[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2276 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.2276

                     One Hundred Fourteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
           the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen


                                 An Act


 
  To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
            pipeline transportation, 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 ``Protecting our 
Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016'' or the 
``PIPES Act of 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 3. Regulatory updates.
Sec. 4. Natural gas integrity management review.
Sec. 5. Hazardous liquid integrity management review.
Sec. 6. Technical safety standards committees.
Sec. 7. Inspection report information.
Sec. 8. Improving damage prevention technology.
Sec. 9. Workforce management.
Sec. 10. Information-sharing system.
Sec. 11. Nationwide integrated pipeline safety regulatory database.
Sec. 12. Underground gas storage facilities.
Sec. 13. Joint inspection and oversight.
Sec. 14. Safety data sheets.
Sec. 15. Hazardous materials identification numbers.
Sec. 16. Emergency order authority.
Sec. 17. State grant funds.
Sec. 18. Response plans.
Sec. 19. Unusually sensitive areas.
Sec. 20. Pipeline safety technical assistance grants.
Sec. 21. Study of materials and corrosion prevention in pipeline 
          transportation.
Sec. 22. Research and development.
Sec. 23. Active and abandoned pipelines.
Sec. 24. State pipeline safety agreements.
Sec. 25. Requirements for certain hazardous liquid pipeline facilities.
Sec. 26. Study on propane gas pipeline facilities.
Sec. 27. Standards for certain liquefied natural gas pipeline 
          facilities.
Sec. 28. Pipeline odorization study.
Sec. 29. Report on natural gas leak reporting.
Sec. 30. Review of State policies relating to natural gas leaks.
Sec. 31. Aliso Canyon natural gas leak task force.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    (a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid.--Section 60125(a) of title 49, United 
States Code is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``there is authorized to be 
    appropriated to the Department of Transportation for each of fiscal 
    years 2012 through 2015, from fees collected under section 60301, 
    $90,679,000, of which $4,746,000 is for carrying out such section 
    12 and $36,194,000 is for making grants.'' and inserting the 
    following: ``there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
    Department of Transportation from fees collected under section 
    60301--
            ``(A) $124,500,000 for fiscal year 2016, of which 
        $9,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 
        and $39,385,000 shall be expended for making grants;
            ``(B) $128,000,000 for fiscal year 2017 of which $9,000,000 
        shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and 
        $41,885,000 shall be expended for making grants;
            ``(C) $131,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, of which 
        $9,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 
        and $44,885,000 shall be expended for making grants; and
            ``(D) $134,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which 
        $9,000,000 shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 
        and $47,885,000 shall be expended for making grants.'';
        (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``there is authorized to be 
    appropriated for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015 from the 
    Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to carry out the provisions of this 
    chapter related to hazardous liquid and section 12 of the Pipeline 
    Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
    107-355), $18,573,000, of which $2,174,000 is for carrying out such 
    section 12 and $4,558,000 is for making grants.'' and inserting the 
    following: ``there is authorized to be appropriated from the Oil 
    Spill Liability Trust Fund to carry out the provisions of this 
    chapter related to hazardous liquid and section 12 of the Pipeline 
    Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
    107-355)--
            ``(A) $22,123,000 for fiscal year 2016, of which $3,000,000 
        shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and 
        $8,067,000 shall be expended for making grants;
            ``(B) $22,123,000 for fiscal year 2017, of which $3,000,000 
        shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and 
        $8,067,000 shall be expended for making grants;
            ``(C) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, of which $3,000,000 
        shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and 
        $8,067,000 shall be expended for making grants; and
            ``(D) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which $3,000,000 
        shall be expended for carrying out such section 12 and 
        $8,067,000 shall be expended for making grants.''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(3) Underground natural gas storage facility safety 
    account.--To carry out section 60141, there is authorized to be 
    appropriated to the Department of Transportation from fees 
    collected under section 60302 $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
    2017 through 2019.''.
    (b) Operational Expenses.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Transportation for the necessary operational 
expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
the following amounts:
    (1) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.
    (2) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.
    (3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.
    (4) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2019.
    (c) One-Call Notification Programs.--
        (1) In general.--Section 6107 of title 49, United States Code, 
    is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 6107. Funding
    ``Of the amounts made available under section 60125(a)(1), the 
Secretary shall expend $1,058,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2019 to carry out section 6106.''.
        (2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 61 of title 
    49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 
    section 6107 and inserting the following:

``6107. Funding.''.

    (d) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.--The first 
sentence of section 60130(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: ``Of the amounts made available under 
section 2(b) of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary shall expend 
$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019 to carry out this 
section.''.
    (e) Pipeline Integrity Program.--Section 12(f) of the Pipeline 
Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended by 
striking ``2012 through 2015'' and inserting ``2016 through 2019''.
SEC. 3. REGULATORY UPDATES.
    (a) Publication.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall publish 
    an update on a publicly available Web site of the Department of 
    Transportation regarding the status of a final rule for each 
    outstanding regulation, and upon such publication notify the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
    Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
    that such publication has been made.
        (2) Deadlines.--The Secretary shall publish an update under 
    this subsection not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
    of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until a final rule has 
    been published in the Federal Register for each outstanding 
    regulation.
