[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1187 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1187

  To increase the safety for the public health and the environment by 
   reducing the risks associated with the pipeline transportation of 
       natural gas and hazardous liquids, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 1995

 Mr. Petri (by request) (for himself and Mr. Laughlin) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 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 increase the safety for the public health and the environment by 
   reducing the risks associated with the pipeline transportation of 
       natural gas and hazardous liquids, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline Safety 
Act of 1995''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 49, United States Code, and to the 
                            Secretary of Transportation.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. General authority.
Sec. 5. Risk management.
Sec. 6. Standards for liquified natural gas pipeline facilities.
Sec. 7. Inspection and maintenance.
Sec. 8. High-density population areas and environmentally sensitive 
                            areas.
Sec. 9. Excess flow valves.
Sec. 10. Pipeline facilities hazardous to life and property.
Sec. 11. Customer-owned natural gas service lines.
Sec. 12. One-call notification systems.
Sec. 13. Technical safety standards committees.
Sec. 14. Public education programs.
Sec. 15. Compliance and waivers.
Sec. 16. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE, AND TO THE 
              SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.

    (a) References to Title 49.--Except as otherwise expressly 
provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in 
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) References to the Secretary of Transportation.--Except as 
otherwise expressly provided, any reference in this Act to ``the 
Secretary'' is a reference to the Secretary of Transportation.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 60101 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(19) as 
        paragraphs (a)(4) through (a)(22).
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (a)(20) as paragraph 
        (a)(27).
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (a)(21) as paragraph 
        (a)(29), and by striking all the words in paragraph (a)(29(B) 
        and inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``does not include 
        the gathering of gas in those rural locations which are outside 
        the limits of any incorporated or unincorporated city, town, or 
        village.''
            (4) by redesignating paragraph (a)(22) as paragraph 
        (a)(30).
            (5) by inserting the following new definitions as 
        paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3):
            ``(1) `Best estimate' means a scientifically appropriate 
        estimate which is based, to the extent feasible, on one of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Central estimates of risk using the most 
                plausible assumptions.
                    ``(B) An approach which combines multiple estimates 
                based on different scenarios and weighs the probability 
                of each scenario.
                    ``(C) Any other methodology designed to provide the 
                most unbiased representation of the most plausible 
                level of risk, given the current scientific information 
                available to the Federal agency concerned.
            ``(2) `Benefit' means the reasonably identifiable 
        significant health, safety, environmental, social and economic 
        benefits that are expected to result directly or indirectly 
        from implementation of a rule or alternative strategy.
            ``(3) `Costs' means the direct and indirect costs to the 
        United States Government, to State, local, and tribal 
        governments, and to the private sector, wage earners, 
        consumers, and the economy, of implementing and complying with 
a rule or alternative strategy.''.
            (6) by inserting the following new definitions as 
        paragraphs (a)(23) through (a)(26):
            ``(23) `Risk assessment document' means a document 
        containing the explanation of how hazards associated with a 
        substance, activity, or condition have been identified, 
        quantified, and assessed. The term also includes a written 
        statement accepting the findings of any such document.
            ``(24) `Risk management' means the systematic application, 
        by the owner or operator of a pipeline facility, of management 
        policies, procedures, finite resources and practices to the 
        tasks of analyzing, assessing and controlling risk in order to 
        protect employees, the general public, the environment and 
        pipeline facilities.
            ``(25) `Risk management plan' means a management plan 
        utilized by a natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline owner or 
        operator that encompasses risk management.
            ``(26) `Significant standard' means any safety or 
        environmental standard or regulatory requirement or closely 
        related group of safety or environmental standards or 
        regulatory requirements that is likely to result in compliance 
        costs in excess of $1,000,000.
            (7) By inserting the following new definition as paragraph 
        (a)(28):
            ``(28) `Substitution risk' means a potential risk to human 
        health, safety, or the environment from a regulatory 
        alternative designed to decrease other risks.''.
    (b) Section 60101(b)(2)(A) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence after the words ``the Secretary 
        shall'' by inserting the words ``, if appropriate,''.
            (2) in the last sentence after the words ``physical 
        characteristics'' by inserting the words ``and is justified, 
        based on a risk assessment document and cost/benefit 
        analysis''.

SEC. 4. GENERAL AUTHORITY.

