    [Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
    [S. 2975 Reported in Senate (RS)]

    <DOC>

                                                           Calendar No. 331
    119th CONGRESS
      2d Session
                                    S. 2975

                              [Report No. 119-102]

        To amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety of
                pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

    _______________________________________________________________________

                       IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                                October 6, 2025

        Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Young, and Mr. Peters)
    introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
               Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                               February 11, 2026

                    Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
     [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
                                   in italic]

    _______________________________________________________________________

                                     A BILL

        To amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety of
                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,

    <DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline
    Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in
    the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of 2025'' or the ``PIPELINE
    Safety Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
    is as follows:</DELETED>

    <DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
    <DELETED>Sec. 2. Definitions.
                       <DELETED>TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATIONS

    <DELETED>Sec. 101. Gas and hazardous liquid.
    <DELETED>Sec. 102. Operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous
                                Materials Safety Administration.
    <DELETED>Sec. 103. Other programs.
                 <DELETED>TITLE II--MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY

    <DELETED>Sec. 201. Inspection of in-service breakout tanks.
    <DELETED>Sec. 202. Risk assessment obligations.
    <DELETED>Sec. 203. Timely incorporation by reference.
    <DELETED>Sec. 204. Report on updates to the National Pipeline Mapping
                                System.
    <DELETED>Sec. 205. Pipeline safety enhancement programs.
    <DELETED>Sec. 206. Technical safety standards committees.
    <DELETED>Sec. 207. Enforcement procedures.
    <DELETED>Sec. 208. Civil penalties.
    <DELETED>Sec. 209. Improving whistleblower protections.
    <DELETED>Sec. 210. Assessment of composite materials.
    <DELETED>Sec. 211. Elements and evaluation of State damage prevention
                                programs.
    <DELETED>Sec. 212. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing
                                system.
    <DELETED>Sec. 213. Transporting gas.
    <DELETED>Sec. 214. Inspection and management of rights-of-way.
    <DELETED>Sec. 215. Geological hazards.
    <DELETED>Sec. 216. Alternative technologies.
    <DELETED>Sec. 217. Fire shutoff valves.
    <DELETED>Sec. 218. Exemption from post-accident testing.
    <DELETED>Sec. 219. Maximum allowable operating pressure records.
    <DELETED>Sec. 220. Pipeline operating status.
    <DELETED>Sec. 221. Potential impact radius.
    <DELETED>Sec. 222. Effects of weather on natural gas pipelines.
    <DELETED>Sec. 223. Aldyl-A pipelines.
    <DELETED>Sec. 224. Improvements to pipeline safety integrity management
                                programs.
            <DELETED>TITLE III--STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES

    <DELETED>Sec. 301. Regulatory updates.
    <DELETED>Sec. 302. State use of integrated inspections.
    <DELETED>Sec. 303. Optimizing pipeline safety inspections.
    <DELETED>Sec. 304. Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement prior to
                                rulemaking activities.
             <DELETED>TITLE IV--IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES

    <DELETED>Sec. 401. Studies of hydrogen pipeline transportation.
    <DELETED>Sec. 402. Safety of carbon dioxide pipelines.
    <DELETED>Sec. 403. Reporting of blended products.
        <DELETED>TITLE V--IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND TRANSPARENCY

    <DELETED>Sec. 501. Bitumen oil response plan review.
    <DELETED>Sec. 502. National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid
                                Pipeline Leak Detection.
    <DELETED>Sec. 503. Operator financial disclosure.
    <DELETED>Sec. 504. Data and transparency.
    <DELETED>Sec. 505. Office of Public Engagement.
    <DELETED>Sec. 506. Clarification of confirmed discovery.
    <DELETED>Sec. 507. Public alert notification system for pipeline
                                facilities.
                        <DELETED>TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS

    <DELETED>Sec. 601. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or
                                contracting action with respect to covered
                                unmanned aircraft systems.
    <DELETED>Sec. 602. Natural gas distribution pipeline infrastructure
                                safety and modernization grants.
    <DELETED>Sec. 603. Issues affecting federally recognized Indian Tribes.
    <DELETED>Sec. 604. Identification of and justification for redactions.
    <DELETED>Sec. 605. Fees for loan guarantees.
    <DELETED>Sec. 606. Improving pipeline cybersecurity.
    <DELETED>Sec. 607. Technical corrections.

