accidental releases, along with reassessments 
periodically; 
(C) to establish a system to respond to the 
findings of a hazard assessment conducted 
under subparagraph (B) that addresses preven-
tion, mitigation, and emergency response; and 
(D) to train employees in operating proce-
dures with an emphasis on addressing hazards, 
using safe practices, and carrying out emer-
gency response activities. 
(b) LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS STAFFING AND EX-
PERTISE.— 
(1) LIQUEFIED
NATURAL
GAS
EXPERTISE.— 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a division 
within the Office of Pipeline Safety to ensure the 
safety and oversight of liquefied natural gas facilities 
under section 60103 and 60111 of title 49, United 
States Code, including small-scale liquefied natural 
gas facilities, peak shaving facilities, and import or 
export facilities. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Liquefied Natural Gas 
division shall be responsible for— 
(A) developing regulations and guidance 
materials for liquefied natural gas facilities; 
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(B) conducting compliance reviews and in-
spections of liquefied natural gas facilities 
under section 60103 of title 49, United States 
Code; 
(C) participate in liquefied natural gas fa-
cility incident investigations; 
(D) participate in enforcing applicable 
Federal statutes and regulations for the safety 
of liquefied natural gas facilities; 
(E) conduct education, training, and out-
reach regarding liquefied natural gas facility 
safety; 
(F) manage the agency’s research and de-
velopment activities for liquefied natural gas fa-
cilities; and 
(G) perform other functions consistent 
with section 60103 and 60111 of such title. 
(3) STAFFING.—The Secretary shall employ 
personnel necessary for carrying out the functions of 
the Liquefied Natural Gas division set forth in para-
graph (2) including— 
(A) a deputy associate administrator; and 
(B) adequate staffing and support staff po-
sitions, including subject matter experts in liq-
uefied natural gas facilities who shall be dedi-
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cated to rulemaking activities, subject matter 
experts in liquefied natural gas facilities who 
shall perform inspection and enforcement activi-
ties, and other necessary personnel to support 
these activities. 
(4) LNG SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.—To sat-
isfy the requirements of paragraph (3), the Sec-
retary may appoint personnel who have such exper-
tise or may train personnel to develop such expertise 
through use of the Center of Excellence for Lique-
fied Natural Gas Safety and Training. 
(5) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and every 90 days 
thereafter until the division is sufficiently staffed 
with LNG subject matter experts, the Secretary 
shall report to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on 
the progress to staff the division and any impedi-
ments to staffing. 
(c) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR LIQUEFIED NAT-
URAL GAS SAFETY AND TRAINING.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall establish a Center of Excellence for Liquefied 
Natural Gas Safety and Training (in this subsection 
referred to as the ‘‘Center’’). 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Center shall— 
(A) promote, facilitate, and conduct— 
(i) education; 
(ii) training; and 
(iii) research and technological devel-
opment; 
(B) be a repository of information on best 
practices relating to, and expertise on, liquefied 
natural gas facility operations; 
(C) foster collaboration among regulators, 
industry, and other stakeholders; 
(D) promote process safety advancements 
for liquefied natural gas export facilities and 
the incorporation of risk-based principles into 
the operation, management, and regulatory 
oversight of LNG facilities; and 
(E) other functions deemed appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
(3) BRIDGE PERIOD.—Until the Center is oper-
ational and able to meet the mission in paragraph 
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(2), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with 
an institution of higher education or the LNG indus-
try to provide education and training on the safe op-
erations of liquefied natural gas facilities, provided 
that such period does not exceed 3 years. 
(4) CONSULTATION.—When establishing the 
Center, the agency may consult with— 
(A) Federal regulatory agencies of jurisdic-
tion, including— 
(i) the Pipeline and Hazardous Mate-
rials Safety Administration; 
(ii) the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission; 
(iii) the Department of Energy; 
(iv) the U.S. Coast Guard; and 
(v) the Maritime Administration; 
(B) States and units of local government; 
(C) liquefied natural gas facility operators; 
and 
(D) other interested parties. 
(d) LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FEDERAL ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish, in accordance with the re-
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quirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.), a Liquefied Natural Gas Federal 
Advisory Committee (in this subsection referred to 
as the ‘‘Committee’’). 