    Section 60102 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (a)(1)(A) by striking ``transporters of 
        gas and hazardous liquid and to''.
            (2) in subparagraph (a)(1)(C) by striking all words and 
        inserting in lieu thereof the following: ``shall include a 
        requirement that all individuals who operate and maintain 
        pipeline facilities must be qualified. Such qualifications 
        shall address the ability to recognize and react appropriately 
        to abnormal operating conditions that may indicate a dangerous 
        situation or a condition exceeding design limits. The operator 
        of the pipeline facility shall ensure such qualifications.''.
            (3) by inserting the following new subparagraph after 
        subparagraph (a)(1)(C):
                    ``(D) Shall be applied as mandatory requirements to 
                owners and operators of regulated pipeline facilities 
                only after certification by the Secretary that such 
                compliance is justified based on--
                            ``(i) an objective and unbiased scientific 
                        and economic evaluation of all significant and 
                        relevant information and risk assessments 
                        performed by the Secretary and provided to the 
                        Secretary by interested parties relating to 
                        costs, risks, risk reduction or other benefits 
                        addressed by the standard;
                            ``(ii) the incremental risk reduction or 
                        other benefits of any regulatory or 
                        nonregulatory option chosen that will equal or 
                        exceed, and be reasonably related to, the 
                        incremental costs incurred by the Federal 
                        Government, State and local governments and 
                        public and private entities; and
                            ``(iii) the conclusion that no regulatory 
                        or nonregulatory option considered by the 
                        agency or proposed during the comment period 
                        would be more likely to achieve a substantially 
                        equivalent reduction in risk in a more cost-
                        effective manner or would be more likely to 
                        provide flexibility to the regulated entities 
                        in achieving the objectives of the standard 
                        along with a brief explanation of why other 
                        regulatory or nonregulatory options that were 
                        considered by the Secretary were found to be 
                        less feasible.''.
            (4) By striking all of paragraph (a)(2) and inserting in 
        lieu thereof the following:
            ``(2) The requirements of subsection (a)(1)(D) shall apply 
        to--
                    ``(A) all significant standards promulgated by the 
                Secretary after the date of enactment of this Act, and
                    ``(B) any significant standard or group of closely 
                related standards upon a petition for reconsideration 
                by an owner or operator of a regulated facility 
                pursuant to subsection (a)(4) of this section.''.
            (5) By inserting after new paragraph (a)(2) the following 
        new paragraphs:
            ``(3) Not later than September 30, 1996, the Secretary 
        shall establish by regulation a procedure for petitioning the 
        Secretary for reconsideration, including the risk assessment 
        and cost/benefit requirements under (4) of this subsection, of 
any significant standard or group of closely related standards.
            ``(4) When prescribing standards or regulations under 
        sections 60102, 60103, 60108, 60109, 60110, and 60113 the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) prepare a risk assessment document and 
                conduct a cost/benefit analysis that--
                            ``(i) shall explicitly distinguish 
                        scientific findings from other considerations 
                        affecting the design and choice of regulatory 
                        strategies, including substitution risks, if 
                        any are present;
                            ``(ii) shall consider and discuss both 
                        negative and positive data of sufficient 
                        quality when presenting assessments of public 
                        safety or environmental risks. Where conflicts 
                        among such data appear to exist, the assessment 
                        shall include discussion of possible 
                        reconciliation of conflicting information;
                            ``(iii) where a risk assessment document 
                        involves selection of any significant 
                        assumption, inference, or model, the document 
                        shall, to the extent feasible--
                                    ``(I) present a representative list 
                                and explanation of plausible and 
                                alternative assumptions, inferences, or 
                                models;
                                    ``(II) explain the basis for any 
                                choices;
                                    ``(III) identify any policy or 
                                value judgments;
                                    ``(IV) fully describe any model 
                                used in the risk assessment and make 
                                explicit the assumptions incorporated 
                                in the model;
                                    ``(V) indicate the extent to which 
                                any model has been validated by, or 
                                conflicts with, empirical data;
                            ``(iv) shall include a statement that 
                        places the nature and magnitude of the risk in 
                        context, which statement shall, to the extent 
                        feasible, provide a comparison of any public 
                        safety or environmental risks addressed by the 
                        regulatory alternatives to other risks chosen 
                        by the Secretary and familiar to the public;
                            ``(v) shall provide the best estimate for 
                        the impacts addressed;
                            ``(vi) shall provide opportunity for public 
                        participation; and
                            ``(vii) shall indicate whether the 
                        estimated benefits to public safety are equal 
                        to or greater than the costs of compliance;
                    ``(B) submit, all data and testing (including the 
                details of the methodology) for the risk assessment 
                document and cost/benefit analysis for review by the 
                Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the 
                Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee 
                and make available for public review. The Technical 
                Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Hazardous 
                Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee shall 
                function as a peer review panels that shall prepare a 
                report and any recommended alternatives for any 
                significant standard to be submitted to the Secretary 
                within one hundred and twenty days of receipt of the 
                information required by subsection 4(A) that includes 
                an evaluation of the technical scientific merit of the 
                data and scientific method used for the risk assessment 
                document and the cost-benefit analysis, and a list of 
                any considerations that were not taken into account in 
                the risk and cost benefit assessments, but were 
                considered appropriate by a majority of the Technical 
                Pipeline Safety Standards Committee or the Hazardous 
                Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee;
                    ``(C) review the report and recommendations of the 
                Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the 
                Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee. 
                The Secretary shall, within ninety days of receipt of a 
                peer review panel's report--
                            ``(i) provide a written response to all 
                        significant peer review comments and 
                        recommended alternatives;
                            ``(ii) prepare a new risk assessment 
                        document or cost/benefit analysis, as 
                        applicable, when the Technical Pipeline Safety 
                        Standards Committee or the Hazardous Liquid 
                        Pipeline Safety Standards Committee gives a 
                        negative recommendation regarding the data or 
methodology used for such risk assessment.
            ``(5) All peer review comments and conclusions and any 
        related response by the Secretary shall be made available to 
        the public and shall be made part of the administrative record 
        for the purpose of judicial review of any final agency action.
            ``(6) The Secretary may consult with owners or operators of 
        pipeline facilities prior to initiating a formal regulatory 
        action for the purpose of exchanging ideas and information 
        which may be addressed in the formal regulatory action.''.
    (b) Subsection 60102(b) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (1)(B) by inserting the word ``safety'' 
        after the words ``hazardous liquid pipeline'';
            (2) in paragraph (3) by striking the word ``and'';
            (3) in paragraph (4) by striking the words ``contribute 
        to'' and inserting the word ``benefit'' in lieu thereof;
            (4) by replacing the period at the end of paragraph (4) 
        with a semicolon and adding the following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) the costs of compliance with the standard; and
            (6) the recommendations of the Technical Pipeline Safety 
        Standards Committee and the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety 
        Standards Committee.''.
    (c) Subsection 60102(d) is amended--
            (1) by striking the words ``operating the facility and, 
        when requested, to provide the information to the Secretary and 
        an appropriate State official'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
        ``operating the facility as required by the standards 
        prescribed under Chapter 601 and, when requested, to make such 
        information available to the Secretary and an official of the 
        State pipeline safety agency that is certified under Section 
        60105.''.
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking the words ``and a'' and 
        inserting the word ``or'' in lieu thereof.
    (d) Subsection 60102(e) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by striking the words ``to the 
        extent the Secretary considers necessary, an operator of a 
        gathering line that is not a regulated gathering line (as 
        defined under section 60101(b)(2) of this title),''.
            (2) in the first sentence by striking the word 
        ``transmission'' and inserting the word ``transportation'' in 
        lieu thereof.
    (e) Subsection 60102(f) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu thereof 
        the following new paragraph:
            ``(1) The Secretary shall prescribe minimum safety 
        standards requiring that the design and construction of a new 
        gas pipeline transmission facility or hazardous liquid pipeline 
        facility be carried out, to the extent practicable, in a way 
        that accommodates the passage through the facility of an 
        instrumented internal inspection device (commonly referred to 
        as a `smart pig'). The Secretary shall also prescribe minimum 
        safety standards requiring replacement of an existing gas 
        pipeline transmission facility, hazardous liquid pipeline 
        facility, or equipment, be carried out, to the extent 
        practicable, in a way that replacement of the existing gas 
        pipeline transmission facility, hazardous liquid pipeline 
        facility, or equipment being replaced accommodates the passage 
        through the facility of an instrumented internal inspection 
        device. The Secretary may apply the standard to an existing gas 
        or hazardous liquid transmission facility, and require the 
        facility to be changed to allow the facility to be inspected 
        with an instrumented internal inspection device if the basic 
        construction of the facility will accommodate the device.''.
            (2) in paragraph (2) after the words ``The Secretary shall 
        prescribe'' by inserting ``, if necessary, additional''.
    (f) by adding after subsection (k) the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Updating Standards.--The Secretary shall, to the extent 
practicable, keep current industry standards that have been adopted as 
part of the federal pipeline safety regulatory program.''.

