[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3226 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3226

   To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve pipeline safety.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 4, 1999

 Mr. Metcalf 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 amend title 49, United States Code, to improve pipeline safety.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Pipelines Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL SAFETY CERTIFICATION OF PIPELINE EMPLOYEES.

    Section 60102(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
                    ``(C) shall include a requirement that all 
                individuals responsible for the operation and 
                maintenance of pipeline facilities shall be tested for 
                qualification to perform such functions and certified 
                by the Secretary to perform such functions.''.

SEC. 3. CORROSION TESTING.

    Section 60102(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Corrosion testing.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
        require that the operator of a pipeline facility with an 
        instrumented internal inspection device periodically test the 
        facility for corrosion and anomalies and make the results of 
        the test available to the public. The period between each test 
        shall be no longer than 5 years.''.

SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION OF SPILLS.

    Section 60102(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before subparagraph (C) (as so 
        redesignated) the following:
            ``(A) spill of more than 40 gallons;
            ``(B) rupture of a pipeline;''.

SEC. 5. HYDROSTATIC TESTING.

    Section 60108(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Hydrostatic testing.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
        require that the operator of a pipeline facility subject to 
        this chapter that is not covered by a certification under 
        section 60105 or an agreement under section 60106 periodically 
        hydrostatically test the facility to redetermine the maximum 
        allowable operating pressure of the facility and make the 
        results of the test available to the public. The time period 
        between each test shall be no longer than 5 years.''.

SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF PIPELINE MAPS ON INTERNET.

    Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Availability of Pipeline Maps on Internet.--Not later than 
October 1, 2000, the Secretary shall make available on the Internet 
nationwide maps of the location of all pipeline facilities subject to 
this chapter.''.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTERNAL LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study 
to determine the effectiveness external leak detection systems, 
including hydrocarbon sensor cables, for the purpose of improving 
pipeline leak detection.
    (b) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2000, the Secretary shall 
transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study.

SEC. 8. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES OF NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
              RECOMMENDATIONS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall complete cost-benefit analyses of all 
recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board to the 
Secretary that the Board classifies as being ``open''.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVENESS OF DOUBLE-WALLED PIPELINES.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study 
to determine the effectiveness of double-walled pipelines for the 
purpose of preventing ruptures and leaks.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the 
results of the study.

SEC. 10. OPTIMAL MINIMUM BURIAL DEPTH.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study 
to determine the optimal minimum burial depth of underground pipelines 
for the purpose of preventing release of hazardous materials into the 
air.
    (b) Report and Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a 
report on the results of the study and shall issue a notice of proposed 
rulemaking to modify regulations of the Department of Transportation 
relating to pipeline burial depth to take into account the results of 
the study.
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