum of understanding under 
subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the memorandum of 
understanding or interagency agreements and how such memorandum or 
agreements have contributed to improved safety and enforcement 
oversight coordination of LNG facilities.
    (f) LNG Defined.--In this section, the term ``LNG'' means liquefied 
natural gas.

SEC. 24. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 60144. Voluntary information-sharing system
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        confidential voluntary information-sharing system (referred to 
        in this section as `VIS') to encourage the sharing of pipeline 
        safety data and information in a non-punitive context in order 
        to improve the safety of gas, carbon dioxide, and hazardous 
        liquid gathering, transmission, and distribution pipelines and 
        facilities, including storage facilities.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the VIS is to establish a 
        comprehensive, systematic, and integrated structure to gather, 
        evaluate, and quantify critical pipeline safety data and 
        information and to share recommended remediation measures and 
        lessons learned across the pipeline industry in an effort to 
        improve pipeline safety, including damage prevention efforts, 
        while protecting participant confidentiality.
            ``(3) Implementation and management.--In establishing the 
        VIS under this section, the Secretary shall implement and 
        manage such VIS based on the Pipeline Safety Voluntary 
        Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report prepared 
        pursuant to section 10 of the Protecting Our Infrastructure of 
        Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60108 
        note).
            ``(4) Inapplicability of faca.--The VIS shall not be 
        considered a Federal advisory committee and shall not be 
        subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5.
    ``(b) Governance.--
            ``(1) In general.--A Governing Board, a Program Manager, a 
        Third-Party Information Manager, and Issue Analysis Teams shall 
        govern the VIS.
            ``(2) Governing board.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of this section, the 
                Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
                Safety Administration shall appoint a Governing Board 
                after consulting with public and private pipeline 
                safety stakeholders.
                    ``(B) Composition of the board.--The Governing 
                Board shall be comprised of at least 9 members and 
                shall represent a balanced cross-section of pipeline 
                safety stakeholders with pipeline safety knowledge or 
                experience as follows:
                            ``(i) At least 3 individuals shall be 
                        selected from departments, agencies, 
                        instrumentalities of the Federal Government, 
                        Territories, State governments, or local 
                        governments, 1 of which shall be the 
                        Administrator.
                            ``(ii) At least 3 individuals shall be 
                        selected from the gas, carbon dioxide, or 
                        hazardous liquid industries, such as operators, 
                        trade associations, inspection technology, 
                        coating, and cathodic protection vendors, and 
                        pipeline inspection organizations.
                            ``(iii) At least 3 individuals shall be 
                        selected from public safety advocate 
                        organizations, such as pipeline safety and 
                        environmental advocacy groups, public safety-
                        focused research institutions, or labor and 
                        worker safety representatives.
                    ``(C) Board terms.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Each member of the 
                        Governing Board shall be appointed for a term 
                        of 3 years, with the terms of 3 of the members 
                        expiring each year.
                            ``(ii) Term expiration.--The term of at 
                        least 1 member of each of the 3 stakeholder 
                        groups established in subparagraph (B) shall 
                        expire each year.
                            ``(iii) Initial appointment.--In the 
                        initial appointment of members, terms of 1, 2, 
                        and 3 years shall be established to allow the 
                        terms of 3 members to expire thereafter each 
                        year.
                            ``(iv) Reappointment.--Each member may be 
                        reappointed for consecutive 3-year terms.
                    ``(D) Co-chairs.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Governing Board 
                        shall be co-chaired by--
                                    ``(I) the Administrator;
                                    ``(II) a representative of the 
                                stakeholder group described in 
                                subparagraph (B)(ii), who shall be 
                                appointed with advice and consent of 
                                the Governing Board; and
                                    ``(III) a representative of the 
                                stakeholder group described in 
                                subparagraph (B)(iii), who shall be 
                                appointed with advice and consent of 
                                the Governing Board.
                            ``(ii) Responsibilities.--The co-chairs of 
                        the Governing Board shall be jointly 
                        responsible for organizing and conducting 
                        meetings of the Governing Board.
                    ``(E) Authority.--The Governing Board shall make 
                decisions by a super-majority of two-thirds plus 1 of 
                the Governing Board members and shall have the 
                authority to--
                            ``(i) govern and provide strategic 
                        oversight to the VIS;
                            ``(ii) develop governance documents, 
                        including a Governing Board charter that is 
                        made available to the public, and that 
                        describes the scope of the authority and 
                        objectives of the Board;
                            ``(iii) select a Third-Party Data Manager 
                        described in paragraph (4) with expertise in 
                        data protection, aggregation, and analytics and 
                        geographic information systems;
                            ``(iv) approve the criteria and procedures 
                        governing how the Third-Party Data Manager 
                        described in paragraph (4) will receive and 
                        accept pipeline safety data and information and 
                        who will have the authority to view VIS data;
                            ``(v) establish and appoint members to 
                        Issue Analysis Teams described in paragraph (5) 
                        that consist of technical and subject matter 
