I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3226
To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve pipeline safety.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 4, 1999
Mr. METCALF introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on 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 Committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve pipeline
safety.
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 ‘‘Safe Pipelines Act of
2000’’.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL SAFETY CERTIFICATION OF PIPELINE EM-
PLOYEES.
Section 60102(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(C) shall include a requirement that all
individuals responsible for the operation and
maintenance of pipeline facilities shall be tested
for qualification to perform such functions and
certified by the Secretary to perform such func-
tions.’’.
SEC. 3. CORROSION TESTING.
Section 60102(f) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) CORROSION TESTING.—Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this paragraph,
the Secretary shall require that the operator of a
pipeline facility with an instrumented internal in-
spection device periodically test the facility for corro-
sion and anomalies and make the results of the test
available to the public. The period between each test
shall be no longer than 5 years.’’.
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS.
Section 60102(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(2) by inserting before subparagraph (C) (as so
redesignated) the following:
‘‘(A) spill of more than 40 gallons;
‘‘(B) rupture of a pipeline;’’.
SEC. 5. HYDROSTATIC TESTING.
Section 60108(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) HYDROSTATIC TESTING.—Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this para-
graph, the Secretary shall require that the operator
of a pipeline facility subject to this chapter that is
not covered by a certification under section 60105 or
an agreement under section 60106 periodically
hydrostatically test the facility to redetermine the
maximum allowable operating pressure of the facility
and make the results of the test available to the
public. The time period between each test shall be no
longer than 5 years.’’.
SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF PIPELINE MAPS ON INTERNET.
Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) AVAILABILITY OF PIPELINE MAPS ON INTER-
NET.—Not later than October 1, 2000, the Secretary shall
make available on the Internet nationwide maps of the lo-
cation of all pipeline facilities subject to this chapter.’’.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTERNAL LEAK DETECTION
SYSTEMS.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall
conduct a study to determine the effectiveness external
leak detection systems, including hydrocarbon sensor ca-
bles, for the purpose of improving pipeline leak detection.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2000, the
Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the re-
sults of the study.
SEC. 8. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES OF NATIONAL TRANSPOR-
TATION SAFETY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete
cost-benefit analyses of all recommendations made by the
National Transportation Safety Board to the Secretary
that the Board classifies as being ‘‘open’’.
SEC. 9. EFFECTIVENESS OF DOUBLE-WALLED PIPELINES.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall
conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of double-
walled pipelines for the purpose of preventing ruptures
and leaks.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to
Congress a report on the results of the study.
SEC. 10. OPTIMAL MINIMUM BURIAL DEPTH.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall
conduct a study to determine the optimal minimum burial
depth of underground pipelines for the purpose of pre-
venting release of hazardous materials into the air.
(b) REPORT AND RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the
study and shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to
modify regulations of the Department of Transportation
relating to pipeline burial depth to take into account the
results of the study.
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