(2) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
(A) facilitate communication between lique-
fied natural gas facility operators, public safety 
experts, and Federal agencies on practices to 
ensure the safe operation and maintenance of 
liquefied natural gas facilities; 
(B) provide the Secretary with timely in-
formation about new liquefied natural gas facil-
ity technology and safety practices and meth-
odologies; 
(C) provide a forum for the Secretary to 
provide information on and to discuss the ac-
tivities of the Department of Transportation re-
lating to liquefied natural gas facility safety, 
and the policies underlying such activities; 
(D) advise the Secretary on how to pro-
mote, facilitate, and conduct education, train-
ing, and research on the industry best practices, 
industry consensus standards, and expertise in 
liquefied natural gas operations; 
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(E) advise the Secretary on how to recruit 
and retain qualified personnel; 
(F) advise the Secretary regarding the reg-
ulations prescribed under section 60103 of title 
49, United States Code, and when updates to 
such regulations are recommended; and 
(G) advise the Secretary on other matters 
affecting LNG safety, as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall hold reg-
ular meetings, not less than biannually, to discuss 
issues related to liquefied natural gas pipeline facil-
ity safety. 
(4) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be 
composed of the following members: 
(A) Four individuals appointed by the Sec-
retary to represent the public, such as public 
safety experts with knowledge of liquefied nat-
ural gas pipeline facility safety, academics, or 
other qualified individuals. 
(B) Four individuals appointed by the Sec-
retary to represent States and units of local 
governments. 
(C) Four individuals appointed by the Sec-
retary to represent the liquefied natural gas in-
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dustry, two of whom shall represent large-scale 
liquefied natural gas facilities, one from a 
small-scale facility, and one with peak shaving 
operations. 
(D) Not less than one representative of the 
following Federal regulatory agencies of juris-
diction: 
(i) The Pipeline and Hazardous Mate-
rials Safety Administration. 
(ii) The Maritime Administration. 
(iii) The Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission. 
(iv) The Coast Guard. 
(5) REPORT TO THE SECRETARY.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Committee shall— 
(A) review regulations issued pursuant to 
section 60103(d) of title 49, United States 
Code for conformity with industry standards 
that apply risk-based principles for process 
safety practices; and 
(B) provide a report and recommendation 
to the Secretary on how to best align regula-
tions with industry standards that apply risk- 
based principles for process safety practices. 
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(6) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, and not 
less frequently than every 30 days thereafter until 
the date on which all members of the Committee 
have been appointed, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate to 
update Congress on the status of the Committee, the 
progress of appointing members to the Committee, 
and the identities of individuals appointed to the 
Committee. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of 
Transportation such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this section. 
SEC. 16. UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall complete the revision required under section 
19(b) of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60109 note). 
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(b) FURTHER REQUIREMENT.—In completing the re-
vision described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall use the following definitions: 
(1) MARINE COASTAL WATER.—The term ‘‘ma-
rine coastal water’’ means the territorial sea of the 
United States, the Great Lakes and their connecting 
waters, the marine and estuarine waters of the 
United States up to the head of tidal influence, and 
the Exclusive Economic Zone as established by Pres-
idential Proclamation Number 5030, dated March 
10, 1983. 
(2) COASTAL
BEACH.—The term ‘‘coastal 
beach’’ means land between high and low water 
marks in a marine coastal water. 
SEC. 17. WORKFORCE. 
(a) STAFFING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment, the Secretary shall increase 
the number of full-time equivalent employees (as 
compared to the number of positions on the date of 
enactment of this Act) by— 
(A) at least 8 full-time employees with sub-
ject matter expertise in pipeline safety, pipeline 
facilities, and pipeline systems to finalize out-
standing pipeline safety rulemakings and fulfill 
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mandates for the Office of Pipeline Safety of 
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration; and 
(B) at least 3 full-time attorneys with 
pipeline industry of safety expertise in the Of-
fice of Chief Counsel of the Pipeline Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration. 
(2) PIPELINE INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 
PERSONNEL.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 
number of positions for pipeline inspection and en-
forcement personnel in the Office of Pipeline Safety 
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Ad-
ministration does not fall below the following: 
(A) 222 for fiscal year 2020. 
(B) 233 for fiscal year 2021. 
(C) 245 for fiscal year 2022. 
(D) 258 for fiscal year 2023. 
(E) 272 for fiscal year 2024. 