                        experts;
                            ``(vi) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
                        Teams described in paragraph (5) to identify 
                        the issues and topics to be analyzed;
                            ``(vii) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
                        Teams described in paragraph (5) to specify the 
                        type of de-identified pipeline safety data and 
                        information that Issue Analysis Teams need in 
                        order to analyze the issues identified under 
                        clause (vi) and topics;
                            ``(viii) determine the information to be 
                        disseminated;
                            ``(ix) determine the reports to be 
                        disseminated;
                            ``(x) at least once per year, issue a 
                        report to the public on VIS processes, 
                        membership of the Governing Board, issues or 
                        topics being investigated and analyzed, 
                        pipeline safety data and information that the 
                        VIS has requested for submission to the VIS, 
                        and safety trends identified; and
                            ``(xi) perform other functions as the 
                        Governing Board decides are necessary or 
                        appropriate consistent with the purpose of the 
                        VIS.
            ``(3) Program manager.--The Administrator shall provide the 
        day-to-day program management and administrative support for 
        the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party Data Manager 
        described in paragraph (4).
            ``(4) Third-party data manager.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A Third-Party Data Manager shall 
                provide data management and data oversight services for 
                the VIS.
                    ``(B) Responsibilities.--In fulfilling the 
                responsibilities described in subparagraph (A), the 
                Third-Party Data Manager shall--
                            ``(i) accept pipeline safety data and 
                        information submitted to the VIS that meets the 
                        criteria and procedures established by the 
                        Governing Board under paragraph (2)(E)(iv);
                            ``(ii) de-identify, securely store, and 
                        manage pipeline safety data and information 
                        that is accepted by the VIS;
                            ``(iii) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
                        Teams described in paragraph (5) to aggregate 
                        and analyze de-identified pipeline safety data 
                        and information that is accepted by the VIS;
                            ``(iv) prepare reports as requested by the 
                        Governing Board regarding the type of pipeline 
                        safety data and information that is managed by 
                        the VIS; and
                            ``(v) make recommendations regarding the 
                        management of pipeline safety data and 
                        information, as appropriate.
            ``(5) Issue analysis teams.--Issue Analysis Teams of the 
        VIS shall--
                    ``(A) work with the Third-Party Data Manager 
                described in paragraph (4) to aggregate and analyze de-
                identified pipeline safety data and information 
                accepted by the VIS;
                    ``(B) collaborate with the Governing Board to 
                identify issues and topics for analysis and submit 
                internal reports and recommendations to the Governing 
                Board; and
                    ``(C) prepare reports as requested by the Governing 
                Board regarding issues and topics identified for 
                additional research by the Governing Board.
            ``(6) Participation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The submission of pipeline 
                safety data and information to the VIS by any person 
                shall be voluntary, with no person compelled to 
                participate in or submit data or information for 
                inclusion in the VIS.
                    ``(B) Acceptance of information.--The VIS shall 
                implement policies to ensure that all operator data or 
                information submitted has been authorized by the 
                operator for submission.
                    ``(C) Sharing of information.--The Governing Board 
                shall encourage the voluntary sharing of pipeline 
                safety data and information among operators of gas, 
                carbon dioxide, and hazardous liquid gathering, 
                transmission, and distribution pipelines and 
                facilities, employees, labor unions, contractors, in-
                line inspection service providers, non-destructive 
                evaluation experts, the Pipeline and Hazardous 
                Materials Safety Administration, representatives of 
                State pipeline safety agencies, local and Tribal 
                governments, pipeline safety advocacy groups, 
                manufacturers, research and academic institutions, and 
                other pipeline stakeholders.
    ``(c) Information Sharing.--
            ``(1) Inclusions.--Pipeline safety data and information 
        accepted by the VIS may include--
                    ``(A) pipeline integrity risk analysis information;
                    ``(B) lessons learned from accidents and near 
                misses;
                    ``(C) process improvements;
                    ``(D) technology deployment practices;
                    ``(E) information obtained through VIS pipeline 
                safety surveys of pipeline operator employees, as long 
                as such surveys are voluntarily agreed to by the 
                pipeline operator; and
                    ``(F) pipeline safety data and information which 
                may lead to the identification of pipeline safety 
                risks.
    ``(d) Confidentiality.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Confidentiality.--To facilitate the sharing 
                of otherwise non-public pipeline safety data and 
                information (hereinafter known as `non-public 
                information') in the VIS, non-public information 
                accepted by the VIS and which may be analyzed, stored, 
                or managed by the VIS shall be kept confidential by the 
                VIS.
                    ``(B) Rule of construction.--Subparagraph (A) shall 
                not be construed to apply to public information that 
                may be submitted to the VIS or to non-public 
                information that is required to be submitted to any 
                Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency under any other 
                provision of law.
            ``(2) Disclosure of de-identified, non-public 
        information.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (e) 
                and (f), the Governing Board may approve the disclosure 