    (b) Contents.--The Secretary shall include in each update published 
under subsection (a)--
        (1) a description of the work plan for each outstanding 
    regulation;
        (2) an updated rulemaking timeline for each outstanding 
    regulation;
        (3) current staff allocations with respect to each outstanding 
    regulation;
        (4) any resource constraints affecting the rulemaking process 
    for each outstanding regulation;
        (5) any other details associated with the development of each 
    outstanding regulation that affect the progress of the rulemaking 
    process; and
        (6) a description of all rulemakings regarding gas or hazardous 
    liquid pipeline facilities published in the Federal Register that 
    are not identified under subsection (c).
    (c) Outstanding Regulation Defined.--In this section, the term 
``outstanding regulation'' means--
        (1) a final rule required under the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory 
    Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-90) that 
    has not been published in the Federal Register; and
        (2) a final rule regarding gas or hazardous liquid pipeline 
    facilities required under this Act or an Act enacted prior to the 
    date of enactment of this Act (other than the Pipeline Safety, 
    Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-
    90)) that has not been published in the Federal Register.
SEC. 4. NATURAL GAS INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT REVIEW.
    (a) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of publication 
in the Federal Register of a final rule regarding the safety of gas 
transmission pipelines related to the notice of proposed rulemaking 
issued on April 8, 2016, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas 
Transmission and Gathering Pipelines'' (81 Fed. Reg. 20721), the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report regarding the 
integrity management programs for gas pipeline facilities required 
under section 60109(c) of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
        (1) an analysis of stakeholder perspectives, taking into 
    consideration technical, operational, and economic feasibility, 
    regarding ways to enhance pipeline facility safety, prevent 
    inadvertent releases from pipeline facilities, and mitigate any 
    adverse consequences of such inadvertent releases, including 
    changes to the definition of high consequence area, or expanding 
    integrity management beyond high consequence areas;
        (2) a review of the types of benefits, including safety 
    benefits, and estimated costs of the legacy class location 
    regulations;
        (3) an analysis of the impact pipeline facility features, 
    including the age, condition, materials, and construction of a 
    pipeline facility, have on safety and risk analysis of a particular 
    pipeline facility;
        (4) a description of any challenges affecting Federal or State 
    regulators in the oversight of gas transmission pipeline facilities 
    and how the challenges are being addressed; and
        (5) a description of any challenges affecting the natural gas 
    industry in complying with the programs, and how the challenges are 
    being addressed, including any challenges faced by publicly owned 
    natural gas distribution systems.
    (c) Definition of High Consequence Area.--In this section, the term 
``high consequence area'' has the meaning given the term in section 
192.903 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 5. HAZARDOUS LIQUID INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT REVIEW.
    (a) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of publication 
in the Federal Register of a final rule regarding the safety of 
hazardous liquid pipeline facilities related to the notice of proposed 
rulemaking issued on October 13, 2015, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Safety 
of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines'' (80 Fed. Reg. 61610), the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report regarding the 
integrity management programs for hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, 
as regulated under sections 195.450 and 195.452 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations.
    (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
        (1) taking into consideration technical, operational, and 
    economic feasibility, an analysis of stakeholder perspectives on--
            (A) ways to enhance hazardous liquid pipeline facility 
        safety;
            (B) risk factors that may warrant more frequent inspections 
        of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities; and
            (C) changes to the definition of high consequence area;
        (2) an analysis of how surveying, assessment, mitigation, and 
    monitoring activities, including real-time hazardous liquid 
    pipeline facility monitoring during significant flood events and 
    information sharing with Federal agencies, are being used to 
    address risks associated with rivers, flood plains, lakes, and 
    coastal areas;
        (3) an analysis of the impact pipeline facility features, 
    including the age, condition, materials, and construction of a 
    pipeline facility, have on safety and risk analysis of a particular 
    pipeline facility and what changes to the definition of high 
    consequence area could be made to improve pipeline facility safety; 
    and
        (4) a description of any challenges affecting Federal or State 
    regulators in the oversight of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities 
    and how those challenges are being addressed.
    (c) Definition of High Consequence Area.--In this section, the term 
``high consequence area'' has the meaning given the term in section 
195.450 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.
    (a) Appointment of Members.--Section 60115(b)(4)(A) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``State commissioners. The 
Secretary shall consult with the national organization of State 
commissions before selecting those 2 individuals.'' and inserting 
``State officials. The Secretary shall consult with national 
organizations representing State commissioners or utility regulators 
before making a selection under this subparagraph.''.
    (b) Vacancies.--Section 60115(b) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(5) Within 90 days of the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 
2016, the Secretary shall fill all vacancies on the Technical Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee, the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee, and any other committee established 
pursuant to this section. After that period, the Secretary shall fill a 
vacancy on any such committee not later than 60 days after the vacancy 
occurs.''.
SEC. 7. INSPECTION REPORT INFORMATION.
    (a) Inspection and Maintenance.--Section 60108 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) In General.--After the completion of a Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration pipeline safety inspection, the 
Administrator of such Administration, or the State authority certified 
under section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, to conduct such 
inspection, shall--
            ``(1) within 30 days, conduct a post-inspection briefing 
        with the owner or operator of the gas or hazardous liquid 
        pipeline facility inspected outlining any concerns; and
            ``(2) within 90 days, to the extent practicable, provide 
        the owner or operator with written preliminary findings of the 
        inspection.''.
