I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5469 
To prevent future propane shortages, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 
Mr. LATTA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agri-
culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prevent future propane shortages, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Propane Supply and 
Security Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Energy In-
formation Administration. 
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(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 
(3) PROPANE PIPELINE.—The term ‘‘propane 
pipeline’’ means a pipeline regulated under chapter 
601 of title 49, United States Code, that is used to 
transport propane. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 3. INFORMATION COLLECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina-
tion with other Federal and State officials, as appropriate, 
shall publish to the maximum extent practicable and con-
sistent with confidentiality requirements, data on— 
(1) propane storage, including— 
(A) weekly inventory disaggregated below 
the level of the Petroleum Administration for 
Defense Districts (PADD) including— 
(i) data at the State and local level; 
and 
(ii) aggregate data at market hubs 
around Conway, Kansas, Mont Bellvieu, 
Texas, and any other market hubs of sig-
nificant regional scope; and 
(B) weekly data to separately account for 
non-fuel propylene and propane for PADD 3 
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and other regions if the Administrator deter-
mines that inclusion of the nonfuel propylene 
supply data significantly distorts propane sup-
ply and pricing data, and the Administrator de-
termines it is feasible to collect separate data 
and nonfuel propylene and propane; and 
(2) propane markets, including pricing data, for 
residential customers in States that voluntarily 
choose to participate in the State Heating Oil and 
Propane Program (SHOPP) of the Energy Informa-
tion Administration. 
(b) BIANNUAL
WORKING
AND
NET
AVAILABLE 
STORAGE CAPACITY REPORT.—The Administrator shall 
publish data on storage at— 
(1) major market centers, including the regions 
around Conway, Kansas and Mont Bellvieu, Texas; 
and 
(2) to the extent practicable based on existing 
surveys and consistent with confidentiality require-
ments, the regions reported in the weekly and 
monthly inventory data under subsection (a). 
SEC. 4. COORDINATED RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall lead and co-
ordinate Federal and State emergency response efforts 
with respect to propane supply emergencies in any State 
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or region of the United States that are characterized, as 
determined by the Secretary, by— 
(1) sudden increases in consumer prices for 
propane; or 
(2) propane supply shortages that threaten pub-
lic safety or livestock safety. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) establish criteria to determine when an 
emergency response action would be triggered; 
(2) establish a system for forecasting and track-
ing the availability of propane, with an emphasis on 
predicting supply shortages; 
(3) establish a system for alerting other Federal 
agencies, States, industry groups, and appropriate 
stakeholders of the crisis— 
(A) before an emergency; and 
(B) when the Secretary determines that an 
emergency has occurred; 
(4) establish a plan for coordinated response to 
an emergency by Federal and State agencies using 
their existing authorities; and 
(5) establish criteria to determine when the 
emergency has ended. 
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negative effects of future propane price spikes,’’ after ‘‘to 
enhance consumer and employee safety and training,’’. 
(b) MARKET SURVEY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION 
PRICE ANALYSIS.—Section 9(a) of the Propane Education 
and Research Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. 6408(a)) is amend-
ed in the first sentence by striking ‘‘only data provided 
by the Energy Information Administration’’ and inserting 
‘‘the refiner price to end users of consumer grade propane, 
as published by the Energy Information Administration’’. 
SEC. 6. REGIONAL PROPANE RESERVE STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a 
study to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of es-
tablishing 1 or more propane storage facilities, to be oper-
ated separately from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve es-
tablished under part B of title I of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6231 et seq.). 
(b) PLAN.—Following completion of the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may submit to Congress and 
the President a plan describing— 
(1) the proposed acquisition of storage and re-
lated facilities or storage services, including— 
(A) the potential use of storage facilities 
not currently in use; and 
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(B) a determination of the combination of 
primary, secondary, and tertiary storage facili-
ties that will be used; 
(2) the proposed acquisition of propane for 
storage; 
(3) the proposed methods of disposition of pro-
pane; 
(4) the estimated costs of establishment, main-
tenance, and operation; 
(5) the efforts the Secretary will make— 
(A) to minimize any potential need for fu-
ture drawdowns; and 
(B) to ensure the distributors and import-
ers are not discouraged from maintaining and 
increasing supplies of propane; 
(6) the proposed actions to ensure the quality 
of the propane; and 
(7) the proposed accounts and funding struc-
tures required for acquisition of propane and pro-
pane storage facilities. 
SEC. 7. STORAGE FACILITY LOANS FOR PROPANE STOR-
AGE. 
Section 1614(a) of the Food, Conservation, and En-
ergy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8789(a)) is amended by insert-
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ing ‘‘, including facilities for propane that is used for dry-
ing and heating’’ before the period at the end. 
SEC. 8. STUDY OF JURISDICTION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall complete a study of facilities appurtenant to propane 
pipelines (such as terminals and storage facilities) that are 
not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission (as of 
the date on which the study commences) to determine— 
(1) whether and to what degree the nonjurisdic-
tional nature of the facilities had an impact on the 
propane price spike during the winter of 2013 to 
2014; or 
(2) whether findings described in paragraph (1) 
demonstrate whether it would be in the public inter-
est to enact a change in law to place such facilities 
under the jurisdiction of the Commission. 
Æ 
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