                of de-identified, non-public information by the VIS or 
                by the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
                Materials Safety Administration based on analysis of 
                the de-identified information and any safety findings 
                or recommendations that the Governing Board in the sole 
                discretion of the Board determines to publish or 
                authorizes the Administrator to publish to improve 
                pipeline safety.
                    ``(B) Public reports.--In issuing public reports 
                under subsection (b)(2)(E)(x), the Governing Board 
                shall approve the disclosure of de-identified, non-
                public information by the VIS that the Governing Board 
                determines is necessary to adequately describe and 
                illustrate the issues and topics being investigated and 
                analyzed by the VIS.
            ``(3) Limitation.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
        person, including any VIS Governing Board member, the Program 
        Manager, the Third-Party Data Manager described in subsection 
        (b)(4), an Issue Analysis Team member described in subsection 
        (b)(5), or any Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency, having 
        or obtaining access to non-public information by virtue of the 
        acceptance of such information to the VIS, shall release or 
        communicate VIS held non-public information, in either an 
        identified or de-identified form, to any person that does not 
        have the authority to view VIS data.
    ``(e) Applicability of FOIA.--Any non-public information that is 
accepted by the VIS and which may be analyzed, stored, or managed by 
the VIS and subsequently obtained by the Secretary or the Administrator 
by virtue of the acceptance of such information to the VIS shall be 
exempt from the requirements of section 552 of title 5 and specifically 
exempt from release under subsection (b)(3) of such section.
    ``(f) Exclusions.--
            ``(1) Excluded evidence.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), non-public information accepted by the VIS and which may 
        be analyzed, stored, or managed by the VIS shall not be 
        obtained from the VIS--
                    ``(A) for use as evidence for any purpose in any 
                Federal, State, local, Tribal, or private litigation, 
                including any action or proceeding; or
                    ``(B) to initiate any enforcement action or civil 
                litigation against a pipeline operator or employees or 
                contractors of such operator relating to a probable 
                violation under this chapter (including any regulation 
                promulgated or order issued under this chapter).
            ``(2) Exclusion from discovery.--Except as provided in 
        paragraph (3), non-public information accepted by the VIS and 
        which may be analyzed, stored, or managed by the VIS shall not 
        be subject to discovery from the VIS in any Federal, State, 
        local, Tribal, or private litigation or other proceeding.
            ``(3) Limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions described 
        in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to non-public 
        information accepted by the VIS that is--
                    ``(A) evidence of a criminal violation;
                    ``(B) not related to the established purpose of the 
                VIS described in subsection (a)(2);
                    ``(C) otherwise required to be reported to the 
                Secretary under part 191 (including information about 
                an incident or accident), part 192, part 194, part 195, 
                or part 199 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
                (or successor regulations), or required to be reported 
                under the requirements of a State authority; or
                    ``(D) developed or obtained from a source other 
                than the VIS, including through discovery from a person 
                or an entity other than the VIS in an enforcement 
                action or private litigation.
            ``(4) Additional limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions 
        described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to non-
        public information that is submitted to but not accepted by the 
        VIS.
    ``(g) Effect on State Law.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect Federal, State, or local pipeline safety law.
    ``(h) No Effect on Discovery.--
            ``(1) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section or any 
        rule, regulation, or amendment issued pursuant to this section 
        shall be construed to create a defense to a discovery request 
        or otherwise limit or affect the discovery of pipeline safety 
        data and information arising from a cause of action authorized 
        under any Federal, State, or local law.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
        exclusions from discovery from the VIS as described in 
        subsection (f)(2).
    ``(i) Expenses.--
            ``(1) In general.--Members of the VIS Governing Board and 
        Issue Analysis Teams may be paid expenses under section 5703 of 
        title 5.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--A payment under this 
        subsection shall not be construed to make a member of the VIS 
        Governing Board an officer or employee of the Federal 
        Government.
            ``(3) Federal employees.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
        members of the VIS Governing Board that are employees of the 
        Federal Government.
    ``(j) Report on VIS.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available, 
a report that includes--
            ``(1) a detailed accounting of the allocation and uses of 
        expenditures authorized under this section;
            ``(2) an estimate of the annual cost to maintain the VIS 
        program, including an assessment and projection of costs 
        associated with the Third-Party Data Manager, data sourcing and 
        storage, data governance, data architecture, data consumption, 
        and the VIS operations and administration by the Pipeline and 
        Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
            ``(3) the methodology for determining the estimate under 
        paragraph (2);
            ``(4) the number of expected participants in the VIS 
        program;
            ``(5) the number of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
        Administration positions needed to maintain the VIS program;
            ``(6) the projected timeline for the implementation of the 
        VIS program to meet the purposes under subsection (a)(2); and
            ``(7) recommendations to ensure sufficient funding for the 
        ongoing activities of the VIS program, including a reasonable 
        fee assessed on authorized participants in the VIS program.
    ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the establishment of a voluntary information-sharing 
program under this section--
            ``(1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            ``(3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
            ``(4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``60144.Voluntary information-sharing system.''.