    (b) Notification.--Not later than October 1, 2017, and each fiscal 
year thereafter for 2 years, the Administrator shall notify the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of--
        (1) the number of times a deadline under section 60108(e) of 
    title 49, United States Code, was exceeded in the prior fiscal 
    year; and
        (2) in each instance, the length of time by which the deadline 
    was exceeded.
SEC. 8. IMPROVING DAMAGE PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY.
    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with 
stakeholders, shall conduct a study on improving existing damage 
prevention programs through technological improvements in location, 
mapping, excavation, and communications practices to prevent excavation 
damage to a pipe or its coating, including considerations of technical, 
operational, and economic feasibility and existing damage prevention 
programs.
    (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall include--
        (1) an identification of any methods to improve existing damage 
    prevention programs through location and mapping practices or 
    technologies in an effort to reduce releases caused by excavation;
        (2) an analysis of how increased use of global positioning 
    system digital mapping technologies, predictive analytic tools, 
    public awareness initiatives including one-call initiatives, the 
    use of mobile devices, and other advanced technologies could 
    supplement existing one-call notification and damage prevention 
    programs to reduce the frequency and severity of incidents caused 
    by excavation damage;
        (3) an identification of any methods to improve excavation 
    practices or technologies in an effort to reduce pipeline damage;
        (4) an analysis of the feasibility of a national data 
    repository for pipeline excavation accident data that creates 
    standardized data models for storing and sharing pipeline accident 
    information; and
        (5) an identification of opportunities for stakeholder 
    engagement in preventing excavation damage.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report containing the 
results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including 
recommendations, that include the consideration of technical, 
operational, and economic feasibility, on how to incorporate into 
existing damage prevention programs technological improvements and 
practices that help prevent excavation damage.
SEC. 9. WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT.
    (a) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, a review of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration staff resource management, including--
        (1) geographic allocation plans, hiring and time-to-hire 
    challenges, and expected retirement rates and recruitment and 
    retention strategies;
        (2) an identification and description of any previous periods 
    of macroeconomic and pipeline industry conditions under which the 
    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has 
    encountered difficulty in filling vacancies, and the degree to 
    which special hiring authorities, including direct hiring authority 
    authorized by the Office of Personnel Management, could have 
    ameliorated such difficulty; and
        (3) recommendations to address hiring challenges, training 
    needs, and any other identified staff resource challenges.
    (b) Direct Hiring.--Upon identification of a period described in 
subsection (a)(2), the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration may apply to the Office of Personnel 
Management for the authority to appoint qualified candidates to any 
position relating to pipeline safety, as determined by the 
Administrator, without regard to sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall preclude the 
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration from applying to the Office of Personnel Management for 
the authority described in subsection (b) prior to the completion of 
the report required under subsection (a).
  SEC. 10. INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall convene a 
working group to consider the development of a voluntary information-
sharing system to encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection 
information feedback and information sharing with the purpose of 
improving gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline facility 
integrity risk analysis.
    (b) Membership.--The working group convened pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall include representatives from--
        (1) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
        (2) industry stakeholders, including operators of pipeline 
    facilities, inspection technology, coating, and cathodic protection 
    vendors, and pipeline inspection organizations;
        (3) safety advocacy groups;
        (4) research institutions;
        (5) State public utility commissions or State officials 
    responsible for pipeline safety oversight;
        (6) State pipeline safety inspectors;
        (7) labor representatives; and
        (8) other entities, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    (c) Considerations.--The working group convened pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall consider and provide recommendations to the 
Secretary on--
        (1) the need for, and the identification of, a system to ensure 
    that dig verification data are shared with in-line inspection 
    operators to the extent consistent with the need to maintain 
    proprietary and security-sensitive data in a confidential manner to 
    improve pipeline safety and inspection technology;
        (2) ways to encourage the exchange of pipeline inspection 
    information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection 
    technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
        (3) opportunities to share data, including dig verification 
    data between operators of pipeline facilities and in-line inspector 
    vendors to expand knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of 
    the different types of in-line inspection technology and 
    methodologies;
        (4) options to create a secure system that protects proprietary 
    data while encouraging the exchange of pipeline inspection 
    information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection 
    technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
        (5) means and best practices for the protection of safety- and 
    security-sensitive information and proprietary information; and
        (6) regulatory, funding, and legal barriers to sharing the 
    information described in paragraphs (1) through (4).
    (d) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the recommendations 
provided under subsection (c) on a publicly available Web site of the 
Department of Transportation.
  SEC. 11. NATIONWIDE INTEGRATED PIPELINE SAFETY REGULATORY DATABASE.
    (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the feasibility 
of establishing a national integrated pipeline safety regulatory 
inspection database to improve communication and collaboration between 
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and State 
pipeline regulators.
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include--
        (1) a description of any efforts underway to test a secure 
    information-sharing system for the purpose described in subsection 
    (a);
        (2) a description of any progress in establishing common 
    standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting pipeline 
    safety regulatory inspection data, and a methodology for sharing 
    the data;
        (3) a description of any inadequacies or gaps in State and 
    Federal inspection, enforcement, geospatial, or other pipeline 
    safety regulatory inspection data;
        (4) a description of the potential safety benefits of a 
    national integrated pipeline safety regulatory inspection database; 
    and
        (5) recommendations, including those of stakeholders for how to 
    implement a secure information-sharing system that protects 
    proprietary and security sensitive information and data for the 
    purpose described in subsection (a).
