IB 
Union Calendar No. 545 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5120 
[Report No. 116–661, Part I] 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety and 
environmental protection in pipeline transportation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2019 
Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
DECEMBER 17, 2020 
Additional sponsor: Ms. NORTON 
DECEMBER 17, 2020 
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 17, 2020 
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 15, 2019] 
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A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced 
safety and environmental protection in pipeline transpor-
tation, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SH-ORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible 
Pipelines Act of 2019’’ or 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. State pipeline safety program certifications. 
Sec. 5. State pipeline safety grants. 
Sec. 6. Inspection and maintenance. 
Sec. 7. Risk analysis and integrity management programs. 
Sec. 8. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness. 
Sec. 9. Cost recovery for design reviews. 
Sec. 10. Actions by private persons. 
Sec. 11. Civil penalties. 
Sec. 12. Criminal penalties. 
Sec. 13. Emergency response grants. 
Sec. 14. Verification of pipeline qualification programs. 
Sec. 15. National pipeline mapping system. 
Sec. 16. Congressional access to oil spill response plans. 
Sec. 17. Leak detection technology. 
Sec. 18. Gas pipeline repair criteria. 
Sec. 19. Methane release mitigation. 
Sec. 20. Unusually sensitive areas. 
Sec. 21. User fees for underground natural gas storage facilities. 
Sec. 22. Seismicity. 
Sec. 23. Advancement of new pipeline safety technologies and approaches. 
Sec. 24. Workforce. 
Sec. 25. Hiring report. 
Sec. 26. Plan to combine State damage prevention and one-call notification pro-
grams. 
Sec. 27. Gas gathering lines. 
Sec. 28. Regulatory updates. 
Sec. 29. Component verification. 
Sec. 30. Codification of final rule. 
Sec. 31. Threatening safe operations of pipeline infrastructure. 
Sec. 32. Penalty for causing a defect in pipeline infrastructure under construc-
tion. 
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Sec. 33. Use of a firearm to damage pipeline infrastructure under construction. 
Sec. 34. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system. 
SEC. 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 Haz-
ardous 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 $60,000,000 shall be ex-
pended 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 $61,800,000 shall be ex-
pended for making grants; 
‘‘(C) $170,600,000 for fiscal year 2022, of 
which $10,000,000 shall be expended for carrying 
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out such section 12 and $63,650,000 shall be ex-
pended 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 $65,560,000 shall be ex-
pended 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 ex-
pended 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 ex-
pended 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 ex-
pended 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 ex-
pended for making grants.’’; and 
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(3) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘$8,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2017 through 2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘$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’’ and inserting ‘‘$12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2023’’. 
(d) PIPELINE SAFETY INFORMATION GRANTS TO COM-
MUNITIES.—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’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2(a) of the 
SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019, the Secretary shall expend 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 to 
carry out this section’’. 
(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’’ and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2023’’. 
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(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’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2023’’. 
SEC. 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), respec-
tively; and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (3) through (7). 
(b) SAFETY-RELATED CONDITION REPORTING.— 
(1) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO FIRST RE-
SPONDERS.—Section 60102(h) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘Notice of 
the condition shall be given concurrently to ap-
propriate State authorities.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(3)(A) Notice of the condition of an intrastate or 
interstate pipeline facility shall be given concurrently to 
appropriate State authorities. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall require that, upon receipt of 
a report on a safety-related condition submitted under this 
section, a State agency shall provide the report, upon re-
quest, to any relevant State emergency response commis-
sion, tribal emergency response commission, tribal emer-
gency planning committee, local emergency planning com-
mittee, local government, or public agency responsible for 
emergency response, including any updates to the report re-
ceived by the State agency.’’. 
(2) EXEMPTION REMOVAL.—Section 60102(h) of 
title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) Regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 
this section may not exempt a condition from being subject 
to reporting requirements if the exemption of such condition 
would reduce or eliminate the value of the reports as leading 
indicators of safety or environmental hazards.’’. 
(c) AUTOMATIC OR REMOTE-CONTROLLED SHUT-OFF 
VALVES.—Section 60102(n)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) HIGH CONSEQUENCE AREAS.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipe-
lines Act of 2019, the Secretary shall issue regu-
lations to require operators of transmission pipe-
line facilities to install and use automatic or re-
mote-controlled shut-off valves for such pipeline 
facilities that are located in high consequence 
areas (as defined in part 192 or 195 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable). 