SEC. 25. CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINES.

    (a) Purpose and General Authority.--Section 60102 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (1)(B)(i) by inserting ``or 
                carbon dioxide'' after ``hazardous liquids''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                            (i) by redesignating clause (ii) and (iii) 
                        as clause (iii) and (iv), respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after clause (i) the 
                        following:
                            ``(ii) carbon dioxide pipeline safety 
                        information;'';
            (2) in subsection (c) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide 
        pipeline facility'' after ``hazardous liquid pipeline 
        facility'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the semicolon 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) major carbon dioxide pipeline facilities of 
                the operator;'';
            (4) in subsection (e) by striking ``transportation of gas 
        or hazardous liquid'' and inserting ``transportation of gas, 
        hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide'';
            (5) in subsection (f)(1) by striking ``natural gas 
        transmission pipeline or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
        and inserting ``natural gas transmission pipeline, hazardous 
        liquid pipeline facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
        facilities'' each place it appears;
            (6) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``regulate carbon 
                dioxide'' and all that follows through ``by such a 
                facility'' and inserting ``prescribe standards related 
                to pipeline facilities to ensure the safe 
                transportation of carbon dioxide in a liquid or 
                supercritical state by such facilities'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2)(B) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(B) Inclusion of applicable standards.--The 
                Secretary shall establish the minimum safety standards 
                in part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
                as applicable.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3) by inserting `` prescribe the 
                location of a carbon dioxide storage facility or to'' 
                before ``regulate piping'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4);
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Storage of carbon dioxide.--
                    ``(A) Minimum safety standards.--The Secretary 
                shall prescribe minimum safety standards for the 
                injection, withdrawal, and storage of carbon dioxide 
                incidental to pipeline transportation.
                    ``(B) Storage of carbon dioxide incidental to 
                pipeline transportation.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `storage of carbon dioxide incidental to pipeline 
                transportation'--
                            ``(i) means the temporary receipt and 
                        storage of carbon dioxide transported by 
                        pipeline for continued transport; but
                            ``(ii) does not include--
                                    ``(I) with respect to each State, 
                                the long-term containment of carbon 
                                dioxide in subsurface geologic 
                                formations or other activity subject to 
                                the requirements of a State underground 
                                injection control program prescribed by 
                                the Administrator of the Environmental 
                                Protection Agency and applicable to the 
                                State, or adopted by the State and 
                                approved by the Administrator, under 
                                part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 300h et seq.); or
                                    ``(II) the temporary storage of 
                                carbon dioxide in any excepted 
                                pipelines listed in paragraph (b) of 
                                section 195.1 of title 49, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations, as of the date of 
                                enactment of the PIPES Act of 2023.''; 
                                and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Dispersion modeling.--
                    ``(A) Safety standards.--The Secretary shall 
                prescribe minimum safety standards to require each 
                operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline facility to 
                employ vapor dispersion modeling to identify high 
                consequence areas, as defined at section 195.450 of 
                title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and paragraph 
                (7)(I)(A) of Appendix C to part 195 of such title, that 
                could be affected by a release from such a pipeline.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In performing the vapor 
                dispersion modeling under subparagraph (A), operators 
                of a carbon dioxide pipeline facility shall consider--
                            ``(i) the topography surrounding the 
                        pipeline;
                            ``(ii) atmospheric conditions that could 
                        affect vapor dispersion;
                            ``(iii) pipeline operating characteristics; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) additional substances present in the 
                        pipeline that could affect vapor dispersion.
                    ``(C) Maintenance of files.--The Secretary shall 
                require each operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline 
                facility to maintain records documenting the areas that 
                could affect high consequence areas, as determined 
                using the vapor dispersion modeling required pursuant 
                to subparagraph (A), in the manual of written 
                procedures for operating, maintaining, and handling 
                emergencies for such pipeline.
                    ``(D) Protection of sensitive information.--In 
                responding to a public request for information 
                regarding carbon dioxide dispersion modeling, the 
                Secretary may, taking into account public safety, 
                security, and the need for public access, exclude from 
                disclosure (as the Secretary determines appropriate)--
                            ``(i) security sensitive information 
                        related to strategies for responding to worst-
                        case carbon dioxide release scenarios;
                            ``(ii) security sensitive information 
                        related to carbon dioxide release plumes; and
                            ``(iii) security sensitive information 
                        related to plans for responding to a carbon 
                        dioxide release.
                    ``(E) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this 
                section may be construed to require disclosure of 
                information or records that are exempt from disclosure 
                under section 552 of title 5.''.
    (b) Regulations Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking titled ``Pipeline Safety: 
Safety of Carbon Dioxide and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines'' (or any other 
notice of proposed rulemaking covering substantially similar regulatory 
requirements), the Secretary shall issue a final rule based on such 
proposed rulemaking. The final rule shall include updates to such 
regulations as are necessary to implement section 60102(i) of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), and other carbon 
dioxide safety issues identified by the Secretary.
    (c) State Pipeline Safety Program Certifications.--Section 
60105(b)(9)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``natural gas and hazardous liquid'' and inserting ``natural gas, 
hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide''.
    (d) State Pipeline Safety Grants.--Section 60107(a)(2) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``or interstate carbon 
dioxide'' after ``interstate hazardous liquid''.
    (e) Inspection and Maintenance.--Section 60108 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``gas pipeline 