    (c) Consultation.--In implementing this section, the Secretary 
shall consult with stakeholders, including each State authority 
operating under a certification to regulate intrastate pipelines under 
section 60105 of title 49, United States Code.
    (d) Establishment of Database.--The Secretary may establish, if 
appropriate, a national integrated pipeline safety regulatory 
database--
        (1) after submission of the report required under subsection 
    (a); or
        (2) upon notification to the Committee on Transportation and 
    Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
    House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
    and Transportation of the Senate of the need to establish such 
    database prior to the submission of the report under subsection 
    (a).
  SEC. 12. UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITIES.
    (a) Defined Term.--Section 60101(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (21)(B) by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting a semicolon;
        (2) in paragraph (22)(B)(iii) by striking the period at the end 
    and inserting a semicolon;
        (3) in paragraph (24) by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (4) in paragraph (25) by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (5) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(26) `underground natural gas storage facility' means a gas 
    pipeline facility that stores natural gas in an underground 
    facility, including--
            ``(A) a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir;
            ``(B) an aquifer reservoir; or
            ``(C) a solution-mined salt cavern reservoir.''.
    (b) Standards for Underground Gas Storage Facilities.--Chapter 601 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 60141. Standards for underground natural gas storage facilities
    ``(a) Minimum Safety Standards.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary, in 
consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
issue minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage 
facilities.
    ``(b) Considerations.--In developing the safety standards required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable--
        ``(1) consider consensus standards for the operation, 
    environmental protection, and integrity management of underground 
    natural gas storage facilities;
        ``(2) consider the economic impacts of the regulations on 
    individual gas customers;
        ``(3) ensure that the regulations do not have a significant 
    economic impact on end users; and
        ``(4) consider the recommendations of the Aliso Canyon natural 
    gas leak task force established under section 31 of the PIPES Act 
    of 2016.
    ``(c) Federal-State Cooperation.--The Secretary may authorize a 
State authority (including a municipality) to participate in the 
oversight of underground natural gas storage facilities in the same 
manner as provided in sections 60105 and 60106.
    ``(d) Rules of Construction.--
        ``(1) In general.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
    affect any Federal regulation relating to gas pipeline facilities 
    that is in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the 
    PIPES Act of 2016.
        ``(2) Limitations.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
    authorize the Secretary--
            ``(A) to prescribe the location of an underground natural 
        gas storage facility; or
            ``(B) to require the Secretary's permission to construct a 
        facility referred to in subparagraph (A).
    ``(e) Preemption.--A State authority may adopt additional or more 
stringent safety standards for intrastate underground natural gas 
storage facilities if such standards are compatible with the minimum 
standards prescribed under this section.
    ``(f) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect the Secretary's authority under this title to 
regulate the underground storage of gas that is not natural gas.''.
    (c) User Fees.--Chapter 603 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 60301 the following:
``Sec. 60302. User fees for underground natural gas storage facilities
    ``(a) In General.--A fee shall be imposed on an entity operating an 
underground natural gas storage facility subject to section 60141. Any 
such fee imposed shall be collected before the end of the fiscal year 
to which it applies.
    ``(b) Means of Collection.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
prescribe procedures to collect fees under this section. The Secretary 
may use a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States 
Government or of a State or local government to collect the fee and may 
reimburse the department, agency, or instrumentality a reasonable 
amount for its services.
    ``(c) Use of Fees.--
        ``(1) Account.--There is established an Underground Natural Gas 
    Storage Facility Safety Account in the Pipeline Safety Fund 
    established in the Treasury of the United States under section 
    60301.
        ``(2) Use of fees.--A fee collected under this section--
            ``(A) shall be deposited in the Underground Natural Gas 
        Storage Facility Safety Account; and
            ``(B) if the fee is related to an underground natural gas 
        storage facility subject to section 60141, the amount of the 
        fee may be used only for an activity related to underground 
        natural gas storage facility safety.
        ``(3) Limitation.--No fee may be collected under this section, 
    except to the extent that the expenditure of such fee to pay the 
    costs of an activity related to underground natural gas storage 
    facility safety for which such fee is imposed is provided in 
    advance in an appropriations Act.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendments.--
        (1) Chapter 601.--The table of sections for chapter 601 of 
    title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
    following:

``60141. Standards for underground natural gas storage facilities.''.

        (2) Chapter 603.--The table of sections for chapter 603 of 
    title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the 
    item relating to section 60301 the following:

``60302. User fees for underground natural gas storage facilities.''.
  SEC. 13. JOINT INSPECTION AND OVERSIGHT.
    Section 60106 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(f) Joint Inspectors.--At the request of a State authority, the 
Secretary shall allow for a certified State authority under section 
60105 to participate in the inspection of an interstate pipeline 
facility.''.
  SEC. 14. SAFETY DATA SHEETS.
    (a) In General.--Each owner or operator of a hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, following an accident involving such pipeline 
facility that results in a hazardous liquid spill, shall provide safety 
data sheets on any spilled hazardous liquid to the designated Federal 
On-Scene Coordinator and appropriate State and local emergency 
responders within 6 hours of a telephonic or electronic notice of the 
accident to the National Response Center.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Federal on-scene coordinator.--The term ``Federal On-Scene 
    Coordinator'' has the meaning given such term in section 311(a) of 
    the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)).
        (2) National response center.--The term ``National Response 
    Center'' means the center described under section 300.125(a) of 
    title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.