‘‘(B) OTHER AREAS.—The Secretary may 
issue regulations to require operators of trans-
mission pipeline facilities to install and use 
automatic or remote-controlled shut-off valves for 
such pipeline facilities that are not located in 
areas described in subparagraph (A).’’. 
(d) CRACK MANAGEMENT.—Section 60102 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(q) CRACK MANAGEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) HIGH
CONSEQUENCE
AREAS.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this subsection, the Secretary shall issue regula-
tions to require operators of gas pipeline facili-
ties and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities that 
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are located in high consequence areas (as defined 
in part 192 or 195 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as applicable) to address and repair 
cracks in such facilities. 
‘‘(B) OTHER AREAS.—The Secretary may 
issue regulations to require operators of gas pipe-
line facilities and hazardous liquid pipeline fa-
cilities that are not located in areas described in 
subparagraph (A) to address and repair cracks 
in such facilities. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Regulations issued under 
paragraph (1) shall specify— 
‘‘(A) under what conditions an engineering 
assessment of cracks, including environmentally 
assisted cracks, must be performed; 
‘‘(B) acceptable methods for performing an 
engineering assessment on a pipeline, including 
the assessment of cracks coinciding with corro-
sion; 
‘‘(C) criteria for determining whether the 
excavation of a pipeline segment is required due 
to a probable crack, and deadlines for completing 
any excavation so required; 
‘‘(D) pressure restriction limits for pipelines 
for which a determination is made to excavate 
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such pipeline pursuant to the requirements of 
subparagraph (C); and 
‘‘(E) acceptable methods for determining 
crack growth for any cracks not required to be 
repaired under the regulations, including growth 
caused by fatigue, corrosion fatigue, or stress cor-
rosion cracking, as applicable.’’. 
SEC. 4. STATE PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAM CERTIFI-
CATIONS. 
Section 60105(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary may request that a State authority pro-
vide records of any inspection of a pipeline facility 
made by the State authority or any investigation de-
scribed in subsection (c)(1)(B).’’ after ‘‘with the cer-
tification.’’; and 
(2) by inserting after ‘‘under this subsection’’ the 
following: ‘‘, including, upon request by the Secretary, 
by authorizing the Secretary to participate in such 
an inspection or investigation’’. 
SEC. 5. STATE PIPELINE SAFETY GRANTS. 
Section 60107 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(f) GRANTS FOR RENDERING AID.—The Secretary 
may make an additional payment, to a State receiving a 
payment under subsection (a), to pay the costs incurred by 
the State in rendering aid to another State to respond to 
a natural disaster or major pipeline incident.’’. 
SEC. 6. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE. 
Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DATA COL-
LECTION.—The Secretary may require the owner or oper-
ator of a pipeline facility to provide to the Secretary infor-
mation the Secretary determines appropriate regarding 
construction of the pipeline facility, including relating to 
any shutdown of such construction.’’. 
SEC. 7. RISK ANALYSIS AND INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PRO-
GRAMS. 
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 Sec-
retary shall issue regulations for appropriate 
methods of assessment of transmission pipeline 
facilities under paragraph (3) that prioritize the 
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use of other inspection methods before, in tandem 
with, or in lieu of, the use of direct assessment, 
including internal inspection devices or pressure 
testing, to provide a greater level of safety. 
‘‘(B) DISTRIBUTION
PIPELINES
STUDY.— 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enact-
ment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall sub-
mit 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 wheth-
er any such methods— 
‘‘(I) would provide a greater level 
of safety than direct assessment of such 
pipelines; and 
‘‘(II) are feasible; and 
‘‘(ii) any recommendations based on 
such study.’’. 
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SEC. 8. 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 sys-
tem prior to excavation and other damage pre-
vention 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, each 
owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipe-
line facility shall— 
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‘‘(A) review its existing public education 
program for effectiveness, and modify the pro-
gram as necessary; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Secretary for review a 
detailed description of its public education pro-
gram, 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 subsection, including stand-
ards providing for periodic review of such pro-
grams and modification of such programs as 
needed; and 
‘‘(B) develop material for use in the pro-
grams. 
‘‘(b) LIAISON WITH STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipelines Act of 
2019, an operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipe-
line facility shall establish liaison with— 
‘‘(A) any State entity with responsibility 
for pipeline emergency response in each State in 
which the pipeline facility is located; 
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‘‘(B) the appropriate local emergency plan-
ning entity in each emergency planning district 
in which the pipeline facility is located; and 
‘‘(C) any Tribal entity with responsibility 
for pipeline emergency response or planning in 
the area in which the pipeline facility is located. 