        facility or hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting 
        ``gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facility''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)(1) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
        liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline 
        facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or carbon dioxide 
        pipeline facility''.
    (f) High-density Population Areas and Environmentally Sensitive 
Areas.--Section 60109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide'' after ``by 
                operators of hazardous liquid'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and carbon dioxide'' after 
                ``each hazardous liquid'' each place it appears; and
                    (C) in clause (ii) by inserting ``or carbon 
                dioxide'' after ``there is a hazardous liquid''; and
            (2) in subsection (b) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide'' 
        after ``there is a hazardous liquid''; and
            (3) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in the heading by inserting ``and Carbon 
                Dioxide'' after ``Liquid''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``or carbon 
                dioxide'' after ``underwater hazardous liquid''.
    (g) Technical Safety Standards Committees.--Section 60115 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``transporting hazardous liquid or 
                operating a hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and 
                inserting ``transporting hazardous liquid, transporting 
                carbon dioxide, operating a hazardous liquid pipeline 
                facility, or operating a carbon dioxide pipeline 
                facility'' each place it appears; and
                    (B) by striking ``transporting hazardous liquid and 
                of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
                ``transporting hazardous liquid or transporting carbon 
                dioxide and of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities or 
                carbon dioxide pipeline facilities'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(3)(B) by striking ``the natural gas 
        or hazardous liquid industry'' and inserting ``the natural gas 
        industry, the hazardous liquid industry, or the carbon dioxide 
        industry'';
            (3) in subsection (b)(4)(B) by striking ``natural gas 
        pipelines or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and 
        inserting ``natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipeline 
        facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities'';
            (4) in subsection (c)(1)(B) by striking ``transporting 
        hazardous liquid and for hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
        and inserting ``transporting carbon dioxide, hazardous liquid 
        pipeline facilities and carbon dioxide facilities''; and
            (5) in subsection (d)(1) by striking ``transporting 
        hazardous liquid and for hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
        and inserting ``transporting hazardous liquid, transporting 
        carbon dioxide, hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, and 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facilities''.
    (h) Public Education Programs.--Section 60116 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid pipeline 
facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility'' each place 
that it appears.
    (i) Administrative Provisions.--Section 60117 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (o)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``liquid 
                pipeline facility or liquefied natural gas pipeline 
                facility'' and inserting ``liquid pipeline facility, a 
                liquefied natural gas pipeline facility, or a carbon 
                dioxide pipeline facility''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II) by inserting ``or 
                carbon dioxide pipeline facility'' after ``hazardous 
                liquid pipeline facility''; and
            (2) in subsection (p)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
                liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting ``gas 
                pipeline facilities, hazardous liquid pipeline 
                facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (8) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
                liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline 
                facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or carbon 
                dioxide pipeline facility''.
    (j) Criminal Penalties.--Section 60123(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``an interstate hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, or either an intrastate gas pipeline facility or 
intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``an 
interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facility, an interstate carbon 
dioxide pipeline facility, or either an intrastate gas pipeline 
facility, an intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or an 
intrastate carbon dioxide facility''.
    (k) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
pipelines'' and inserting ``gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, 
or carbon dioxide pipelines''.
    (l) Dumping Within Pipeline Rights-of-way.--Section 60128(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``interstate gas 
pipeline facility or interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' 
and inserting ``interstate gas pipeline facility, interstate hazardous 
liquid pipeline facility, or interstate carbon dioxide pipeline 
facility''.
    (m) Verification of Pipeline Qualification Programs.--Section 
60131(g) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) with respect to a carbon dioxide pipeline facility, 
        activities equivalent to the activities described with respect 
        to a hazardous liquid pipeline facility under section 195.501 
        of such title.''.
    (n) Enforcement Transparency.--Section 60135(a)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide 
pipeline''.
    (o) Pipeline Control Room Management.--Section 60137 and title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
        pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
        dioxide pipeline'';
            (2) in subsection (d) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
        pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
        dioxide pipeline''; and
            (3) in subsection (e) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
        pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
        dioxide pipeline''.
    (p) Pipeline Safety Enhancement Programs.--Section 60142 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``or'' at the end;
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) a carbon dioxide pipeline facility; or'';
            (2) in subsection (k)(2)(A) by striking ``interstate gas or 
        hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
        ``interstate gas pipeline facilities, interstate hazardous 
        liquid pipeline facilities, or interstate carbon dioxide 
        pipeline facilities''; and
            (3) in subsection (l)(1) by striking ``interstate gas or 
        hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
        ``interstate gas pipeline facilities, interstate hazardous 
        liquid pipeline facilities, or interstate carbon dioxide 
        pipeline facilities''.
    (q) Idled Pipelines.--Section 60143 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2) by inserting ``carbon dioxide,'' 
        after ``hazardous liquid,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking ``gas transmission and 
        hazardous liquid pipelines'' and inserting ``gas transmission, 
        hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines'' each place it 
        appears.
    (r) User Fees.--Section 60301 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``natural gas and 
        hazardous liquids'' and inserting ``natural gas, hazardous 
        liquids, and carbon dioxide'';
            (2) in subsection (b) by striking ``gas pipeline facility, 
        or a hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas 
        pipeline facility, a hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or a 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facility''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) related to a carbon dioxide pipeline facility may be 
        used only for an activity related to carbon dioxide under 
        chapter 601 of this title; and''.