        (3) Safety data sheet.--The term ``safety data sheet'' means a 
    safety data sheet required under section 1910.1200 of title 29, 
    Code of Federal Regulations.
  SEC. 15. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.
    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall issue an advanced notice of proposed 
rulemaking to take public comment on the petition for rulemaking dated 
October 28, 2015, titled ``Corrections to Title 49 CFR 172.336 
Identification numbers; special provisions'' (P-1667).
  SEC. 16. EMERGENCY ORDER AUTHORITY.
    Section 60117 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(o) Emergency Order Authority.--
        ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that an unsafe 
    condition or practice, or a combination of unsafe conditions and 
    practices, constitutes or is causing an imminent hazard, the 
    Secretary may issue an emergency order described in paragraph (3) 
    imposing emergency restrictions, prohibitions, and safety measures 
    on owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline 
    facilities without prior notice or an opportunity for a hearing, 
    but only to the extent necessary to abate the imminent hazard.
        ``(2) Considerations.--
            ``(A) In general.--Before issuing an emergency order under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider, as appropriate, 
        the following factors:
                ``(i) The impact of the emergency order on public 
            health and safety.
                ``(ii) The impact, if any, of the emergency order on 
            the national or regional economy or national security.
                ``(iii) The impact of the emergency order on the 
            ability of owners and operators of pipeline facilities to 
            maintain reliability and continuity of service to 
            customers.
            ``(B) Consultation.--In considering the factors under 
        subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult, as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate, with appropriate Federal agencies, 
        State agencies, and other entities knowledgeable in pipeline 
        safety or operations.
        ``(3) Written order.--An emergency order issued by the 
    Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to an imminent 
    hazard shall contain a written description of--
            ``(A) the violation, condition, or practice that 
        constitutes or is causing the imminent hazard;
            ``(B) the entities subject to the order;
            ``(C) the restrictions, prohibitions, or safety measures 
        imposed;
            ``(D) the standards and procedures for obtaining relief 
        from the order;
            ``(E) how the order is tailored to abate the imminent 
        hazard and the reasons the authorities under section 60112 and 
        60117(l) are insufficient to do so; and
            ``(F) how the considerations were taken into account 
        pursuant to paragraph (2).
        ``(4) Opportunity for review.--Upon receipt of a petition for 
    review from an entity subject to, and aggrieved by, an emergency 
    order issued under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide an 
    opportunity for a review of the order under section 554 of title 5 
    to determine whether the order should remain in effect, be 
    modified, or be terminated.
        ``(5) Expiration of effectiveness order.--If a petition for 
    review of an emergency order is filed under paragraph (4) and an 
    agency decision with respect to the petition is not issued on or 
    before the last day of the 30-day period beginning on the date on 
    which the petition is filed, the order shall cease to be effective 
    on such day, unless the Secretary determines in writing on or 
    before the last day of such period that the imminent hazard still 
    exists.
        ``(6) Judicial review of orders.--
            ``(A) In general.--After completion of the review process 
        described in paragraph (4), or the issuance of a written 
        determination by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5), an 
        entity subject to, and aggrieved by, an emergency order issued 
        under this subsection may seek judicial review of the order in 
        a district court of the United States and shall be given 
        expedited consideration.
            ``(B) Limitation.--The filing of a petition for review 
        under subparagraph (A) shall not stay or modify the force and 
        effect of the agency's final decision under paragraph (4), or 
        the written determination under paragraph (5), unless stayed or 
        modified by the Secretary.
        ``(7) Regulations.--
            ``(A) Temporary regulations.--Not later than 60 days after 
        the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary 
        shall issue such temporary regulations as are necessary to 
        carry out this subsection. The temporary regulations shall 
        expire on the date of issuance of the final regulations 
        required under subparagraph (B).
            ``(B) Final regulations.--Not later than 270 days after 
        such date of enactment, the Secretary shall issue such 
        regulations as are necessary to carry out this subsection. Such 
        regulations shall ensure that the review process described in 
        paragraph (4) contains the same procedures as subsections (d) 
        and (g) of section 109.19 of title 49, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, and is otherwise consistent with the review 
        process developed under such section, to the greatest extent 
        practicable and not inconsistent with this section.
        ``(8) Imminent hazard defined.--In this subsection, the term 
    `imminent hazard' means the existence of a condition relating to a 
    gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility that presents a 
    substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personal 
    injury, or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the 
    environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable completion 
    date of a formal proceeding begun to lessen the risk of such death, 
    illness, injury, or endangerment.
        ``(9) Limitation and savings clause.--An emergency order issued 
    under this subsection may not be construed to--
            ``(A) alter, amend, or limit the Secretary's obligations 
        under, or the applicability of, section 553 of title 5; or
            ``(B) provide the authority to amend the Code of Federal 
        Regulations.''.
  SEC. 17. STATE GRANT FUNDS.
    Section 60107 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Payments.--After notifying and consulting with a State 
authority, the Secretary may withhold any part of a payment when the 
Secretary decides that the authority is not carrying out satisfactorily 
a safety program or not acting satisfactorily as an agent. The 
Secretary may pay an authority under this section only when the 
authority ensures the Secretary that it will provide the remaining 
costs of a safety program, except when the Secretary waives this 
requirement.''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Repurposing of Funds.--If a State program's certification is 
rejected under section 60105(f) or such program is otherwise suspended 
or interrupted, the Secretary may use any undistributed, deobligated, 
or recovered funds authorized under this section to carry out pipeline 
safety activities for that State within the period of availability for 
such funds.''.
