[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2871 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2871

   To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
  Transportation to establish integrity verification requirements for 
              pipeline facilities, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2011

  Ms. Speier introduced the following bill; which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
  Transportation to establish integrity verification requirements for 
              pipeline facilities, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline Modernization for Safety 
Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. INTEGRITY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 60108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Integrity Verification Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish integrity 
        verification requirements for pipeline facilities.
            ``(2) Required actions for pipeline segments without 
        documented pressure tests.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As part of the integrity 
                verification requirements, the Secretary shall require 
                an operator of a pipeline facility that contains a 
                pipeline segment without a documented pressure test 
                to--
                            ``(i) hydro-test the pipeline segment; or
                            ``(ii) replace the pipeline segment.
                    ``(B) Additional actions.--In addition to the 
                actions described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                may require an operator described in subparagraph (A) 
                to undertake other actions determined necessary by the 
                Secretary for public safety, including temporary 
                reductions in pressure.
            ``(3) Reporting of increases in pressure exceeding maop.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As part of the integrity 
                verification requirements, the Secretary shall require 
                an operator of a pipeline facility that contains a 
                pipeline segment without a documented pressure test to 
                submit a written report to the Secretary (or the 
                Secretary's designee) on any increase in pressure in 
                the pipeline segment that exceeds the maximum allowable 
                operating pressure for the pipeline segment.
                    ``(B) Deadline.--An operator shall report an 
                increase in pressure under subparagraph (A) not later 
                than 24 hours after the operator discovers the increase 
                in pressure.
                    ``(C) Information to be reported.--A report on an 
                increase in pressure under subparagraph (A) shall 
                contain, at a minimum, information on--
                            ``(i) the cause of the increase; and
                            ``(ii) any remedial action taken to address 
                        the cause of the increase.
            ``(4) Regulations.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall issue 
        final regulations to carry out this subsection. Such 
        regulations shall prioritize pipeline facilities in high 
        consequence areas (as described in section 60109(a) of title 
        49, United States Code) for purposes of implementation of the 
        requirements of this subsection.''.
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