(b) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AUTHORITIES.— 
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall request authority from the Office 
of Personnel Management to use incentives, as necessary, 
to recruit and retain a qualified workforce, including— 
(1) for inspection and enforcement personnel 
and subject matter experts dedicated to rulemaking 
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activities in the Office of Pipeline Safety, including 
the Liquefied Natural Gas division of the Pipeline 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, as es-
tablished under section 16(b)— 
(A) special pay rates permitted under sec-
tion 5305 of title 5, United States Code; and 
(B) repayment of student loans accom-
panied by a continued service agreement, per-
mitted under section 5379 of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(2) for the Deputy Associate Administrator of 
the Liquefied Natural Gas division in the Office of 
Pipeline Safety, as established under section 16(b), 
critical position pay permitted under section 5377 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall transmit to the Committees on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate, a report that contains— 
(A) the number of full-time personnel the 
agency has hired to meet the requirements of 
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subsection (a), as well as the total number of 
personnel employed by the Administrator; 
(B) a description of the agency’s efforts to 
comply with subsection (b); 
(C) a description of the personnel of the 
Liquefied Natural Gas division in the Office of 
Pipeline Safety, any impediments to hiring, and 
any personnel constraints affecting the ability 
of the agency to fulfill the authorities of such 
division; and 
(D) any other details associated with the 
agency’s progress toward fulfilling the staffing 
levels and pursuing the financial incentives as 
directed by this section. 
(2) UPDATES TO REPORT.—Not later than 90 
days after the date on which the report is trans-
mitted under paragraph (1) and not later than every 
90 days thereafter until all statutory mandates 
under this section are met, the Administrator shall 
transmit an updated report that describes the ac-
tions taken since the previous report. 
SEC. 18. NATIONWIDE INTEGRATED PIPELINE SAFETY REG-
ULATORY DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
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tation shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate a report describing the re-
sources necessary for the Pipeline and Hazardous Mate-
rials Safety Administration to establish the national inte-
grated pipeline safety regulatory inspection database de-
scribed in the report required under section 11(a) of the 
PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60108 note). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required to be submitted 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) a description of the steps necessary for the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration and State pipeline regulators to establish 
such database; and 
(2) a timeline for the completion of such data-
base. 
SEC. 19. REGULATORY UPDATES. 
(a) OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REVIEW 
OF REGULATIONS.—Not later than 5 days after the date 
on which an outstanding regulation has been under review 
by the Office of Management and Budget for more than 
90 days, and every 15 days thereafter until the regulation 
is published in the Federal Register, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall notify the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, 
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the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate that the out-
standing regulation remains under review by the Office of 
Management and Budget. 
(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘out-
standing regulation’’ means a regulation regarding pipe-
line facilities required under this Act or an Act enacted 
prior to the date of enactment of this Act for which a final 
rule has not been published in the Federal Register. 
SEC. 20. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT APPROVALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to require that before 
a distribution pipeline construction project begins, the 
plans for such project shall be approved by a professional 
engineer, a subject matter expert, or other qualified pro-
fessional who possesses the necessary knowledge, experi-
ence, and skills regarding natural gas distribution sys-
tems, as determined by the Secretary. 
(b) ACCESS TO RECORDS.—In issuing the regulations 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the 
any individuals approving projects under subsection (a) 
are provided access to all relevant records and prior work 
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plans needed to approve the safety of the construction 
project. 
(c) APPLICATION.—Section 60118(c)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, shall not apply to a regulation issued 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 21. REPORT ON EMISSIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on technologies 
and measures that reduce the amount of natural gas re-
leased during venting and blowdowns of natural gas dis-
tribution systems and transmission pipelines. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study, the 
National Academy of Sciences may consult entities with 
expertise in the causes and effects of natural gas releases 
and the use of technologies or measures that prevent or 
mitigate releases of natural gas during venting and 
blowdowns of natural gas distribution systems and trans-
mission pipelines. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date on which the National Academy of 
Sciences initiates the study, the National Academy 
of Sciences shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
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portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report on the technologies and 
measures described in subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an analysis of the amount of natural 
gas released during venting and blowdowns of 
natural gas distribution systems and trans-
mission pipelines; 
(B) an analysis of the environmental and 
health impacts of releases of natural gas during 
such venting and blowdowns; and 
(C) an evaluation of pipeline technologies 
or measures capable of safely and effectively re-
ducing the amount of natural gas released, in-
cluding— 
(i) an analysis of the environmental 
and health benefits resulting from lower 
natural gas releases as a result of using 
such technologies or measures; 
(ii) an analysis of the economic value 
of the natural gas that is prevented from 
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being released as a result of the tech-
nologies or measures; 
(iii) an analysis of the cost of using 
such technologies or measures, including 
the cost to operators and any impacts on 
pipeline safety and reliability; 
(iv) an analysis of factors that affect 
the feasibility and effectiveness of using 
such technologies and measures; and 
(v) a determination of whether the 
benefits described in clauses (i) and (ii) 
outweigh the costs described in clause (iii). 
SEC. 22. CHANGES IN CLASS LOCATION. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
final regulations that permit the use of integrity manage-
ment program requirements, or elements thereof, to man-
age the safety of gas transmission pipeline segments that 
experience a change in class location. Such regulations 
shall be an alternative to the requirements of section 
192.611 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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