‘‘(2) COMMUNITIES WITHOUT LOCAL OR TRIBAL 
EMERGENCY PLANNING OR RESPONSE ENTITIES.—In 
a community for which a local or Tribal entity de-
scribed in paragraph (1) does not exist, the operator 
of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall li-
aise, to the extent practicable, with the local fire, po-
lice, and other emergency response entities. 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) EVALUATION.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipe-
lines Act of 2019, and based on the consultation 
required under subparagraph (C), the Secretary 
shall conduct an evaluation and determine 
whether State, local, and Tribal entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) have sufficient 
access to pipeline emergency response informa-
tion. 
‘‘(B) REGULATION.—If the Secretary deter-
mines under subparagraph (A) that State, local, 
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and Tribal entities described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) do not have sufficient access to pipeline 
emergency response information, the Secretary 
shall issue regulations not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipe-
lines Act of 2019 specifying relevant emergency 
response information and requiring each oper-
ator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facil-
ity to make such information available to the 
applicable State, local, and Tribal entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
‘‘(C) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the 
evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary shall consult with national organizations 
representing State, local, and Tribal entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2) and the tech-
nical safety standards committees described in 
section 60115.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 60116 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘60116. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness.’’. 
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SEC. 9. COST RECOVERY FOR DESIGN REVIEWS. 
Section 60117(n)(1)(B)(i) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$2,500,000,000’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$250,000,000’’. 
SEC. 10. 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 per-
form.’’. 
SEC. 11. CIVIL PENALTIES. 
(a) INCREASED PENALTIES.—Section 60122(a) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$200,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$20,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘The maximum civil pen-
alty under this paragraph for a related series of 
violations is $2,000,000.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘$50,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$20,000,000’’. 
(b) DEPOSIT IN HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.—Penalties 
collected pursuant to amendments made by this section 
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shall be transferred to the Highway Account of the Highway 
Trust Fund. 
SEC. 12. CRIMINAL PENALTIES. 
Section 60123(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘knowingly and willfully’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘knowingly or recklessly’’. 
SEC. 13. EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANTS. 
Section 60125(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘and local governments in high con-
sequence areas, as defined by the Secretary,’’ and inserting 
‘‘local, and Tribal governments, and nonprofit organiza-
tions providing pipeline emergency response training,’’. 
SEC. 14. VERIFICATION OF PIPELINE QUALIFICATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 60131(g) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following para-
graph: 
‘‘(3) with respect to any pipeline facility, means 
a construction task that is performed on the pipeline 
facility.’’. 
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SEC. 15. NATIONAL PIPELINE MAPPING SYSTEM. 
(a) 
INFORMATION
TO
BE
PROVIDED.—Section 
60132(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this section, the’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘The’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘(except distribution lines and 
gathering lines)’’ and inserting ‘‘, including a dis-
tribution line or a gathering line (but not including 
any gathering lines that are not regulated under part 
192 or part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions),’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS
FOR PROVISION
OF INFORMA-
TION.—Section 60132 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘under sub-
section (a)’’ and inserting ‘‘under this section for in-
clusion in the National Pipeline Mapping System’’; 
(2) in subsection (f) by striking ‘‘to subsection 
(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘to this section for inclusion in the 
National Pipeline Mapping System’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED FACILITIES.—Not 
later than 1 year after a pipeline facility described in sub-
section (a) becomes covered by such subsection, the operator 
of such facility shall provide to the Secretary the informa-
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tion required under paragraphs (1) through (4) of such sub-
section with respect to such facility. 
‘‘(h) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON DISTRIBUTION 
LINES.—Not later than 2 years after a distribution line be-
comes covered by subsection (a), the operator of such dis-
tribution line shall provide to the Secretary, in addition 
to the information required under paragraphs (1) through 
(4) of subsection (a), information on the distribution sys-
tems that could lead to a point of failure, including— 
‘‘(1) sensing lines; 
‘‘(2) regulator stations; 
‘‘(3) automatic or remote-controlled shut-off 
valves; and 
‘‘(4) any other distribution pipeline technology 
or feature that the Secretary determines is appro-
priate to ensure safety. 