SEC. 26. OPPORTUNITY FOR FORMAL HEARING.

    (a) Enforcement Procedures.--Section 60117(b)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (J) by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) allow the respondent an opportunity for a 
                hearing on the record conducted by an administrative 
                law judge, in accordance with section 554 of title 5, 
                for a notice of probable violation enforcement matter--
                            ``(i) with a proposed civil penalty of at 
                        least $125,000; or
                            ``(ii) where the respondent can reasonably 
                        show the cost of the proposed compliance action 
                        will exceed $125,000.''.
    (b) Protocols for Public Hearings.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
publish protocols for hearings open to the public pursuant to section 
60117(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, that ensure an orderly 
process and protection of confidential information.
    (c) Report on Use of Formal Hearing Process.--Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report detailing--
            (1) the number of hearings held pursuant to subparagraph 
        (K) of section 60117(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) the status of each such hearing;
            (3) an analysis comparing the informal hearing process and 
        the formal hearing process that describes--
                    (A) the length of time to resolve an enforcement 
                action under section 60117 of title 49, United States 
                Code;
                    (B) the cost of the enforcement action process to--
                            (i) the respondent; and
                            (ii) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
                        Safety Administration; and
                    (C) the number of cases that reach settlement and 
                the outcome of such cases;
            (4) any additional resources that are needed by the 
        Secretary in response to implementing this provision for each 
        fiscal year to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a); 
        and
            (5) any safety improvements identified as a result of the 
        implementation of subparagraph (K) of section 60117(b)(1) of 
        title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 27. STATE PIPELINE SAFETY GRANTS REPORTING.

    Section 60107(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``After notifying'' and inserting ``(1) 
        Withholding of payment.--After notifying''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) Budget estimate.--The budget estimates of the Secretary for 
each fiscal year shall include--
                    ``(A) a summary of amounts claimed, amounts 
                reimbursed, and the percentages reimbursed in the 
                preceding 3 fiscal years for the program under this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) the estimated funding necessary to fund 80 
                percent of the cost of the personnel, equipment, and 
                activities under this section for the subsequent 
                calendar year.''.

SEC. 28. INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE BREAKOUT TANKS.

    (a) Inspection of In-service Breakout Tanks.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall review and, if determined that such action will 
achieve an equivalent level of safety, shall amend the safety standards 
in part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, relating to the 
internal inspection of the bottoms of in-service breakout tanks to 
allow for risk-based inspections.
    (b) Consideration.--If the Secretary amends the safety standards 
described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the 5th 
edition of standard 653 published by the American Petroleum Institute 
issued November 2014 titled ``Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and 
Reconstruction''.
    (c) Scope.--If the Secretary amends the safety standards described 
in subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that such risk-based 
inspection standards achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to 
the level of safety required under such part 195, as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 29. DISCLOSURE OF SAFETY INFORMATION ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct an 
assessment on how gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid pipeline 
facility, and carbon dioxide pipeline facility owners and operators 
engage with, and provide safety information to, the public and State or 
local emergency response organizations.
    (b) Safety Information.--In conducting the assessment required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider--
            (1) pipeline safety materials that the owners and operators 
        of pipelines described in subsection (a) voluntarily provide to 
        the public;
            (2) methods of interaction between pipeline facility owners 
        and operators and the public and State and local emergency 
        response entities;
            (3) Federal, State, and local government regulations 
        governing information that pipeline facility owners and 
        operators are required to share with the public;
            (4) industry consensus standards regarding the sharing of 
        pipeline safety and emergency response information;
            (5) specific data that could be shared with local and State 
        emergency response and planning agencies, local public 
        officials, and governing councils to enhance information 
        sharing and pipeline safety, specifically--
                    (A) the identification of general pipeline 
                location, or information including location, the 
                products transported by pipeline or stored at an 
                underground natural gas facility, data on breakout 
                tanks or production facilities that includes pipeline 
                classification and impact areas, and owner or operator 
                emergency response planning materials; and
                    (B) information emergency response organizations 
                ask pipeline owners and operators to voluntarily share 
                with the public;
            (6) emergency response materials that pipeline facility 
        owners and operators voluntarily provide to emergency response 
        organizations;
            (7) how pipeline facility owners and operators communicate 
        with emergency response organizations, including--
                    (A) the functional quality and use of data shared 
                through the National Pipeline Mapping System; and
                    (B) the measures taken by emergency response 
                organizations to secure any sensitive information 
                shared;
            (8) emergency response planning guidance and requirements 
        issued by emergency response organizations for pipeline 
        facility owners and operators; and
            (9) changes emergency response organizations recommend to 
        improve communication with the public and emergency response 
        coordination organizations.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the assessment under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consult with both large and small pipeline 
facility owners and operators, urban and rural State, local, and Tribal 
governments, emergency response organizations, and pipeline safety 
organizations.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after completion 
of the assessment in subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 
containing the findings of the assessment under subsection (a) and any 
legislative recommendations of the Secretary.
    (e) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the submission of the 
report under subsection (d), the Secretary may issue guidance to 
improve pipeline safety information sharing with the public and other 
interested parties to advance pipeline safety.
    (f) Definitions.--The definitions contained in section 60101(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, shall apply to this section.

