I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4937 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize pipeline safety 
programs and enhance pipeline safety, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 14, 2016 
Mr. DENHAM (for himself, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. SHUSTER, and Mr. DEFAZIO) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize pipe-
line safety programs and enhance pipeline safety, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REF-
ERENCES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhanc-
ing Safety Act of 2016’’ or the ‘‘PIPES Act of 2016’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references. 
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 3. Failure of PHMSA to implement statutory mandates. 
Sec. 4. Natural gas integrity management review. 
Sec. 5. Hazardous liquid integrity management review. 
Sec. 6. Technical safety standards committees. 
Sec. 7. Inspection report information. 
Sec. 8. Improving damage prevention technology. 
Sec. 9. Workforce management. 
Sec. 10. Information-sharing system. 
Sec. 11. Nationwide integrated pipeline safety regulatory database. 
Sec. 12. Underground natural gas storage facilities. 
Sec. 13. Joint inspection and oversight. 
Sec. 14. Safety data sheets. 
Sec. 15. Hazardous materials identification numbers. 
Sec. 16. Emergency order authority. 
Sec. 17. State grant funds. 
Sec. 18. Response plans. 
Sec. 19. High consequence areas. 
Sec. 20. Pipeline safety technical assistance grants. 
Sec. 21. Study of materials and corrosion prevention in pipeline transportation. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) 
GAS
AND
HAZARDOUS
LIQUID.—Section 
60125(a) of title 49, United States Code is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘there is au-
thorized 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.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘there is au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Department of 
Transportation from fees collected under sections 
60301 and 60302— 
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‘‘(A) $124,500,000 for fiscal year 2016, of 
which $9,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $39,385,000 
shall be expended for making grants; 
‘‘(B) $128,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 of 
which $9,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $41,885,000 
shall be expended for making grants; 
‘‘(C) $131,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, of 
which $9,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $44,885,000 
shall be expended for making grants; and 
‘‘(D) $134,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, of 
which $9,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $47,885,000 
shall be expended for making grants.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘there is au-
thorized 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 chap-
ter 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 
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grants.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘there is au-
thorized to be appropriated from the Oil Spill Liabil-
ity 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)— 
‘‘(A) $22,123,000 for fiscal year 2016, of 
which $3,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $8,067,000 shall 
be expended for making grants; 
‘‘(B) $22,123,000 for fiscal year 2017, of 
which $3,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $8,067,000 shall 
be expended for making grants; 
‘‘(C) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, of 
which $3,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $8,067,000 shall 
be expended for making grants; and 
‘‘(D) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, of 
which $3,000,000 shall be expended for car-
rying out such section 12 and $8,067,000 shall 
be expended for making grants.’’. 
(b) OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary for the necessary oper-
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ational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration the following amounts: 
(1) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
(2) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
(3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; and 
(4) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2019. 
(c) ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS.—Section 
6107(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: ‘‘Of the amounts provided under section 
60125(a)(1), the Secretary shall withhold $1,058,000 for 
each of fiscals years 2016 through 2019 to carry out this 
section.’’. 
(d) PIPELINE SAFETY INFORMATION GRANTS
TO 
COMMUNITIES.—The first sentence of section 60130(c) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: ‘‘Of the amounts made available under section 2(b) 
of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary shall withhold 
$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 
to carry out this section.’’ 
(e) PIPELINE INTEGRITY PROGRAM.—Section 12(f) 
of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 
U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 
2015’’ and inserting ‘‘2016 through 2019’’. 
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SEC. 3. FAILURE OF PHMSA TO IMPLEMENT STATUTORY 
MANDATES. 
(a) REPORT
BY
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.—Not 
later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Inspector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the 
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing the following: 
(1) A list of each statutory mandate contained 
in the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and 
Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112–90) that 
has not been implemented. 
(2) A list of each statutory mandate regarding 
pipeline safety from this Act and all other Acts en-
acted prior to the date of enactment of this Act, 
other than those contained in the Pipeline Safety, 
Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 
(Public Law 112–90), that has not been imple-
mented. 
