Pipeline and Compressor Safety Verification Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-309
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2021-01-13
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Community life and organization

Emergency planning and evacuation

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Massachusetts

Oil and gas

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2021-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Pipeline and Compressor Safety Verification Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill prohibits the construction and operation of specified natural gas projects until certain Massachusetts state agencies certify that such projects do not pose a danger to surrounding residential communities and the general public.</p> <p>Specifically, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must revoke the certificates of public convenience and necessity it issued authorizing the construction and operation of the Weymouth Compressor Station (Atlantic Bridge Project)in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and the West Roxbury Lateral Pipeline (Algonquin Incremental Market Project)in Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts, until it receives written certification from the state agencies.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 309 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2021 Mr. Lynch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revoke a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act as such certificate applies to the Weymouth Compressor Station, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pipeline and Compressor Safety Verification Act of 2021 . 2. Revocations (a) Weymouth Compressor Station (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall issue an order revoking the certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the construction and operation of the Atlantic Bridge Project and issued under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717f ) on January 25, 2017, as such certificate applies with respect to the proposed Weymouth Compressor Station in Weymouth, Massachusetts. (2) Future actions After issuing an order under paragraph (1), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may not, with respect to the proposed Weymouth Compressor Station in Weymouth, Massachusetts, issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717f ) or take any other action approving the Weymouth Compressor Station, unless and until the Commission receives written certification that the construction and operation of the Weymouth Compressor Station will not pose a danger to surrounding residential communities and the general public from each of the following: (A) The Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for Massachusetts. (B) The State Fire Marshal for Massachusetts. (C) The Director of the Massachusetts Pipeline Safety Division. (b) West Roxbury Lateral (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall issue an order revoking the certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing the construction and operation of the Algonquin Incremental Market Project and issued under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717f ) on March 3, 2015, as such certificate applies with respect to approximately 4.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline and approximately 0.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline off of the I–4 System Lateral of Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, in Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (commonly known, and in this subsection referred to, as the West Roxbury Lateral ). (2) Future actions After issuing an order under paragraph (1), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may not, with respect to the West Roxbury Lateral, issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717f ) or take any other action approving the West Roxbury Lateral, unless and until the Commission receives written certification that the construction and operation of the West Roxbury Lateral will not pose a danger to surrounding residential communities and the general public from each of the following: (A) The Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for Massachusetts. (B) The State Fire Marshal for Massachusetts. (C) The Director of the Massachusetts Pipeline Safety Division.