‘‘(i) UPDATE TO SYSTEM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary shall determine whether 
the inclusion of additional information in the 
National Pipeline Mapping System would im-
prove the preparation and response efforts of 
emergency responders with access to the System; 
and 
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‘‘(B) if the Secretary determines under sub-
paragraph (A) that inclusion of additional infor-
mation in the National Pipeline Mapping Sys-
tem would improve the preparation and response 
efforts of emergency responders with access to the 
System, the Secretary shall issue regulations— 
‘‘(i) identifying such additional infor-
mation as the Secretary determines would 
improve emergency preparedness and re-
sponse efforts; and 
‘‘(ii) requiring each person providing 
information under subsection (a) to provide 
such additional information. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall consider inclusion, to 
the extent practicable, of the following information: 
‘‘(A) A description of the pipeline facility, 
including the length of the facility and origin 
and termination points. 
‘‘(B) A 5-year incident, and inspection and 
enforcement, history for the pipeline facility. 
‘‘(C) If applicable, a summary of any integ-
rity management program activities related to 
the pipeline facility.’’. 
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(c) ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
ON
DISTRIBUTION 
LINES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are 
necessary to specify the information required to be provided 
pursuant to section 60132(h) of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 16. CONGRESSIONAL ACCESS TO OIL SPILL RESPONSE 
PLANS. 
Section 60138(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(D) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) provide to a Member of Congress, upon re-
quest from such Member, a copy of any such plan, the 
contents of which the Secretary may not redact but 
may note, as the Secretary determines appropriate— 
‘‘(A) proprietary information; and 
‘‘(B) security-sensitive information, includ-
ing information described in section 1520.5(a) of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 
SEC. 17. LEAK DETECTION TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘§ 60142. Leak detection technology 
‘‘(a) LEAK DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall issue regulations requiring each operator of a 
gas pipeline facility to install and use advanced leak detec-
tion technology on all gas pipelines it operates. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The advanced leak detection 
technology required under subsection (a) shall, at a min-
imum— 
‘‘(1) have a high accuracy of identifying leak lo-
cation; 
‘‘(2) be capable of measuring methane concentra-
tions in parts per billion; and 
‘‘(3) be capable of correlating methane concentra-
tion measurements to data produced by geographic 
information systems technology.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘60142. Leak detection technology.’’. 
SEC. 18. GAS PIPELINE REPAIR CRITERIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘§ 60143. Gas pipeline repair criteria 
‘‘(a) LEAK REPAIR FOR LARGE LOSS EVENT.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Secretary shall issue regulations requiring each operator 
of a gas pipeline facility to— 
‘‘(1) immediately repair a leak in a gas pipeline 
facility it operates that results in a large loss event; 
and 
‘‘(2) report information to the Secretary with re-
spect to such large loss event, including— 
‘‘(A) the location of such large loss event; 
‘‘(B) the total estimated volume of gas re-
leased during such event; 
‘‘(C) the cause of the failure; and 
‘‘(D) the time from the detection of a gas 
leak to the completion of the repair of such leak. 
‘‘(b) LARGE LOSS EVENT DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘large loss event’ means the loss of 300,000 cubic 
feet or more of gas.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘60143. Gas pipeline repair criteria.’’. 
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SEC. 19. METHANE RELEASE MITIGATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 60144. Methane release mitigation 
‘‘(a) METHANE CAPTURE FROM ROUTINE OPER-
ATIONS OR MAINTENANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue 
regulations requiring each operator of a gas pipeline facil-
ity to use the best available technology to capture gas re-
leased when performing routine operations or maintenance 
on the pipeline facility. 
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.—In issuing regulations under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish— 
‘‘(1) requirements for the capture of gas released 
from routine operations, including venting to relieve 
pressure; 
‘‘(2) requirements for the capture of gas released 
from maintenance operations, including blowdowns; 
and 
‘‘(3) procedures for emergency situations that re-
sult in a release of gas.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘60144. Methane release mitigation.’’. 
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SEC. 20. UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. 
(a) COASTAL WATERS; COASTAL BEACHES.—Section 
19 of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60109 note) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘marine coastal 
waters’’ and inserting ‘‘coastal waters’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) COASTAL
BEACHES.—The term ‘coastal 
beaches’ means the land between high and low water 
marks of coastal waters. 
‘‘(2) COASTAL
WATERS.—The term ‘coastal 
waters’ has the meaning given such term in section 
4101 of the Shore Protection Act of 1988 (33 U.S.C. 
2601).’’. 
(b) COASTAL WATERS.—Section 60109(b)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘marine 
coastal waters’’ and inserting ‘‘coastal waters’’. 
(c) UPDATES.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall complete the revision required under section 19(b) of 
the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60109 note), as amended 
by this section. 
