Mandate Oil Spill Investigations and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act of 2016

To increase the authorization of the National Transportation Safety Board through fiscal year 2020, to require the NTSB to investigate major oil and other hazardous materials derailments, to expand the Secretary of Transportation’s emergency order authority, and to require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a volatility standard for crude oil transported by rail. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mandate Oil Spill Investigations and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act of 2016 2. Reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board Section 1118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) In general (1) Amounts There are authorized to be appropriated $108,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2020 to carry out this chapter. (2) Availability of funds Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended. (3) Limitation on use of funds Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1), $2,000,000 shall be dedicated to the costs associated with carrying out railroad accident investigations and investigations of significant railroad incidents. . 3. Mandatory NTSB investigations for major oil and other hazardous materials derailments Section 1131(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking , or that involves a passenger train or involves a passenger train or a significant release of hazardous materials into the environment within a close proximity to communities, personal property, or critical landscapes; 4. Expanded emergency order authority Section 20104(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Ordering restrictions and prohibitions If the Secretary of Transportation, through incident, testing, inspection, investigation, or research carried out under this part, determines that an unsafe condition, practice, or occurrence, or a combination of unsafe conditions, occurrences, and practices, causes (or has the potential to cause) an emergency or reoccurring situation involving a hazard of death, personal injury, or significant harm to the environment, the Secretary may immediately order such restrictions, prohibitions, or moratoriums without regard to section 20103(e) that may be necessary to abate the situation or prevent accidents of a similar nature or result. . 5. Volatility standard for crude oil transported by rail (a) In general Subchapter II of chapter 201 section 20153 20154. Maximum crude oil volatility standard Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of the Mandate Oil Spill Investigations and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act of 2016 . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 201 section 20153 20154. Maximum crude oil volatility standard. .

Summary: Mandate Oil Spill Investigations and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act of 2016 This bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A specified amount is set-aside for costs to carry out railroad accident investigations and investigations of significant railroad incidents. The bill requires the NTSB to investigate derailments involving a significant release of hazardous materials into the environment within close proximity to communities, personal property, or critical landscapes. The bill expands the authority of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue emergency orders for unsafe occurrences causing, or potentially causing, an emergency or reoccurring situation involving a hazard of death, personal injury, or significant harm to the environment. DOT shall establish and enforce a national standard for the maximum volatility of crude oil to be permitted to be shipped by rail based on the safest practicable standard.