(b) REPORTS BY THE SECRETARY.— 
(1) STATUTORY MANDATES.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
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every 60 days thereafter until each of the mandates 
listed pursuant to subsection (a) has been imple-
mented, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the specific actions taken to implement such 
mandates. 
(2) 
PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The 
Secretary 
shall make the report referred to in paragraph (1) 
publicly available on the Department of Transpor-
tation’s Internet Web site. 
(3) CONTENTS OF REPORTS.—The reports shall 
provide, for each mandate listed pursuant to sub-
section (a)— 
(A) a description of the mandate; 
(B) the deadline imposed for the mandate; 
(C) the status of the implementation of the 
mandate; 
(D) a detailed explanation of the reasons 
the mandate has not been implemented, includ-
ing a description of any actions taken by the 
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, the Office of 
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the Secretary, or the Office of Management and 
Budget that delayed implementation of the 
mandate; 
(E) an estimated completion date for the 
mandate; 
(F) the specific date on which any draft, 
interim, or final guidance, advisory, report, ad-
vance notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of 
proposed rulemaking, final rule, or other docu-
ment required to implement the mandate was 
sent to the Secretary by the Administrator for 
review and subsequently transmitted by the 
Secretary or the Administrator to the Office of 
Management and Budget; 
(G) a description of each concern with a 
document described under subparagraph (F) 
raised by the Secretary or the Office of Man-
agement and Budget; and 
(H) the date and reasons the Secretary or 
the Office of Management and Budget re-
quested any extension on acting on the man-
date, including an extension authorized by Ex-
ecutive Order 12866. 
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SEC. 4. NATURAL GAS INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT REVIEW. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
publication of a final rule regarding the safety of gas 
transmission pipelines related to the notice of proposed 
rulemaking issued on April 8, 2016, titled ‘‘Pipeline Safe-
ty: Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines’’ 
(81 Fed. Reg. 20721), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation 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 regarding the natural gas integrity 
management programs required under section 60109(c) of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) an analysis of the extent to which the nat-
ural gas integrity management programs required 
under section 60109(c) of title 49, United States 
Code, have improved the safety of natural gas trans-
mission pipeline facilities; 
(2) an analysis and recommendations, taking 
into consideration technical, operational, and eco-
nomic feasibility, regarding changes to the programs 
to improve safety, prevent inadvertent releases from 
pipelines, and mitigate any adverse consequences of 
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an inadvertent release, including changes to the defi-
nition of high consequence area, or expanding integ-
rity management beyond high consequence areas; 
(3) a review of the benefits, including safety 
benefits, and cost effectiveness of the legacy class lo-
cation regulations; 
(4) an analysis of, and recommendations re-
garding, what impact pipeline features and condi-
tions, including the age, condition, materials, and 
construction of a pipeline, have on safety and risk 
analysis of a particular pipeline; 
(5) a description of any challenges affecting 
Federal or State regulators in the oversight of nat-
ural gas transmission pipeline facilities and how the 
challenges are being addressed; and 
(6) a description of any challenges affecting the 
natural gas industry in complying with the pro-
grams, and how the challenges are being addressed, 
including any challenges faced by publicly-owned 
natural gas distribution systems. 
(c) DEFINITION OF HIGH CONSEQUENCE AREA.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘high consequence area’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 195.450 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act). 
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SEC. 5. HAZARDOUS LIQUID INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT RE-
VIEW. 