SEC. 5. RISK MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--Subtitle VIII, chapter 601, title 49, United 
States Code, ``Transportation'' is amended by adding the following new 
section:
``Sec. 60126. Risk Management
    ``(a) Risk Management Program Demonstration Project.--The Secretary 
shall establish a project with voluntary participation by owners and 
operators of pipeline facilities to demonstrate the effectiveness of 
risk management programs in lieu of compliance with regulations that 
would otherwise apply under this chapter. In establishing the 
Demonstration Project the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) invite owners and operators of pipeline facilities to 
        submit risk management plans on a voluntary basis, subject to 
        approval by the Secretary;
            ``(2) for the duration of the project, not require 
        participating owner and operators of pipeline facilities to 
        implement new regulations promulgated after the start date of 
        their  participation in the Demonstration Project as to 
facilities covered by the project;
            ``(3) include in the scope of the project the following--
                    ``(A) development of a screening model to 
                categorize the risks inherent to a selected pipeline 
                facility, considering the location, volume, pressure 
                and material transported or stored by the pipeline 
                facility;
                    ``(B) application of risk assessment and risk 
                management methodologies suitable to the inherent risks 
                determined to exist by the hazard screening model;
                    ``(C) development of program elements needed to 
                ensure that the owner or operator can demonstrate that 
                risks are being effectively managed and that the 
                program can be audited; and
                    ``(D) amendments, modification or adjustments of 
                approved plans, as requested.
            ``(4) continue any approved plan under the Demonstration 
        Project for no more than four years. At the conclusion of the 
        Demonstration Project, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
        Congress of the results of the Demonstration Project.
    ``(b) Approved Risk Management Plans.--Upon completion of the Risk 
Management Demonstration Project under subsection (a) of this section, 
an owner or operator of a pipeline facility may submit for approval by 
the Secretary a Risk Management Plan that would apply to a pipeline 
facility, or portion of a pipeline facility, in lieu of compliance with 
some or all regulations that would otherwise apply under this Chapter. 
Such Plan may take effect after review and approval by the Secretary. 
In reviewing a proposed Risk Management Plan the Secretary shall 
consider--
            ``(1) the appropriateness of the plan for the particular 
        type of pipeline facility;
            ``(2) the effectiveness of the plan in providing equivalent 
        or greater protection than relevant prescribed minimum safety 
        standards;
            ``(3) the past performance record of the owner or operator 
        and the selected pipeline facility; and
            ``(4) amendments, modification or adjustments of approved 
        plans, as requested.
    ``(c) Pipeline facilities being operated under an approved Risk 
Management Plan shall be subject to such inspection and reporting 
requirements deemed appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(d) No Risk Management Plan shall be approved until completion of 
the Risk Management Demonstration Project described in (a) above.''.

