H. R. 2845—16 
‘‘(2) INTERIM ACTIONS.—In determining the actions for an 
owner or operator of a pipeline facility to take under paragraph 
(1)(B), the Secretary shall take into account potential con-
sequences to public safety and the environment, potential 
impacts on pipeline system reliability and deliverability, and 
other factors, as appropriate. 
‘‘(d) TESTING REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue regula-
tions for conducting tests to confirm the material strength 
of previously untested natural gas transmission pipelines 
located in high-consequence areas and operating at a pressure 
greater than 30 percent of specified minimum yield strength. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the regulations, the 
Secretary shall consider safety testing methodologies, including, 
at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) pressure testing; and 
‘‘(B) other alternative methods, including in-line inspec-
tions, determined by the Secretary to be of equal or greater 
effectiveness. 
‘‘(3) COMPLETION OF TESTING.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission and State regulators, as appropriate, shall estab-
lish timeframes for the completion of such testing that take 
into account potential consequences to public safety and the 
environment and that minimize costs and service disruptions. 
‘‘(e) HIGH-CONSEQUENCE AREA DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘high-consequence area’ means an area described in section 
60109(a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 601 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60138 the 
following: 
‘‘60139. Maximum allowable operating pressure.’’. 
SEC. 24. LIMITATION ON INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REF-
ERENCE. 
Section 60102, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(p) LIMITATION ON INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REF-
ERENCE.—Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
subsection, the Secretary may not issue guidance or a regulation 
pursuant to this chapter that incorporates by reference any docu-
ments or portions thereof unless the documents or portions thereof 
are made available to the public, free of charge, on an Internet 
Web site.’’. 
SEC. 25. PIPELINE SAFETY TRAINING FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERN-
MENT PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To further the objectives of chapter 601 of 
title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation may 
provide the services of personnel from the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration to provide training for State and 
local government personnel at a pipeline safety training facility 
that is established and operated by an agency or instrumentality 
of the United States, a unit of State or local government, or an 
educational institution. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENTS FOR TRAINING EXPENDITURES.—
H. R. 2845—17 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary may require reimbursement from sources 
other than the Federal Government for all expenses incurred 
by the Secretary in providing training for State and local 
government personnel under subsection (a), including salaries, 
expenses, transportation for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration personnel, and the cost of training mate-
rials. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Amounts collected 
as reimbursement under paragraph (1) are authorized to be 
appropriated for the purposes set forth in chapter 601 of title 
49, United States Code. 
SEC. 26. REPORT ON MINORITY-OWNED, WOMAN-OWNED, AND DIS-
ADVANTAGED BUSINESSES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, based upon 
available information, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives a comprehensive 
report assessing the levels and types of participation and methods 
of facilitating the participation of minority-owned business enter-
prises, woman-owned business enterprises, and disadvantaged busi-
ness enterprises in the construction and operation of pipeline facili-
ties in the United States. 
SEC. 27. REPORT ON PIPELINE PROJECTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a comprehensive study regarding the process for obtaining 
Federal and State permits for projects to construct pipeline facilities. 
(b) EVALUATION.—In conducting the study, the Comptroller 
General shall evaluate how long it takes to issue permits for pipeline 
construction projects, the relationship between the States and the 
Federal Government in issuing such permits, and any recommenda-
tions from the States for improving the permitting process. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, the Comptroller 
General shall consult with the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the results of the study. 
SEC. 28. COVER OVER BURIED PIPELINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601, as amended by this Act, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 60140. Cover over buried pipelines 
‘‘(a) HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE INCIDENTS INVOLVING BURIED 
PIPELINES.— 
‘‘(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct 
a study of hazardous liquid pipeline incidents at crossings 
of inland bodies of water with a width of at least 100 feet
H. R. 2845—18 
from high water mark to high water mark to determine if 
the depth of cover over the buried pipeline was a factor in 
any accidental release of hazardous liquids. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Secretary shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate a report on the results of the study. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPTH OF 
COVER OVER BURIED PIPELINES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—If, following completion of the study 
under subsection (a), the Secretary finds that the depth of 
cover over buried pipelines is a contributing factor in the acci-
dental release of hazardous liquids from the pipelines, the 
Secretary, not later than 1 year after the date of completion 
of the study, shall review and determine the sufficiency of 
current requirements for the depth of cover over buried pipe-
lines. 
‘‘(2) LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) DEVELOPMENT.—If the Secretary determines under 
paragraph (1) that the current requirements for the depth 
of cover over buried pipelines are insufficient, the Secretary 
shall develop legislative recommendations for improving 
the safety of buried pipelines at crossings of inland bodies 
of water with a width of at least 100 feet from high water 
mark to high water mark. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATION OF FACTORS.—In developing legis-
lative recommendations under subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary shall consider the factors specified in section 
60102(b)(2). 
‘‘(C) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—If the Secretary develops 
legislative recommendations under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in 
subsection (a)(2) a report containing the legislative rec-
ommendations.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 601 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60139 the 
following: 
‘‘60140. Cover over buried pipelines.’’. 
SEC. 29. SEISMICITY. 
In identifying and evaluating all potential threats to each pipe-
line segment pursuant to parts 192 and 195 of title 49, Code 
of Federal Regulations, an operator of a pipeline facility shall con-
sider the seismicity of the area. 
SEC. 30. TRIBAL CONSULTATION FOR PIPELINE PROJECTS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall develop and implement 
a protocol for consulting with Indian tribes to provide technical 
assistance for the regulation of pipelines that are under the jurisdic-
tion of Indian tribes. 
SEC. 31. PIPELINE INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT NEEDS. 
(a) INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT NEEDS.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
H. R. 2845—19 
of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that provides 
information on— 
(1) the total number of full-time equivalent positions for 
pipeline inspection and enforcement personnel at the Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; 
(2) out of the total number of such positions, how many 
of the positions are not filled and the reasons why the positions 
are not filled; 
(3) the actions the Administrator of the Pipeline and Haz-
ardous Materials Safety Administration is taking to fill the 
positions; and 
(4) any additional inspection and enforcement resource 
needs of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminis-
tration. 
(b) STAFFING.—Subject to the availability of funds, the Sec-
retary may increase the number of positions for pipeline inspection 
and enforcement personnel at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration by 10 full-time equivalent employees, if— 
(1) on or before September 30, 2014, the Secretary fills 
the 135 full-time equivalent positions for pipeline inspection 
and enforcement personnel specified in section 18(e) of the 
Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act 
of 2006 (120 Stat. 3498); and 
(2) in preparing the report under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary finds that additional pipeline inspection and enforcement 
personnel are necessary. 
SEC. 32. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID.—Section 60125(a) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—To carry out the provisions of this 
chapter related to gas and hazardous liquid and section 12 
of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 
60101 note; Public Law 107–355), there is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of Transportation for each 
of fiscal years 2012 through 2015, from fees collected under 
section 60301, $90,679,000, of which $4,746,000 is for carrying 
out such section 12 and $36,194,000 is for making grants. 
‘‘(2) TRUST FUND AMOUNTS.—In addition to the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1), there is author-
ized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
2015 from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to carry out 
the provisions of this chapter related to hazardous liquid and 
section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 
(49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 107–355), $18,573,000, of 
which $2,174,000 is for carrying out such section 12 and 
$4,558,000 is for making grants.’’. 
(b) EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANTS.—Section 60125(b)(2) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2007 through 2010’’ and inserting ‘‘2012 
through 2015’’. 
(c) ONE-CALL
NOTIFICATION
PROGRAMS.—Section 6107 is 
amended—