  SEC. 18. RESPONSE PLANS.
    Each owner or operator of a hazardous liquid pipeline facility 
required to prepare a response plan pursuant to part 194 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, shall--
        (1) consider the impact of a discharge into or on navigable 
    waters or adjoining shorelines, including those that may be covered 
    in whole or in part by ice; and
        (2) include procedures and resources for responding to such 
    discharge in the plan.
  SEC. 19. UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.
    (a) Areas To Be Included as Unusually Sensitive.--Section 
60109(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``have been identified as'' and inserting ``are part of the Great Lakes 
or have been identified as coastal beaches, marine coastal waters,''.
    (b) Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA) Ecological Resources.--The 
Secretary of Transportation shall revise section 195.6(b) of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, to explicitly state that the Great Lakes, 
coastal beaches, and marine coastal waters are USA ecological resources 
for purposes of determining whether a pipeline is in a high consequence 
area (as defined in section 195.450 of such title).
  SEC. 20. PIPELINE SAFETY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.
    (a) Public Participation Limitation.--Section 60130(a)(4) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``on technical pipeline 
safety issues'' after ``public participation''.
    (b) Audit.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation 
shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating 
the grant program under section 60130 of title 49, United States Code. 
The report shall include--
        (1) a list of the recipients of all grant funds during fiscal 
    years 2010 through 2015;
        (2) a description of how each grant was used;
        (3) an analysis of the compliance with the terms of grant 
    agreements, including subsections (a) and (b) of such section;
        (4) an evaluation of the competitive process used to award the 
    grant funds; and
        (5) an evaluation of--
            (A) the ability of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
        Safety Administration to oversee grant funds and usage; and
            (B) the procedures used for such oversight.
  SEC. 21. STUDY OF MATERIALS AND CORROSION PREVENTION IN PIPELINE 
      TRANSPORTATION.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
study on materials, training, and corrosion prevention technologies for 
gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities.
    (b) Requirements.--The study required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
        (1) an analysis of--
            (A) the range of piping materials, including plastic 
        materials, used to transport hazardous liquids and natural gas 
        in the United States and in other developed countries around 
        the world;
            (B) the types of technologies used for corrosion 
        prevention, including coatings and cathodic protection;
            (C) common causes of corrosion, including interior and 
        exterior moisture buildup and impacts of moisture buildup under 
        insulation; and
            (D) the training provided to personnel responsible for 
        identifying and preventing corrosion in pipelines, and for 
        repairing such pipelines;
        (2) the extent to which best practices or guidance relating to 
    pipeline facility design, installation, operation, and maintenance, 
    including training, are available to recognize or prevent 
    corrosion;
        (3) an analysis of the estimated costs and anticipated 
    benefits, including safety benefits, associated with the use of 
    such materials and technologies; and
        (4) stakeholder and expert perspectives on the effectiveness of 
    corrosion control techniques to reduce the incidence of corrosion-
    related pipeline failures.
  SEC. 22. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report regarding the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration's research and development program carried out under 
section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 
60101 note). The report shall include an evaluation of--
        (1) compliance with the consultation requirement under 
    subsection (d)(2) of such section;
        (2) the extent to which the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
    Safety Administration enters into joint research ventures with 
    Federal and non-Federal entities, and benefits thereof;
        (3) the policies and procedures the Pipeline and Hazardous 
    Materials Safety Administration has put in place to ensure there 
    are no conflicts of interest with administering grants pursuant to 
    the program, and whether those policies and procedures are being 
    followed; and
        (4) an evaluation of the outcomes of research conducted with 
    Federal and non-Federal entities and the degree to which such 
    outcomes have been adopted or utilized.
    (b) Collaborative Safety Research Report.--
        (1) Biennial reports.--Section 60124(a)(6) of title 49, United 
    States Code, is amended--
            (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) a summary of each research and development project 
        carried out with Federal and non-Federal entities pursuant to 
        section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 and a 
        review of how the project affects safety.''.
        (2) Pipeline safety improvement act.--Section 12 of the 
    Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is 
    amended--
            (A) by striking subsection (d)(3)(C) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(C) Funding from non-federal sources.--The Secretary 
        shall ensure that--
                ``(i) at least 30 percent of the costs of technology 
            research and development activities may be carried out 
            using non-Federal sources;
                ``(ii) at least 20 percent of the costs of basic 
            research and development with universities may be carried 
            out using non-Federal sources; and
                ``(iii) up to 100 percent of the costs of research and 
            development for purely governmental purposes may be carried 
            out using Federal funds.''; and
            (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Independent Experts.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary shall--
        ``(1) implement processes and procedures to ensure that 
    activities listed under subsection (c), to the greatest extent 
    practicable, produce results that are peer-reviewed by independent 
    experts and not by persons or entities that have a financial 
    interest in the pipeline, petroleum, or natural gas industries, or 
    that would be directly impacted by the results of the projects; and
        ``(2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
    Infrastructure, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the 
    Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
    Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
    Transportation of the Senate a report describing the processes and 
    procedures implemented under paragraph (1).