    <DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration''
            means the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
            Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator''
            means the Administrator of the Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
            ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science,
                    and Transportation of the Senate;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Transportation and
                    Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
                    of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) Document produced to another person.--The term
            ``document produced to another person'' means a document
            produced in response to a request under section 552 of title 5,
            United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of
            Information Act), a submission to a Federal, State, or Tribal
            court, information made available on a website, and a document
            transmitted to Congress.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
            Secretary of Transportation.</DELETED>

                  <DELETED>TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATIONS</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 101. GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60125(a) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$156,400,000 for fiscal year
                            2021'' and inserting ``$185,000,000 for fiscal
                            year 2026''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii), by striking
                            ``$63,000,000'' and inserting
                            ``$83,250,000'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$158,500,000 for fiscal year
                            2022'' and inserting ``$190,365,000 for fiscal
                            year 2027''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (I) by striking
                                    ``$66,000,000'' and inserting
                                    ``$85,660,000''; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (II) by striking ``and''
                                    at the end;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$162,700,000 for fiscal year
                            2023'' and inserting ``$195,886,000 for fiscal
                            year 2028''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (I) by striking
                                    ``$69,000,000'' and inserting
                                    ``$88,150,000''; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (II) by striking the
                                    period at the end and inserting a
                                    semicolon; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) $201,556,000 for fiscal year 2029,
                    of which--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to
                            carry out section 12 of the Pipeline Safety
                            Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note;
                            Public Law 107-355); and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) $90,700,000 shall be used
                            for making grants; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) $207,412,000 for fiscal year 2030,
                    of which--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to
                            carry out section 12 of the Pipeline Safety
                            Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note;
                            Public Law 107-355); and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) $93,340,000 shall be used
                            for making grants.'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$27,000,000 for fiscal year
                            2021'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 for fiscal
                            year 2026''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii), by striking
                            ``$11,000,000'' and inserting
                            ``$13,500,000'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$27,650,000 for fiscal year
                            2022'' and inserting ``$31,000,000 for fiscal
                            year 2027''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (I) by striking
                                    ``$12,000,000'' and inserting
                                    ``$13,950,000''; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (II) by striking ``and''
                                    at the end;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause
                            (i), by striking ``$28,700,000 for fiscal year
                            2023'' and inserting ``$32,000,000 for fiscal
                            year 2028''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (I) by striking
                                    ``$13,000,000'' and inserting
                                    ``$14,400,000''; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (II) by striking the
                                    period at the end and inserting a
                                    semicolon; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2029, of
                    which--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) $3,000,000 shall be used to
                            carry out section 12 of the Pipeline Safety
                            Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note;
                            Public Law 107-355); and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) $14,850,000 shall be used
                            for making grants; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) 34,000,000 for fiscal year 2030, of
                    which--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) $3,000,000 shall be used to
                            carry out section 12 of the Pipeline Safety
                            Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note;
                            Public Law 107-355); and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) $15,300,000 shall be used
                            for making grants.''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$8,000,000 for
            each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting
            ``$7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
            2030''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 102. OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS
                  MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
    for the necessary operational expenses of the Administration--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 103. OTHER PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(2) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$10,000,000 for
    each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out this subsection''
    and inserting ``to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of
    fiscal years 2026 through 2030''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.--
    Section 60130 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking
                    ``section 2(b) of the PIPES Act of 2016 (Public Law
                    114-183; 130 Stat. 515), the Secretary shall use
                    $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023
                    to carry out this section.'' and inserting the
                    following: ``section 60125(a)(1), the Secretary shall
                    use to carry out this section--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year
                    2026;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) $2,750,000 for fiscal year
                    2027;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) $3,000,000 for fiscal year
                    2028;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) $3,250,000 for fiscal year 2029;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.'';
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``$1,000,000'';
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``section.'' and
                            inserting the following: ``section--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year
                    2026;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) $1,250,000 for fiscal year
                    2027;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) $1,500,000 for fiscal year
                    2028;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2029;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) $2,000,000 for fiscal year
                    2030.'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection
            (e); and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the
            following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(d) Deadlines.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Notice of funding opportunity.--Not later
            than 60 days after the date on which funds are made available
            to carry out this section, the Secretary shall publish a notice
            of funding opportunity for the funds.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a
            grant under this section, an eligible applicant shall submit to
            the Secretary an application--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) in such form and containing such
                    information as the Secretary considers to be
                    appropriate; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) by such date as the Secretary may
                    establish, subject to the condition that the date shall
                    be not later than 60 days after the date on which the
                    Secretary publishes the notice of funding opportunity
                    under paragraph (1).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Selection.--Not later than 120 days after
            the date on which the Secretary publishes the notice of funding
            opportunity under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall announce
            the selection by the Secretary of eligible applicants to
            receive grants in accordance with this section.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Damage Prevention Programs.--Section 60134(i) of title
    49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,500,000 for each of
    fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Such funds shall remain'' and inserting
    ``$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to
    remain''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Pipeline Integrity Program.--Section 12(f) of the
    Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public
    Law 107-355) is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and inserting
            ``$2,500,000''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) by striking ``the fiscal years 2021 through
            2023'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2026 through
            2030''.</DELETED>