SEC. 30. ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PIPELINE SAFETY DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Evaluation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall evaluate the 
definition in section 192.5(b)(3)(ii) of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and the definition of identified site in section 192.903 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to determine the adequacy for 
protecting buildings and occupied outdoor facilities from pipeline 
safety incidents.
    (b) Considerations.--In carrying out the evaluation under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider--
            (1) whether to revise the definition of the occupancy 
        counts of these areas;
            (2) whether consistency in minimum occupancy thresholds 
        throughout part 192 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
        would improve safety; and
            (3) whether defining the occupancy counts in these areas as 
        20 or more persons on at least a total of 50 days within any 
        12-month period would improve--
                    (A) safety; and
                    (B) the efficiency of carrying out class 
                determinations.
    (c) Modification of Definitions.--The Secretary shall issue such 
regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to modify the 
definitions in subsection (a) to increase safety for the protection of 
buildings and occupied outdoor facilities from pipeline safety 
incidents.

SEC. 31. REPORT ASSESSING THE COSTS OF PIPELINE FAILURES.

    (a) Report Assessing the Costs of Pipeline Failures.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies under which the National Academies shall, not later than 3 
years after such date of enactment, conduct a study of the direct and 
indirect costs related to the failure or shutdown of a gas, hazardous 
liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility.
    (b) Elements.--The study described under subsection (a) may include 
an analysis of--
            (1) the direct and indirect costs related to a failure or 
        shutdown of a gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
        facility, including local community emergency response costs, 
        local planning for emergency response, and local community 
        impact costs of loss of product;
            (2) the costs to an operator of such a facility of 
        complying with enforcement actions related to a pipeline 
        facility failure or shutdown, such as corrective action or 
        consent orders, safety orders, and emergency orders;
            (3) the direct and indirect costs related to failure or 
        shutdown of a gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
        facility resulting from a cyber attack or intrusion, including 
        any economic and supply chain impacts;
            (4) the impact to emergency response planning and resources 
        of local communities, operators of gas, hazardous liquid, or 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facilities, and the State, Federal, 
        local, and Tribal governments in responding to and mitigating 
        the impacts of a failure or shutdown of a gas, hazardous 
        liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility;
            (5) the costs of environmental remediation resulting from a 
        gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility 
        failure or shutdown;
            (6) the economic impact of a gas, hazardous liquid, or 
        carbon dioxide pipeline facility failure or shutdown, 
        including--
                    (A) increases in product costs;
                    (B) damage to public and private property; and
                    (C) the potential costs of moving gas, hazardous 
                liquid, or carbon dioxide by other means of 
                transportation, including by rail, truck, and barge; 
                and
            (7) increased energy costs to households and businesses 
        reliant on the movement of the gas, hazardous liquid or carbon 
        dioxide due to the shutdown or failure of a pipeline facility.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the National Academies shall consult with economists, State, Federal, 
local, and Tribal governments, emergency management officials, and 
pipeline stakeholders, including pipeline facility operators and public 
safety and environmental groups.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the study conducted 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) require the National Academies to submit to the 
        Secretary a report on such study; and
            (2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing 
        the results of such study.

SEC. 32. STUDY ON LOCALIZED EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE 
              FACILITIES INCIDENTS.

