I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2871 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transpor-
tation to establish integrity verification requirements for pipeline facili-
ties, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 
Ms. SPEIER 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 with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Transportation to establish integrity verification 
requirements for pipeline facilities, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pipeline Modernization 
for Safety Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. INTEGRITY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) INTEGRITY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish integrity verification requirements for pipeline 
facilities. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED ACTIONS FOR PIPELINE SEG-
MENTS WITHOUT DOCUMENTED PRESSURE TESTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As part of the integ-
rity verification requirements, the Secretary 
shall require an operator of a pipeline facility 
that contains a pipeline segment without a doc-
umented pressure test to— 
‘‘(i) hydro-test the pipeline segment; 
or 
‘‘(ii) replace the pipeline segment. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL ACTIONS.—In addition 
to the actions described in subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary may require an operator de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) to undertake other 
actions determined necessary by the Secretary 
for public safety, including temporary reduc-
tions in pressure. 
‘‘(3) REPORTING OF INCREASES IN PRESSURE 
EXCEEDING MAOP.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As part of the integ-
rity verification requirements, the Secretary 
shall require an operator of a pipeline facility 
that contains a pipeline segment without a doc-
umented pressure test to submit a written re-
port to the Secretary (or the Secretary’s des-
ignee) on any increase in pressure in the pipe-
line segment that exceeds the maximum allow-
able operating pressure for the pipeline seg-
ment. 
‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—An operator shall report 
an increase in pressure under subparagraph (A) 
not later than 24 hours after the operator dis-
covers the increase in pressure. 
‘‘(C) INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED.—A 
report on an increase in pressure under sub-
paragraph (A) shall contain, at a minimum, in-
formation on— 
‘‘(i) the cause of the increase; and 
‘‘(ii) any remedial action taken to ad-
dress the cause of the increase. 
‘‘(4) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out 
this subsection. Such regulations shall prioritize 
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pipeline facilities in high consequence areas (as de-
scribed in section 60109(a) of title 49, United States 
Code) for purposes of implementation of the require-
ments of this subsection.’’. 
Æ 
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