Safer Pipelines Act of 2019

To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve the safety of the Nation’s natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline systems, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 3. Purpose and general authority. Sec. 4. Risk analysis and integrity management programs. Sec. 5. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness. Sec. 6. Actions by private persons. Sec. 7. Civil penalties. Sec. 8. Criminal penalties. Sec. 9. Direct hire authority for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Sec. 10. Report. 2. Authorization of appropriations (a) Operational expenses There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for the necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration the following amounts: (1) $24,215,000 for fiscal year 2020. (2) $24,941,450 for fiscal year 2021. (3) $26,460,000 for fiscal year 2022. (4) $27,254,000 for fiscal year 2023. (b) Gas and hazardous liquid Section 60125(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D) and inserting the following: (A) $160,800,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which $10,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $50,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; (B) $165,624,000 for fiscal year 2021 of which $10,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $50,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; (C) $170,600,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which $10,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $50,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; and (D) $175,700,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which $10,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $50,885,000 shall be expended for making grants. ; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D) and inserting the following: (A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which $5,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $9,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; (B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which $5,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $9,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; (C) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which $5,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $9,000,000 shall be expended for making grants; and (D) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which $5,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and $9,000,000 shall be expended for making grants. ; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2019 $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 (c) Emergency response grants Section 60125(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015 $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 (d) Pipeline safety information grants to communities Section 60130(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 2(b) of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary shall expend $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out this section. Such amounts shall not be derived from user fees collected under section 60301 section 2(a) of the Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 (e) State damage prevention programs Section 60134(i) of title 49, United States Code is amended by striking $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015 $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 (f) One-Call notification programs Section 6107 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking $1,058,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 3. Purpose and general authority (a) Cost-Benefit analysis Section 60102(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking subparagraphs (C) through (E); and (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and (2) by striking paragraphs (3) through (7). (b) Safety condition reports Section 60102(h)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking State authorities State officials, including local emergency responders and appropriate on-scene coordinators for any applicable contingency plans 4. Risk analysis and integrity management programs (a) Direct assessments Section 60109(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (12) Use of direct assessments (A) Transmission pipeline facilities regulation Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall issue regulations for methods of assessment of transmission pipeline facilities under paragraph (3) that prioritize methods that would provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing. (B) Distribution pipelines study Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing— (i) the results of a study of methods of assessment of distribution pipelines that may be used under paragraph (3), other than direct assessment, to determine whether any such methods— (I) would provide an equal or greater level of safety than direct assessment of such pipelines; and (II) are feasible; and (ii) any recommendations based on such study. . (b) Automatic or remote shutoff valves Section 60109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (h) Automatic or remote shutoff valves for transmission pipeline facilities (1) Requirement (A) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, each operator of a transmission pipeline facility that is located in a high consequence area (as defined in subsection (g)) shall, based on a risk assessment, install for the transmission pipeline facility automatic or remote shutoff valves, as appropriate. (B) Inspection and enforcement The Secretary shall conduct inspections under section 60117(c) to determine whether each operator of a transmission pipeline facility to which this paragraph applies is complying with this section. (2) Exception If the Secretary requires by regulation, under section 60102(n), the use of automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves, or equivalent technology, on a transmission pipeline facility, paragraph (1) shall not apply to the transmission pipeline facility. . 5. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness (a) In general Section 60116 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 60116. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness (a) Public education programs (1) In general Each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall carry out a continuing program to educate the public on— (A) the use of a one-call notification system prior to excavation and other damage prevention activities; (B) the possible hazards associated with unintended releases from the pipeline facility; and (C) the physical indications that a release from a pipeline facility may have occurred, the steps that should be taken for public safety in the event of such a release, and how to report such a release. (2) Review and modification of existing programs Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 (A) review its existing public education program for effectiveness, and modify the program as necessary; and (B) submit to the Secretary for review a detailed description of its public education program, including any modifications made to the program under subparagraph (A). (3) Standards; material The Secretary may— (A) issue standards for public education programs under this section, including standards providing for periodic review of such programs and modification of such programs as needed; and (B) develop material for use in the programs. (b) Liaison with State and local emergency response entities (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 (A) the State emergency response commission established under section 301 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 in each State in which the pipeline facility operates; and (B) the local emergency planning committee established under such section in each emergency planning district in which the pipeline facility operates. (2) Availability of information Upon request, an operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall make available to the applicable State emergency response commissions and local emergency planning committees— (A) the information required to be maintained under section 60102(d); (B) a copy of any integrity management program adopted by the operator under section 60109; and (C) information describing the implementation of the integrity management program and the risks that the program is designed to address. (3) Communities without local emergency planning committees In a community for which a local emergency planning committee has not been established, the operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall liaise with the local fire, police, and other emergency response entities. (c) Public availability of reports The Secretary shall make available to the public— (1) any safety-related condition report submitted by an operator under section 60102(h); and (2) a report of a pipeline incident filed by an operator pursuant to this chapter. (d) Access to integrity management program information The Secretary shall prescribe requirements for public access to information regarding integrity management programs provided to a State authority pursuant to section 60109(c)(9)(C). (e) Availability of maps The owner or operator of each interstate gas pipeline facility and interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall— (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, provide to each municipality in which the pipeline facility is located a map identifying the location of such facility; and (2) provide to each such municipality an updated map not later than 6 months after any change to a location of such facility. (f) Pipeline segment reports (1) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 (2) Contents of reports The owner or operator of a pipeline facility submitting a report under paragraph (1) shall include in the report the following information for each pipeline segment of the facility: (A) The business name, address, and telephone number of the owner or operator. (B) A summary description of the pipeline facility containing the pipeline segment, including a general facility map and a description of any product the pipeline facility transports, the length of the facility, and origin and termination points. (C) State and local emergency response liaison information. (D) A description of periodic testing methods used on the pipeline segment and the frequency of such testing. (E) A summary of the results of periodic testing of the pipeline segment pursuant to section 60102, including any defects detected and actions taken to address the defects. (F) A description of the leak detection system in use on the pipeline segment and its sensitivity. (G) A 5-year incident history for the pipeline segment. (H) An inspection and enforcement history for the pipeline segment. (I) If applicable, a summary of integrity management program activities under section 60109(c)(3) related to the pipeline segment. (3) Authority of Secretary The Secretary may modify or waive any of the information required to be included in a report under paragraph (2) for a pipeline facility if the Secretary determines that the inclusion of such information would pose a risk to the security of the pipeline facility. (4) Availability of reports The Secretary shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) available to the public electronically. (5) Pipeline segment defined In this subsection, the term pipeline segment (A) with respect to a gas pipeline facility— (i) the length of pipeline between the origin and the first compressor station; (ii) each length of pipeline between intermittent compressor stations; and (iii) the length of pipeline between the final compressor station and the termination point; and (B) with respect to a hazardous liquid pipeline facility— (i) the length of pipeline between the origin and the first pumping station; (ii) each length of pipeline between intermittent pumping stations; and (iii) the length of pipeline between the final pumping station and the termination point. . (b) Conforming amendment The analysis for chapter 601 is amended by striking the item relating to section 60116 and inserting the following: 60116. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness. . 6. Actions by private persons Section 60121 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Mandamus A person may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to compel the Secretary to perform a nondiscretionary duty under this chapter that the Secretary has failed to perform. . 7. Civil penalties Section 60122(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking The maximum civil penalty under this paragraph for a related series of violations is $2,000,000. (2) in paragraph (2), by striking $50,000 $200,000 (3) in paragraph (3), by striking $1,000 $200,000 8. Criminal penalties Section 60123 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking knowingly and willfully knowingly or recklessly 9. Direct hire authority for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (a) Authority The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration may appoint qualified candidates to positions described in subsection (b) without regard to sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code. (b) Applicability The authority under subsection (a) applies with respect to candidates for any position that would likely allow increased activities relating to pipeline safety, as determined by the Administrator. (c) Termination The authority to make appointments under this section shall not be available after September 30, 2024. 10. Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through calendar year 2023, the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the efforts of the Administration to hire women, minorities, and veterans as inspectors since January 1, 2012.

Summary: Safer Pipelines Act of 2019 This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities; prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing; makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves; directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders; increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from "knowingly and willfully" to "knowingly or recklessly"; and requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing its efforts to hire women, minorities, and veterans as inspectors since January 1, 2012.