(a) SAFETY STUDY.—Not later than 18 months after 
the publication of a final rule regarding the safety of haz-
ardous liquid pipeline facilities related to the notice of pro-
posed rulemaking issued on October 13, 2015, titled 
‘‘Pipeline Safety: Safety of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines’’ 
(80 Fed. Reg. 61610), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation 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 regarding the hazardous liquid integ-
rity management programs, as regulated under sections 
195.450 and 195.452 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) an analysis of the extent to which haz-
ardous liquid pipeline facility integrity management 
in high consequence areas, as regulated under sec-
tions 195.450 and 195.452 of title 49, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, has improved the safety of haz-
ardous liquid pipeline facilities; 
(2) an analysis and recommendations, taking 
into consideration technical, operational, and eco-
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nomic feasibility, regarding changes to the programs 
to improve safety, prevent inadvertent releases from 
pipelines, and mitigate any adverse consequences of 
an inadvertent release, including changes to the defi-
nition of high consequence area; 
(3) an analysis of how surveying, assessment, 
mitigation, and monitoring activities, including real- 
time hazardous liquid pipeline monitoring during 
significant flood events and information sharing with 
Federal agencies, are being used to address risks as-
sociated with the dynamic and unique nature of riv-
ers, flood plains, lakes, and coastal areas; 
(4) an analysis of, and recommendations re-
garding, what impact pipeline features and condi-
tions, including the age, condition, materials, and 
construction of a pipeline, have on safety and risk 
analysis of a particular pipeline and what changes to 
the definition of high consequence area could be 
made to improve pipeline safety; and 
(5) a description of any challenges affecting 
Federal or State regulators in the oversight of haz-
ardous liquid pipeline facilities and how those chal-
lenges are being addressed. 
(c) DEFINITION OF HIGH CONSEQUENCE AREA.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘high consequence area’’ has the 
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meaning given the term in section 195.450 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES. 
(1) 
APPOINTMENT
OF
MEMBERS.—Section 
60115(b)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘State commissioners. The Sec-
retary shall consult with the national organization of 
State commissions before selecting those 2 individ-
uals.’’ and inserting ‘‘State officials. The Secretary 
shall consult with national organizations rep-
resenting State commissioners or Governors before 
making a selection under this subparagraph.’’. 
(2) VACANCIES.—Section 60115(b) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(5) Within 90 days of the date of enactment of the 
PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary shall fill all vacancies 
on the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, 
the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Stand-
ards Committee, and any other committee established pur-
suant to this section. After that period, the Secretary shall 
fill a vacancy on any such committee not later than 60 
days after the vacancy occurs.’’. 
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SEC. 7. INSPECTION REPORT INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
completion of a Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration pipeline safety inspection, the Adminis-
trator of such Administration, or the State authority cer-
tified under section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, 
to conduct such inspection, shall— 
(1) conduct a post-inspection briefing with the 
owner or operator of the gas or hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility inspected outlining any concerns; 
and 
(2) to the extent practicable, provide the owner 
or operator with written preliminary findings of the 
inspection. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 2 
years, the Administrator 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 Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report that includes— 
(1) a description of the actions that the Pipe-
line and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
has taken to ensure that inspections by State au-
thorities provide effective and timely oversight; and 
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(2) statistics relating to the timeliness of the 
actions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 8. IMPROVING DAMAGE PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on improving existing damage 
prevention programs through technological improvements 
in location, mapping, excavation, and communications 
practices to prevent excavation damage to a pipe or its 
coating. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) an identification of any methods to improve 
existing damage prevention programs through loca-
tion and mapping practices or technologies in an ef-
fort to reduce releases caused by excavation; 
(2) an analysis of how increased use of global 
positioning system digital mapping technologies, pre-
dictive analytic tools, public awareness initiatives in-
cluding one-call initiatives, the use of mobile devices, 
and other advanced technologies could supplement 
existing one-call notification and damage prevention 
programs to reduce the frequency and severity of in-
cidents caused by excavation damage; 
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(3) an identification of any methods to improve 
excavation practices or technologies in an effort to 
reduce pipeline damage; 
(4) an analysis of the feasibility of a national 
data repository for pipeline excavation accident data 
that creates standardized data models for storing 
and sharing pipeline accident information; 
(5) an identification of opportunities for stake-
holder engagement in preventing excavation damage; 
and 
(6) recommendations, taking into consideration 
technical, operational, and economic feasibility, on 
how to incorporate technological improvements and 
practices that help prevent excavation damage into 
existing damage prevention programs. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 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 report containing the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
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SEC. 9. WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure and the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate, a review of Pipeline and Hazardous Mate-
rials Safety Administration staff resource management, 
including geographic allocation plans, hiring challenges, 
and expected retirement rates and strategies. The review 
shall include recommendations to address hiring chal-
lenges, training needs, and any other identified staff re-
source challenges. 