    (a) GAO Review.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a study assessing--
            (1) the need and feasibility of requiring owners and 
        operators of covered facilities to establish and maintain a 
        localized emergency alert system; and
            (2) whether such an alert system would be best maintained 
        by State or local emergency management officials or owners and 
        operators of such facilities.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) consider the feasibility, benefits, costs, and safety 
        impacts to affected stakeholders, including owners and 
        operators of covered facilities, the public, and State and 
        local emergency management officials, of requiring a localized 
        emergency alert system;
            (2) consider whether a localized emergency alert system can 
        be established by such owners and operators or incorporated 
        into existing public alert, broadcast, and electronic emergency 
        alert systems, including by assessing--
                    (A) whether a localized emergency alert system 
                established and maintained by an owner or operator of a 
                covered facility would conflict with, or impede the 
                operation of, existing emergency alert systems;
                    (B) the feasibility, benefits, costs, and 
                technological needs of incorporating facility system 
                data into existing emergency alert systems;
                    (C) whether local emergency management 
                organizations may need additional hardware, software, 
                personnel, or communications support to incorporate a 
                localized emergency alert system into an existing 
                emergency alert system;
                    (D) whether other systems could support 
                notification to the public of an incident or accident 
                at a covered facility, such as the National Response 
                Center, the Reverse-911 telecommunication system, or 
                severe weather warning systems; and
                    (E) whether localized emergency alert systems have 
                been considered, studied, or implemented in other high 
                hazard industries, such as industrial gases, chemicals, 
                petrochemicals, and petroleum refining, and the results 
                of any study or implementation of such systems in such 
                industries;
            (3) consult with owners and operators of large and small 
        covered facilities, public safety advocacy groups, and urban 
        and rural State and local emergency management officials;
            (4) assess the adequacy of existing practices of owners and 
        operators of covered facilities in providing timely and 
        pertinent safety communication about an incident or accident at 
        such facility to local communities affected by such incident or 
        accident;
            (5) assess whether there are legal hurdles to establishing 
        a localized emergency alert system that uses voluntarily 
        collected data or opt-in procedures, including any data 
        security considerations;
            (6) consider the feasibility, benefits, costs, and other 
        impacts to State and Federal safety regulators who would 
        oversee any requirement of owners and operators of covered 
        facilities;
            (7) assess the types of incidents and accidents at covered 
        facilities, by commodities transported and the unique 
        characteristics of such incident or accident, that should be 
        reported through a localized emergency alert system and the 
        content of the information that should be provided;
            (8) assess which members of the public should receive 
        communications from localized emergency alert systems, 
        including individuals, persons, or organizations located in the 
        vicinity of high consequence areas, unusually sensitive areas, 
        and any other defining characteristics as determined by the 
        Comptroller General; and
            (9) consider whether any Federal requirements or mandates 
        are needed in order to establish an effective localized 
        emergency alert system for incidents or accidents at covered 
        facilities.
    (c) Recommendations.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
study conducted under subsection (a) any policy recommendations 
developed as a result of the information studied and assessed under 
subsection (b).
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered facility.--The term ``covered facility'' means 
        a gas pipeline facility, a hazardous liquid pipeline facility, 
        or a carbon dioxide pipeline facility, including a liquefied 
        natural gas storage facility or an underground natural gas 
        storage facility, as defined in section 60101 of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Localized emergency alert system.--The term ``localized 
        emergency alert system'' means a system that provides to 
        individuals in the immediate vicinity of a covered facility an 
        electronic notification of an incident or accident at such 
        facility that presents an immediate risk to life or property.

SEC. 33. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE.

    (a) In General.--Section 60139 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by inserting ``except as 
        provided in subsection (e),'' before ``require'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Testing Records Working Group.--
            ``(1) Previously tested transmission lines.--Until the 
        completion of the report of the Working Group required under 
        paragraph (2) and the rulemaking proceeding required under 
        paragraph (3), the Secretary shall not require an owner or 
        operator of a pipeline facility to reconfirm the maximum 
        allowable operating pressure of a natural gas transmission 
        pipeline pursuant to section 192.624 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, if the owner or operator confirms the 
        material strength of the pipeline through prior testing 
        conducted to a sufficient minimum pressure in accordance with 
        prevailing safety standards and practices, including any 
        applicable class location factors, and documented in 
        contemporaneous records.
            ``(2) Working group report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No later than 30 days after the 
                date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2023, the 
                Secretary of Transportation shall create a fairly 
                balanced working group (hereinafter referred to as the 
                `Working Group') to produce a report containing 
                recommendations on the minimum pressure and 
                contemporaneous records that are sufficient to confirm 
                the material strength of a pipeline through prior 
                testing.
                    ``(B) Composition of working group.--The Working 
                Group--
                            ``(i) shall be comprised of the 
                        Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
                        Materials Safety Administration, State pipeline 
                        regulators, the public, and industry 
                        stakeholders active in the operation of natural 
                        gas pipelines; and
                            ``(ii) may include members of the Technical 
                        Pipeline Safety Standards Committee or be 
                        conducted in a manner that otherwise ensures 
                        input from the public, as determined 
                        appropriate by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Consideration.--In preparing the report 
                required under paragraph (1), the Working Group--
                            ``(i) shall consider historical practices 
                        and all available research conducted regarding 
                        minimum pressure and contemporaneous records on 
                        transmission pipelines; and
                            ``(ii) may consider the need for any 
                        additional research or analyses needed to 
                        demonstrate the adequacy of any strength 
                        testing performed.
                    ``(D) Applicability of faca.--Chapter 10 of title 5 
                shall not apply to the Working Group.
                    ``(E) Submission of report.--Not later than 180 
                days after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 
                2023, the Working Group shall submit to the Secretary 
                the report produced under paragraph (2), including any 
                minority views.
            ``(3) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after receiving 
        the report described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
        initiate a rulemaking proceeding under section 60102 to revise, 
        or make a technical correction to, the maximum allowable 
        operating pressure reconfirmation regulations issued pursuant 
        to this section in effect as of the date of enactment of the 
        PIPES Act of 2023.''.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 721

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 6494

                      [Report No. 118-884, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
            pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 16, 2024

 Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with 
                              an amendment

                           December 16, 2024

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee 
 of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
```