I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9957 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study of the feasibility 
of establishing a refined fuel storage reserve in the Western United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 11, 2024 
Mr. CURTIS (for himself, Ms. MALOY, Mr. MOORE of Utah, and Mr. OWENS) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study of 
the feasibility of establishing a refined fuel storage re-
serve in the Western United States. 
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 ‘‘Western Refined Fuel 
Reserve Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. WESTERN REFINED FUEL STORAGE RESERVE 
STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, 
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in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security 
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, and other stakeholders, shall complete a 
study, subject to subsection (b), to guide the establishment 
of a Western refined fuel storage reserve in— 
(1) one of the Western States; 
(2) a salt cavern formation; and 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, a cen-
tralized location among the Western States with im-
mediate and reliable connectivity to existing rail and 
highway infrastructure. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) an examination of— 
(A) potential locations that a Western re-
fined fuel storage reserve may be established, 
taking into consideration the unique geography 
of the West; 
(B) specific infrastructure requirements for 
the establishment and operation of a Western 
refined fuel storage reserve, taking into consid-
eration the lack of pipeline infrastructure and 
connectivity between refinery hubs and major 
cities within the Western States; 
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(C) the vulnerability of the refined fuel 
supply chains to natural or manmade disasters 
that result in an extended disruption of refinery 
operations within the Western States; 
(D) the economic feasibility of establishing, 
operating, and maintaining a Western refined 
fuel storage reserve; 
(E) existing salt cavern formations in 
Western States that are actively hosting or 
could host a refined fuel storage reserve; and 
(F) the quantity and scale of existing re-
fined fuel storage reserves containing petroleum 
products within the Western States; and 
(2) the identification of potential additional 
benefits to the energy security or emergency pre-
paredness of the United States by establishing a 
Western refined fuel storage reserve, including— 
(A) economic benefits of any identified po-
tential Western refined fuel storage reserve site; 
and 
(B) emergency response advantages of an 
identified refined fuel storage reserve. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary of Energy completes 
the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy 
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shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, submit to Congress a report, based 
on the results of such study— 
(1) recommending, with respect to authorizing 
and funding the establishment of a Western refined 
fuel storage reserve as a part of the Strategic Petro-
leum Reserve system— 
(A) regulatory requirements for the poten-
tial establishment of such refined fuel storage 
reserve; 
(B) a location for established such refined 
fuel storage reserve; 
(C) the utilization of existing private sector 
facilities, if applicable, for the establishment of 
such refined fuel storage reserve; 
(D) how such a refined fuel storage reserve 
should be operated, such as what fuels and 
quantities should be stored, fuel purchases, con-
ditions triggering fuel withdrawals, and any 
other operational recommendations; and 
(E) strategies for partnering with other 
Federal agencies, States, and local governments 
to provide fuel storage for emergency uses in 
the Western United States; and 
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