SEC. 6. STANDARDS FOR LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES.

    (a) Section 60103 of title 49, United States Code, 
``Transportation'' (originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline 
Safety Act of 1968) is amended by adding after subsection (g) the 
following new subsection:
    ``(h) Alternate Standards and Guidelines.--The Secretary may adopt 
current standards or guidelines published by the National Fire 
Protection Association for use in this section.''.

SEC. 7. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE.

    (a) Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, 
``Transportation'' (originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline 
Safety Act of 1968 and the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 
1979) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (a)(1) by striking the words 
        ``transporting gas or hazardous liquid or'';
            (2) in paragraph (b)(2) by striking the second sentence 
        ``However, an inspection must occur at least once every 2 
        years'';
            (3) by adding the following new subparagraph after 
        subparagraph (c)(1)(C):
                    ``(D) navigable waters means any portion of a 
                waterway currently and regularly used for the transport 
                of interstate or foreign commerce.''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (c)(2)(A)(ii) by striking ``(as defined 
        by the Secretary)''.

SEC. 8. HIGH-DENSITY POPULATION AREAS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE 
              AREAS.

    (a) Section 60109 of title 49, United States Code, 
``Transportation'' (originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline 
Safety Act of 1968 and the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 
1979) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (a)(1)(B)(i) by striking ``as the 
        Secretary defines by regulation'' and inserting ``as defined in 
        section 60108(c)(1)(D)'' in lieu thereof; and
            (2) in subsection (b) by deleting all words in the 
        subsection after the words ``the Secretary shall'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof the words ``limit consideration to 
        areas of critical biological or ecological resources and 
        community water systems.''.

SEC. 9. EXCESS FLOW VALVES.

    (a) Section 60110 of title 49, United States Code, 
``Transportation'' (originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline 
Safety Act of 1968) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b) by inserting ``, if any,'' after the 
        word ``circumstances'';
            (2) in paragraph (b)(4) by inserting ``, operating and 
        maintaining'' after the words ``cost of installing'';
            (3) by deleting subsection (c) and redesignating 
        subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d); and
            (4) by inserting the following sentence after the first 
        sentence of the new subsection (d): ``The Secretary may adopt 
industry accepted performance and manufacturing standards in order to 
comply with this requirement.''.