    ``(i) Conflict of Interest.--The Secretary shall take all practical 
steps to ensure that each recipient of an agreement under this section 
discloses in writing to the Secretary any conflict of interest on a 
research and development project carried out under this section, and 
includes any such disclosure as part of the final deliverable pursuant 
to such agreement. The Secretary may not make an award under this 
section directly to a pipeline owner or operator that is regulated by 
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or a State-
certified regulatory authority if there is a conflict of interest 
relating to such owner or operator.''.
  SEC. 23. ACTIVE AND ABANDONED PIPELINES.
    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall issue an advisory bulletin to owners 
and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and 
Federal and State pipeline safety personnel regarding procedures of the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration required to 
change the status of a pipeline facility from active to abandoned, 
including specific guidance on the terms recognized by the Secretary 
for each pipeline status referred to in such advisory bulletin.
  SEC. 24. STATE PIPELINE SAFETY AGREEMENTS.
    (a) Study.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a 
study on State pipeline safety agreements made pursuant to section 
60106 of title 49, United States Code. Such study shall consider the 
following:
        (1) The integration of Federal and State or local authorities 
    in carrying out activities pursuant to an agreement under such 
    section.
        (2) The estimated staff and other resources used by Federal and 
    State authorities in carrying out inspection activities pursuant to 
    agreements under such section.
        (3) The estimated staff and other resources used by the 
    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in carrying 
    out interstate inspections in areas where there is no interstate 
    agreement with a State pursuant to such section.
    (b) Notice Requirement for Denial.--Section 60106(b) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(4) Notice upon denial.--If a State authority requests an 
    interstate agreement under this section and the Secretary denies 
    such request, the Secretary shall provide written notification to 
    the State authority of the denial that includes an explanation of 
    the reasons for such denial.''.
  SEC. 25. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE 
      FACILITIES.
    Section 60109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(g) Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Facilities.--
        ``(1) Integrity assessments.--Notwithstanding any pipeline 
    integrity management program or integrity assessment schedule 
    otherwise required by the Secretary, each operator of a pipeline 
    facility to which this subsection applies shall ensure that 
    pipeline integrity assessments--
            ``(A) using internal inspection technology appropriate for 
        the integrity threat are completed not less often than once 
        every 12 months; and
            ``(B) using pipeline route surveys, depth of cover surveys, 
        pressure tests, external corrosion direct assessment, or other 
        technology that the operator demonstrates can further the 
        understanding of the condition of the pipeline facility are 
        completed on a schedule based on the risk that the pipeline 
        facility poses to the high consequence area in which the 
        pipeline facility is located.
        ``(2) Application.--This subsection shall apply to any 
    underwater hazardous liquid pipeline facility located in a high 
    consequence area--
            ``(A) that is not an offshore pipeline facility; and
            ``(B) any portion of which is located at depths greater 
        than 150 feet under the surface of the water.
        ``(3) High consequence area defined.--For purposes of this 
    subsection, the term `high consequence area' has the meaning given 
    that term in section 195.450 of title 49, Code of Federal 
    Regulations.
        ``(4) Inspection and enforcement.--The Secretary shall conduct 
    inspections under section 60117(c) to determine whether each 
    operator of a pipeline facility to which this subsection applies is 
    complying with this section.''.
  SEC. 26. STUDY ON PROPANE GAS PIPELINE FACILITIES.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall enter into 
an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National 
Academies to conduct a study examining the safety, regulatory 
requirements, techniques, and best practices applicable to pipeline 
facilities that transport or store only petroleum gas or mixtures of 
petroleum gas and air to 100 or fewer customers, in accordance with the 
requirements of this section.
    (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study pursuant to subsection 
(a), the Transportation Research Board shall analyze--
        (1) Federal, State, and local regulatory requirements 
    applicable to pipeline facilities described in subsection (a);
        (2) techniques and best practices relating to the design, 
    installation, operation, and maintenance of such pipeline 
    facilities; and
        (3) the costs and benefits, including safety benefits, 
    associated with such applicable regulatory requirements and the use 
    of such techniques and best practices.
    (c) Participation.--In conducting the study pursuant to subsection 
(a), the Transportation Research Board shall consult with Federal, 
State, and local governments, private sector entities, and consumer and 
pipeline safety advocates, as appropriate.
    (d) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the results of the study 
conducted pursuant to subsection (a) and any recommendations for 
improving the safety of such pipeline facilities.
    (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``petroleum gas'' has 
the meaning given that term in section 192.3 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
  SEC. 27. STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE 
      FACILITIES.
    (a) National Security.--Section 60103(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
    semicolon;
        (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ``; 
    and''; and
        (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
        ``(7) national security.''.
    (b) Update to Minimum Safety Standards.--The Secretary of 
Transportation shall review and update the minimum safety standards 
prescribed pursuant to section 60103 of title 49, United States Code, 
for permanent, small scale liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities.
    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit the Secretary's authority under chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, to regulate liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities.
  SEC. 28. PIPELINE ODORIZATION STUDY.
    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives that 
assesses--
        (1) the feasibility, costs, and benefits of odorizing all 
    combustible gas in pipeline transportation; and
        (2) the affects of the odorization of all combustible gas in 
    pipeline transportation on--
            (A) manufacturers, agriculture, and other end users; and
            (B) public health and safety.
  SEC. 29. REPORT ON NATURAL GAS LEAK REPORTING.
    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration shall submit to Congress a report on 
the metrics provided to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration and other Federal and State agencies related to lost and 
unaccounted for natural gas from distribution pipelines and systems.