SEC. 10. INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall convene a working group to consider the 
development of a voluntary information-sharing system to 
encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection infor-
mation feedback and information sharing with the purpose 
of improving natural gas transmission and hazardous liq-
uid pipeline facility integrity risk analysis. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The working group convened 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall include representatives 
from— 
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(1) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safe-
ty Administration; 
(2) industry stakeholders, including operators 
of pipeline facilities, inspection technology vendors, 
and pipeline inspection organizations; 
(3) safety advocacy groups; 
(4) research institutions; 
(5) State public utility commissions or State of-
ficials responsible for pipeline safety oversight; 
(6) State pipeline safety inspectors; and 
(7) labor representatives. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The working group convened 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall consider and provide rec-
ommendations to the Secretary on— 
(1) the need for, and the identification of, a 
system to ensure that dig verification data are 
shared with in-line inspection operators to the extent 
consistent with the need to maintain proprietary and 
security sensitive data in a confidential manner to 
improve pipeline safety and inspection technology; 
(2) ways to encourage the exchange of pipeline 
inspection information and the development of ad-
vanced pipeline inspection technologies and enhanced 
risk analysis; 
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(3) opportunities to share data, including dig 
verification data between operators of pipeline facili-
ties and in-line inspector vendors to expand knowl-
edge of the advantages and disadvantages of the dif-
ferent types of in-line inspection technology and 
methodologies; 
(4) options to create a secure system that pro-
tects proprietary data while encouraging the ex-
change of pipeline inspection information and the 
development of advanced pipeline inspection tech-
nologies and enhanced risk analysis; and 
(5) regulatory, funding, and legal barriers to 
sharing the information described in paragraphs (1) 
through (4). 
(d) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish the 
recommendations provided under subsection (c) on a pub-
licly available Web site of the Department of Transpor-
tation. 
SEC. 11. NATIONWIDE INTEGRATED PIPELINE SAFETY REG-
ULATORY DATABASE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall establish a national integrated pipe-
line safety regulatory inspection database to improve com-
munication and collaboration between the Pipeline and 
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Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and State 
pipeline regulators. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the database, 
the Secretary shall consider— 
(1) any efforts underway to test a secure infor-
mation-sharing system for the purpose described in 
subsection (a); 
(2) any progress in establishing common stand-
ards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting pipe-
line safety regulatory inspection data, and a method-
ology for the sharing of the data; 
(3) any existing inadequacies or gaps in State 
and Federal inspection, enforcement, geospatial, or 
other pipeline safety regulatory inspection data; 
(4) the potential safety benefits of a national 
integrated pipeline database; and 
(5) recommendations of stakeholders for how to 
implement a secure information-sharing system that 
protects proprietary and security sensitive informa-
tion and data for the purpose described in sub-
section (a). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In implementing this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, including 
State authorities operating under a certification to regu-
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late intrastate pipelines under section 60105 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 12. UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILI-
TIES. 
(a) DEFINED TERM.—Section 60101(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (21)(B) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (22)(B)(iii) by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (24) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(4) in paragraph (25) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(26) ‘underground natural gas storage facility’ 
means a gas pipeline facility that stores gas in an 
underground facility, including— 
‘‘(A) a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir; 
‘‘(B) an aquifer reservoir; or 
‘‘(C) a solution-mined salt cavern res-
ervoir.’’. 
(b) STANDARDS FOR UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS 
STORAGE FACILITIES.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
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