Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5175
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]
Introduced: 2019-11-19 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Appropriations
Business records
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
Oil and gas
Performance measurement
Pipelines
Pollution liability
Research and development
State and local government operations
Transportation costs
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: 

Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
 
Among other provisions, the bill
 
 
reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities;
 
allows for limited safety-enhancing testing programs to evaluate innovative technologies and operational practices testing the safe operation of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities;
 
authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a confidential and non-punitive voluntary information-sharing system to encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection information feedback and information-sharing on best practices, processes, and technology deployments with respect to such facilities;
 
establishes a Liquefied Natural Gas division within the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to ensure the safety and oversight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, including small-scale LNG facilities, peak shaving facilities, and import or export facilities; 
 
creates a Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety and Training;
 
increases staffing levels in the PHMSA to hire additional personnel with safety expertise; and
 
directs DOT to initiate a study on technologies and measures that reduce the amount of natural gas released during venting and blowdowns of natural gas distribution systems and transmission pipelines.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-11-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2019-11-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: 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.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: 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.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Introduced in House