SEC. 10. PIPELINE FACILITIES HAZARDOUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

    Section 60112 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended in 
subsection (b)(4) by striking the words ``to environmentally sensitive 
areas'' and inserting the words ``in areas defined as an area unusually 
sensitive to environmental damage pursuant to section 60109(b)''.

SEC. 11. CUSTOMER-OWNED NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINES.

    Section 60113 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by inserting the word ``underground'' 
        after the words ``does not maintain''; and
            (2) by deleting subsection (b).

SEC. 12. ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS.

    Section 60114 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended in 
paragraph (a)(1) by striking the words ``the system apply to'' and 
adding the words ``be covered by a system'' to the end of the sentence.

SEC. 13. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.

    Section 60115 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by adding the following sentence at 
        the end of the subsection: ``The committees shall serve as 
        ``peer review'' committees and such service shall be deemed in 
        compliance with the requirements of other applicable federal 
        statutes.'';
            (2) in subparagraph (b)(1) by adding the words ``or risk 
        management'' at the end of the last sentence;
            (3) in subparagraph (b)(2) by adding the words ``or risk 
        management'' at the end of the last sentence;
            (4) in subparagraph (b)(3)(B) by striking the number ``4'' 
        and inserting the number ``5'' in lieu thereof;
            (5) in subparagraph (b)(3)(C) by striking the number ``6'' 
        and inserting the number ``5'' in lieu thereof;
            (6) in subparagraph (b)(4)(B) by adding the following 
        sentences to the end of the subparagraph: ``At least one of the 
        individuals selected for each committee under paragraph (3)(B) 
        of this subsection must have education, background, or 
        experience in risk assessment and cost/benefit analysis. The 
        Secretary shall consult with the national organizations 
        representing the owners and operators of pipeline facilities 
        before selecting individuals under paragraph (3)(B) of this 
        subsection.'';
            (7) in subparagraph (b)(4)(C) by inserting the following 
        sentence after the first sentence: ``At least one of the 
        individuals selected for each committee under paragraph (3)(C) 
        of this subsection must have education, background, or 
        experience in risk assessment and cost/benefit analysis.'';
            (8) in subparagraph (c)(1)(A) by inserting the following 
        phrase after ``gas pipeline facilities'': ``, including the 
        risk assessment document, cost/benefit and other analyses 
        supporting each proposed standard.'';
            (9) in subparagraph (c)(1)(B) by inserting the following 
        phrase after ``hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'': ``, 
        including the risk assessment document, cost/benefit and other 
        analyses supporting each proposed standard''; and
            (10) in paragraph (c)(2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and supporting analyses'' after 
                the words ``receiving the proposed standard'' in the 
                first sentence;
                    (B) by inserting ``cost effectiveness'' after the 
                word ``reasonableness,'' in the first sentence;
                    (C) by inserting ``and provide a recommended action 
                to the Secretary'' after ``practicability of the 
                proposed standard'' in the first sentence; and
                    (D) by inserting ``any recommended actions and'' 
                after the word ``including'' in the second sentence.
            (11) in subsection (e) by striking the word ``twice'' and 
        inserting the words ``four times'' in lieu thereof; and
            (12) after subsection (f) by adding the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(g) Terms.--Individuals described in paragraphs (3)(B) and (3)(C) 
shall serve for a term of no more than 36 months.''.

SEC. 14. PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Section 60116 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968) is 
amended in the first sentence by inserting the words ``the use of 
damage prevention (``one-call'') systems prior to excavation,'' after 
the words ``educate the public on''.

SEC. 15. COMPLIANCE AND WAIVERS.

    Section 60118 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended by adding 
after subsection (d) the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Compliance With Risk Management Plans.--The Secretary shall 
allow owners and operators of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipelines 
who have voluntarily developed and implemented risk management plans 
meeting the requirements of section 60126 the option to follow those 
plan requirements. Owners and operators that choose to utilize an 
approved risk management plan shall be considered to be in compliance 
with any prescribed safety standard that is covered by such a plan.''.

SEC. 16. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATION.

    Section 60125 of title 49, United States Code, ``Transportation'' 
(originally enacted as the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and 
the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by adding the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(4) $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1996.
            ``(5) $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1997.
            ``(6) $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1998.''.
            (2) in subsection (b) by adding the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(4) $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1996.
            ``(5) $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1997.
            ``(6) $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        1998.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (c)(1) by adding the following new 
        subparagraphs:
                    ``(D) $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1996.
                    ``(E) $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1997.
                    ``(F) $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1998.''.
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