            <DELETED>TITLE II--MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 201. INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE BREAKOUT TANKS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise part 195 of title 49,
    Code of Federal Regulations, to allow for risk-based inspections of in-
    service breakout tanks if the Secretary finds such revisions maintain
    or enhance safety.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Considerations.--In revising the regulations under
    subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the American Petroleum
    Institute standard entitled ``Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and
    Reconstruction'', dated November 2014, and numbered API Standard 653
    (Fifth Edition) (or a successor standard).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Requirements.--In revising the regulations under
    subsection (a), for any in-service breakout tanks that would be
    internally inspected less frequently under the revised regulations than
    required under part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in
    effect on January 1, 2025), the Secretary shall require operators--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) to visually monitor the external conditions of
            those tanks on a routine basis; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) to use a secondary containment system designed
            to contain hazardous liquids in the event of a leak.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Notification.--If the regulations promulgated under
    subsection (a) differ from the American Petroleum Institute standard
    referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to the
    appropriate committees of Congress a notification explaining the
    reasons for the differences not later than 60 days after the date on
    which the regulations are published in the Federal Register.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 202. RISK ASSESSMENT OBLIGATIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60102(b)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the
            end;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the
            end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) require that an officer or
                            employee of the Department of Transportation
                            with expertise in conducting risk assessments
                            or cost-benefit analyses for pipeline
                            facilities or other modes of transportation
                            attend any meeting in which a committee
                            described in clause (i) is serving as a peer
                            review panel with respect to that risk
                            assessment information.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 203. TIMELY INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended
    by striking subsection (l) and inserting the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(l) Updating Standards.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once
            every 5 years, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) review each industry consensus
                    standard--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) that has been adopted or
                            incorporated, partially or in full, as part of
                            the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program
                            under this chapter;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) that has been modified by a
                            standards development organization (as defined
                            in section 2(a) of the National Cooperative
                            Research and Production Act of 1993 (15 U.S.C.
                            4301(a))) since being adopted or incorporated;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) the modification of which
                            has been published by a standards development
                            organization (as defined in that section);
                            and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) update, as determined necessary by
                    the Secretary, the adoption or incorporation of each
                    industry consensus standard reviewed under subparagraph
                    (A).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) List of industry standards.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall
                    maintain a publicly available list of all industry
                    standards considered for adoption or incorporation
                    under this chapter, including--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) the determination of the
                            Secretary with respect to each standard
                            considered; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) with respect to each
                            standard not adopted or incorporated in full,
                            the reasoning for not adopting or incorporating
                            that standard in full.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Availability.--Not later than 30
                    days after initial completion and each revision of the
                    list under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
                    publish the list on the public website of the Pipeline
                    and Hazardous Materials Safety
                    Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Consideration of industry consensus
            standards.--In prescribing new safety standards under this
            chapter, the Secretary shall consider adopting or incorporating
            industry consensus standards.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Public access.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--For all industry
                    consensus standards incorporated or partially
                    incorporated under this chapter on or after the date of
                    enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, the
                    Secretary shall publish on the public website of the
                    Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
                    the full text of the standard or a direct link to an
                    external source where the full text is available to the
                    public on a website to view at no cost for the duration
                    of time that the Secretary has the incorporation by
                    reference available for public comment.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Exception.--If the full text of an
                    industry consensus standard is not published on the
                    public website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
                    Safety Administration or available from that website
                    via a direct link to an external source where the full
                    text is available to the public on a website to view at
                    no cost for the duration of time that the Secretary has
                    the incorporation by reference available for public
                    comment, then the Secretary shall not incorporate or
                    partially incorporate under this chapter that industry
                    consensus standard by reference.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Previously incorporated standards.--
                    For industry consensus standards incorporated or
                    partially incorporated under this chapter before the
                    date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025
                    that are publicly available on a public-facing website
                    at no charge to the public, the Secretary shall publish
                    on the public website of the Pipeline and Hazardous
                    Materials Safety Administration the full text of the
                    standard or a direct link to an external source where
                    the full text is available to the public on a
                    website.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 204. REPORT ON UPDATES TO THE NATIONAL PIPELINE MAPPING