    (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
        (1) An examination of different reporting requirements or 
    standards for lost and unaccounted for natural gas to different 
    agencies, the reasons for any such discrepancies, and 
    recommendations for harmonizing and improving the accuracy of 
    reporting.
        (2) An analysis of whether separate or alternative reporting 
    could better measure the amounts and identify the location of lost 
    and unaccounted for natural gas from natural gas distribution 
    systems.
        (3) A description of potential safety issues associated with 
    natural gas that is lost and unaccounted for from natural gas 
    distribution systems.
        (4) An assessment of whether alternate reporting and measures 
    will resolve any safety issues identified under paragraph (3), 
    including an analysis of the potential impact, including potential 
    savings, on rate payers and end users of natural gas products of 
    such reporting and measures.
    (c) Consideration of Recommendations.--If the Administrator 
determines that alternate reporting structures or recommendations 
included in the report required under subsection (a) would 
significantly improve the reporting and measurement of lost and 
unaccounted for gas and safety of natural gas distribution systems, the 
Administrator shall, not later than 1 year after making such 
determination, issue regulations, as the Administrator determines 
appropriate, to implement the recommendations.
  SEC. 30. REVIEW OF STATE POLICIES RELATING TO NATURAL GAS LEAKS.
    (a) Review.--The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration shall conduct a State-by-State review 
of State-level policies that--
        (1) encourage the repair and replacement of leaking natural gas 
    distribution pipelines or systems that pose a safety threat, such 
    as timelines to repair leaks and limits on cost recovery from 
    ratepayers; and
        (2) may create barriers for entities to conduct work to repair 
    and replace leaking natural gas pipelines or distribution systems.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the 
findings of the review conducted under subsection (a) and 
recommendations on Federal or State policies or best practices to 
improve safety by accelerating the repair and replacement of natural 
gas pipelines or systems that are leaking or releasing natural gas. The 
report shall consider the potential impact, including potential 
savings, of the implementation of such recommendations on ratepayers or 
end users of the natural gas pipeline system.
    (c) Implementation of Recommendations.--If the Administrator 
determines that the recommendations made under subsection (b) would 
significantly improve pipeline safety, the Administrator shall, not 
later than 1 year after making such determination, and in coordination 
with the heads of other relevant agencies as appropriate, issue 
regulations, as the Administrator determines appropriate, to implement 
the recommendations.
  SEC. 31. ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS LEAK TASK FORCE.
    (a) Establishment of Task Force.--Not later than 15 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall lead and 
establish an Aliso Canyon natural gas leak task force.
    (b) Membership of Task Force.--In addition to the Secretary, the 
task force established under subsection (a) shall be composed of--
        (1) 1 representative from the Department of Transportation;
        (2) 1 representative from the Department of Health and Human 
    Services;
        (3) 1 representative from the Environmental Protection Agency;
        (4) 1 representative from the Department of the Interior;
        (5) 1 representative from the Department of Commerce;
        (6) 1 representative from the Federal Energy Regulatory 
    Commission; and
        (7) representatives of State and local governments, as 
    determined appropriate by the Secretary and the Administrator.
    (c) Report.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, the task force established under subsection 
    (a) shall submit a final report that contains the information 
    described in paragraph (2) to--
            (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
        Senate;
            (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (C) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
        Senate;
            (D) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives;
            (E) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate;
            (F) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (G) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
        of the Senate;
            (H) the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the 
        House of Representatives;
            (I) the President; and
            (J) relevant Federal and State agencies.
        (2) Information included.--The report submitted under paragraph 
    (1) shall include--
            (A) an analysis and conclusion of the cause and 
        contributing factors of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak;
            (B) an analysis of measures taken to stop the natural gas 
        leak, with an immediate focus on other, more effective measures 
        that could be taken;
            (C) an assessment of the impact of the natural gas leak 
        on--
                (i) health, safety, and the environment;
                (ii) wholesale and retail electricity prices; and
                (iii) the reliability of the bulk-power system;
            (D) an analysis of how Federal, State, and local agencies 
        responded to the natural gas leak;
            (E) in order to lessen the negative impacts of leaks from 
        underground natural gas storage facilities, recommendations on 
        how to improve--
                (i) the response to a future leak; and
                (ii) coordination between all appropriate Federal, 
            State, and local agencies in the response to the Aliso 
            Canyon natural gas leak and future natural gas leaks;
            (F) an analysis of the potential for a similar natural gas 
        leak to occur at other underground natural gas storage 
        facilities in the United States;
            (G) recommendations on how to prevent any future natural 
        gas leaks;
            (H) recommendations regarding Aliso Canyon and other 
        underground natural gas storage facilities located in close 
        proximity to residential populations;
            (I) any recommendations on information that is not 
        currently collected but that would be in the public interest to 
        collect and distribute to agencies and institutions for the 
        continued study and monitoring of natural gas storage 
        infrastructure in the United States; and
            (J) any other recommendations, as appropriate.
        (3) Publication.--The final report under paragraph (1) shall be 
    made available to the public in an electronically accessible 
    format.
        (4) Findings.--If, before the final report is submitted under 
    paragraph (1), the task force established under subsection (a) 
    finds methods to solve the natural gas leak at Aliso Canyon, finds 
    methods to better protect the affected communities, or finds 
    methods to help prevent other leaks, the task force shall 
    immediately submit such findings to the entities described in 
    subparagraphs (A) through (J) of paragraph (1).

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.