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SEC. 21. USER FEES FOR UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS 
STORAGE FACILITIES. 
Section 60302 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) may only be used to the extent pro-
vided in advance in an appropriations Act.’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (c); 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS.—Fees imposed under subsection (a) 
shall be sufficient to pay for the costs of activities described 
in subsection (c), except that the total amount collected for 
a fiscal year may not be more than 105 percent of the total 
amount of the appropriations made for the fiscal year ac-
tivities to be financed by fees.’’. 
SEC. 22. SEISMICITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, shall enter into an agreement with the Na-
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tional Academy of Sciences under which the National Acad-
emy of Sciences shall prepare a report containing— 
(1) the results of a study that— 
(A) evaluates the current Federal require-
ments for pipeline facility design, siting, con-
struction, operation and maintenance, and in-
tegrity management, relating to seismicity, land 
subsidence, landslides, slope instability, frost 
heave, soil settlement, erosion, and other dy-
namic geologic conditions that may pose a safety 
risk; 
(B) identifies any discrepancy in such re-
quirements that apply to operators of gas pipe-
line facilities and hazardous liquid pipeline fa-
cilities; and 
(C) identifies any deficiencies in industry 
practices related to such requirements; and 
(2) any recommendations of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences based on such results. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Upon completion of the 
report prepared pursuant to subsection (a), the National 
Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Secretary of Trans-
portation, the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and 
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the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate the report. 
(c) PIPELINE FACILITIES.—In this section, the term 
‘‘pipeline facility’’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 60101 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 23. ADVANCEMENT OF NEW PIPELINE SAFETY TECH-
NOLOGIES AND APPROACHES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 60145. Pipeline safety enhancement programs 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish and 
carry out limited safety-enhancing testing programs during 
the period of fiscal years 2020 through 2026 to evaluate in-
novative technologies and operational practices testing the 
safe operation of— 
‘‘(1) a natural gas pipeline facility; or 
‘‘(2) a hazardous liquid pipeline facility. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Such testing programs may 
not exceed— 
‘‘(A) 5 percent of the total miles of haz-
ardous liquid pipelines in the United States; and 
‘‘(B) 5 percent of the total miles of natural 
gas pipelines in the United States. 
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‘‘(2) INDIVIDUAL
OPERATOR
MILEAGE
LIMITA-
TION.—The Secretary shall limit the mileage an indi-
vidual operator can test under each program estab-
lished under subsection (a) to the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) 50 percent of the total pipeline mileage 
in the operator’s system; or 
‘‘(B) 1,000 miles. 
‘‘(3) HIGH
POPULATION
AREAS; HIGH
CON-
SEQUENCE AREAS.—Any program established under 
subsection (a) shall not be located in a high popu-
lation area (as defined in section 195.450 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations) or a high consequence 
area (as defined in section 192.903 of title 49, Code 
of Federal Regulations). 
‘‘(4) UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.—Any pro-
gram established under subsection (a) shall not be lo-
cated in an unusually sensitive area (as described in 
section 60109(b)). 
‘‘(5) HIGH
CONSEQUENCE
AREAS
FOR
HAZ-
ARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining an examination of the benefits and costs 
of prohibiting testing in high consequence areas 
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(as defined in section 195.450 of title 49, Code 
of Federal Regulations) for hazardous liquid 
pipelines. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS
OF
REPORT.—The report 
described in subparagraph (A) shall examine the 
safety benefits of allowing testing for hazardous 
liquid pipelines in high consequence areas and 
whether additional testing conditions are re-
quired to protect such areas while conducting the 
program established under subsection (a) in such 
areas. 
‘‘(6) RESTRICTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not 
approve a program under this section until the 
report required under paragraph (5) is sub-
mitted to Congress. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The limitation in sub-
paragraph (A) shall not apply if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary determines that there 
is a need for a program under this section; 
and 
‘‘(ii) more than 1 year has passed 
since the date of enactment of this section. 
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‘‘(c) DURATION.—The term of a testing program estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall be not more than a period 
of 4 years beginning on the date of approval of the program. 
‘‘(d) SAFETY STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require, 
as a condition of approval of a testing program under 
subsection (a), that the safety measures in the testing 
program are designed to achieve a level of safety that 
is greater than, or equivalent to, the level of safety re-
quired by this chapter. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
issue an order under subparagraph (A) of section 
60118(c)(1) to accomplish the purpose of a test-
ing program for a term not to exceed the time 
period described in subsection (c) if the condition 
described in paragraph (1) is met, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—An order under sub-
paragraph (A) shall pertain only to those regula-
tions that would otherwise prevent the use of the 
safety technology to be tested under the testing 
program. 
