[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7556 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7556

  To establish a working group to coordinate regulatory oversight of 
       liquefied natural gas facilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 2024

   Mr. Weber of Texas (for himself and Mrs. Fletcher) 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 establish a working group to coordinate regulatory oversight of 
       liquefied natural gas 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 ``LNG Coordination Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS REGULATORY COORDINATION.

    (a) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish and convene a Liquefied Natural Gas Regulatory Safety 
Working Group through the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied 
Natural Gas Safety to clarify the authority of covered agencies in the 
authorizing and oversight of LNG facilities, other than peak shaving 
facilities, and improve coordination of the authority of such agencies.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Working Group shall consist of 
        representatives of covered agencies designated by the Secretary 
        of Transportation or the head of a covered agency.
            (2) Chair.--The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
        Materials Safety Administration, or a designee of the 
        Administrator, shall serve as the Chair of the Working Group, 
        unless another member of the Working Group is selected by 
        unanimous consent of the members of the Working Group.
            (3) Responsibilities of chair.--The Chair of the Working 
        Group shall establish an agenda and schedule for the Working 
        Group to accomplish the requirements described in subsection 
        (c).
    (c) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The Working Group shall evaluate the 
        authorities of each covered agency pertaining to the siting and 
        design, construction, operation and maintenance, and 
        operational and process safety regulations of LNG facilities.
            (2) Negotiation.--The Working Group shall negotiate the 
        terms of agreements or memorandums between each covered agency 
        pursuant to subsection (d) to establish procedures for--
                    (A) the application of the respective authorities 
                of each Federal agency in a manner that ensures, 
                through effective regulation, that LNG facilities are 
                safe and in the public interest;
                    (B) resolving conflicts concerning overlapping 
                jurisdiction among the covered agencies; and
                    (C) avoiding, to the extent possible and if 
                appropriate, conflicting or duplicative regulation, 
                inspection protocols, and reporting obligations between 
                the covered agencies.
    (d) Interagency Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding.--Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered 
agencies shall enter into interagency agreements or memorandums of 
understanding with respect to best practices and individual agency 
safety oversight and enforcement responsibilities regarding LNG 
facilities, other than peak shaving facilities.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the covered agencies enter into agreements or memorandums under 
subsection (d), the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on such 
agreements or memorandums entered into and how such agreements or 
memorandums have contributed to the improved safety and enforcement 
oversight coordination of LNG facilities.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means each 
        of the following:
                    (A) The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
                Administration.
                    (B) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
                    (C) The Department of Energy.
                    (D) The Occupational Safety and Health 
                Administration.
                    (E) The Coast Guard.
            (2) LNG.--The term ``LNG'' means liquefied natural gas.
            (3) Working group.--The term ``Working Group'' means the 
        Liquefied Natural Gas Regulatory Safety Working Group 
        established under subsection (a).
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