Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

Bill: 117-hr-2643
Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Introduced: 2021-04-19 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Land use and conservation
Pipelines
Pollution liability
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: 

Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

 
This bill establishes requirements to address the environmental risks of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines on the seafloor.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to finalize regulations proposed in 2007 related to offshore pipelines. The regulations must require owners of oil and gas pipelines to provide for biannual, third-party inspections of pipelines and to equip pipelines with leak detection systems or devices. Further, the BSEE must issue regulations to charge an annual fee on such owners for the purpose of providing the BSEE with funds to decommission or remove offshore pipelines in the event the owner files for bankruptcy. 
 
When determining whether to permit an owner to decommission such pipelines, the BSEE must consider the navigational hazards, any interferences with other uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the environmental impacts of the pipelines.
 
In addition, the BSEE must continually monitor the condition and location of all oil and gas pipelines that have been decommissioned and remain in place. If the BSEE identifies an exposed segment of any active or decommissioned pipeline, then it must either remove the pipeline from the ocean or ensure it is properly decommissioned and does not pose a threat. If a segment of any active pipeline is exposed or shifts, then the BSEE must resecure the segment to the sea floor.

action_date: 2022-12-14
text: 

Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

 
This bill establishes requirements to address the environmental risks of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines on the seafloor.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to finalize regulations proposed in 2007 related to offshore pipelines. The regulations must require owners of oil and gas pipelines to provide for biannual, third-party inspections of pipelines and to equip pipelines with leak detection systems or devices. Further, the BSEE must issue regulations to charge an annual fee on such owners for the purpose of providing the BSEE with funds to decommission or remove offshore pipelines in the event the owner files for bankruptcy. 
 
When determining whether to permit an owner to decommission such pipelines, the BSEE must consider the navigational hazards, any interferences with other uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the environmental impacts of the pipelines.
 
In addition, the BSEE must continually monitor the condition and location of all oil and gas pipelines that have been decommissioned and remain in place. If the BSEE identifies an exposed segment of any active or decommissioned pipeline, then it must either remove the pipeline from the ocean or ensure it is properly decommissioned and does not pose a threat. If a segment of any active pipeline is exposed or shifts, then the BSEE must resecure the segment to the sea floor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.
action_date: 2021-10-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
action_date: 2021-10-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-10-13
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-05-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House