‘‘(e) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing a testing pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— 
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‘‘(1) the accident or incident record of the owners 
or operators participating in the program; 
‘‘(2) whether the owners or operators partici-
pating in the program have a safety management sys-
tem in place and how the application for such pro-
gram proposes to eliminate or mitigate any potential 
safety risks; 
‘‘(3) a description of any measures or activities 
the owners or operators participating in the program 
propose to eliminate or mitigate any environmental 
risks; 
‘‘(4) a description of any previous testing and 
the outcome of such testing of the proposed safety tech-
nology through a research and development program 
carried out by— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) collaborative research development or-
ganizations; or 
‘‘(C) other institutions; 
‘‘(5) whether there have been other testing pro-
grams granted under subsection (a) similar to the 
proposed safety technology and the outcome of such 
programs; and 
‘‘(6) whether the pipeline segments tested by the 
program could affect, or are outside of, a high con-
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sequence areas (as defined in sections 192.903 and 
195.450 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) and 
unusually sensitive areas (as described in section 
60109(b)). 
‘‘(f) MULTIPLE OPERATORS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may select up 
to 5 owners or operators to carry out a testing pro-
gram under subsection (a) in a single application. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION.—In selecting owners or 
operators under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
determine that each testing program proposed by such 
owners or operators— 
‘‘(A) meet the requirements of subsection 
(d)(1); 
‘‘(B) test a similar technology, best practice, 
or related set of technologies and best practices; 
and 
‘‘(C) provides appropriate testing conditions 
for the technologies or practices being used. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORITY TO REVOKE PARTICIPATION.—If 
an owner or operator participating in a program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary may re-
voke permission to participate in such program if— 
‘‘(A) the owner or operator is involved in 
an accident or incident and the testing program 
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is determined to be the cause or a contributing 
factor of such accident or incident; or 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines revocation of 
permission is warranted for public safety rea-
sons. 
‘‘(g) DATA AND FINDINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As a participant in a testing 
program established under subsection (a), an owner 
or operator shall submit to the Secretary detailed 
findings and a summary of data collected as a result 
of participation in the testing program. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC REPORT.—To the extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall make a yearly interim report pub-
licly available on the website of the Department of 
Transportation for any ongoing testing program es-
tablished under subsection (a) summarizing the 
progress of such program. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORITY TO REVOKE PARTICIPATION.—The 
Secretary shall immediately revoke participation in a test-
ing program under subsection (a) if— 
‘‘(1) the participant has an accident or incident 
involving a death, or personal injury necessitating in- 
patient hospitalization and the testing program is de-
termined to be the cause or a contributing factor to 
such accident or incident; 
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‘‘(2) the participant fails to comply with the 
terms and conditions of the testing program; or 
‘‘(3) in the determination of the Secretary, con-
tinued participation in the testing program by the 
participant would be unsafe. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary shall immediately terminate a testing program 
under subsection (a) if continuation of the testing program 
would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of this 
chapter. 
‘‘(j) STATE RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) EXEMPTION.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), if a State submits to the Secretary notice 
that the State requests an exemption from any testing 
program considered for establishment under this sec-
tion, the State shall be exempt. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not 
grant a requested exemption under paragraph 
(1) after a testing program is established. 
‘‘(B) LATE
NOTICE.—The Secretary shall 
not grant a requested exemption under para-
graph (1) if the notice submitted under that 
paragraph is submitted to the Secretary more 
than 10 days after the date on which the Sec-
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lated component described in paragraph (1)(C) 
for such verification; or 
‘‘(C) a United States manufacturer of a 
pipe or related component described in para-
graph (1)(C) that is accredited by the Inter-
national Organization for Standardization. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) 
VERIFICATION.—The 
term 
‘verification’ means sufficient testing and audit-
ing to confirm that a standard has been met in 
the production of a pipe or related component. 
‘‘(B) INDEPENDENT
THIRD
PARTY.—The 
term ‘independent third party’ means an entity 
that— 
‘‘(i) does not have a commercial rela-
tionship with the manufacturer or supplier 
of a pipe or related component; and 
‘‘(ii) is accredited by the International 
Organization for Standardization.’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by 
this subsection shall only apply to pipes and compo-
nents that are— 
(A) covered by the amendments made by 
such subsection; and 
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