                  SYSTEM.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
    shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the
    management of the National Pipeline Mapping System by the
    Administration.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a)
    shall describe--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) how and when the Administration updates the
            high consequence area data contained in the National Pipeline
            Mapping System;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) what sources of scientific data are used for
            those updates; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) how those data are validated for
            accuracy.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to
    require that the information submitted under section 60132(a) of title
    49, United States Code, has a spatial accuracy within a radius of 50
    feet from the location of the facility (+/- 50 feet).</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 205. PIPELINE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60142 of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``3 years
            after the date of enactment of this section'' and inserting ``5
            years after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of
            2025'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or
                    equal to'' after ``greater than''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and
                    inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Determination.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--To accomplish the
                    purpose of a testing program, the Secretary may issue
                    an order waiving compliance with any part of an
                    applicable standard prescribed under this chapter if
                    the condition described in paragraph (1) is met, as
                    determined by the Secretary.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not
                    require testing program applicants to use the
                    nonemergency waiver process, or to otherwise meet the
                    requirements of the nonemergency waiver process,
                    established under section 60118(c)(1).'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the
            following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(h) Authority To Terminate Program.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall immediately
            terminate a testing program under subsection (a) if
            continuation of the testing program would not be consistent
            with the goals and objectives of this chapter.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Notification.--Not later than 10 days after
            the termination of a testing program under paragraph (1), the
            Secretary shall notify the relevant pipeline operators of how
            they can cure any deficiencies identified by the
            Secretary.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Reinstatement.--If the Secretary determines
            that the deficiencies identified under paragraph (2) are
            addressed, the Secretary shall reinstate the testing
            program.''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(m) Approval Process.--Establishment of a testing
    program under subsection (a) shall not be considered a major Federal
    action (as defined in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy
    Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e)) for purposes of that Act (42 U.S.C. 4321
    et seq.).''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 206. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Notification to Congress.--Section 60115(c)(2) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the fifth sentence, by
    inserting ``and notify the appropriate committees of Congress (as
    defined in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025)'' after ``the
    Secretary shall publish the reasons''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Frequency of Meetings.--Section 60115(e) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by striking ``up to 4'' and inserting
    ``2''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 207. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 60117(b)(1) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at
                    the end;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in clause (ii), by adding ``or'' after
                    the semicolon at the end; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) to allow a recipient of a
                            warning under section 190.205 of title 49, Code
                            of Federal Regulations (or a successor
                            regulation), to discuss claims made in the
                            warning with relevant staff;'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at
            the end;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at
            the end and inserting a semicolon; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(K) for civil penalties over $1,000,000,
                    adjusted each year for inflation, allow the respondent
                    to request a formal hearing in accordance with section
                    554 of title 5, conducted by an administrative law
                    judge; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(L) provide a written response to a
                    request for the withdrawal or modification of a written
                    warning issued under this section.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Hearings.--Section 60117(b) of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
    following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Hearing requirements.--A hearing under this
            section shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) be noticed to the public on the
                    website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
                    Administration on its own page titled `Upcoming
                    Enforcement Hearings';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) provide an orderly and timely
                    process, as determined by the Secretary;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) in the case of a formal hearing, be
                    open to the public.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update the regulations
    prescribing protocols for all hearings under section 60117 of title 49,
    United States Code.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 208. CIVIL PENALTIES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60122(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in the first sentence, by striking
            ``$200,000'' and inserting ``$400,000''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in the third sentence, by striking
            ``$2,000,000'' and inserting ``$4,000,000''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 209. IMPROVING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60129 of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(2)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking
                    ``or'' at the end;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking
                    ``such a person.'' and inserting ``a person described
                    in subparagraph (A); or''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) an officer, employee, or agent of a
                    person described in subparagraph (A).''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)(3)(B)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in clause (ii), by inserting ``with
                    interest'' after ``back pay''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in clause (iii), by inserting ``,
                    including compensation for any special damages
                    sustained as a result of the discrimination'' after
                    ``compensatory damages to the complainant''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 210. ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall gather and assess
    any studies, data, standards, and approved applications available as of
    the date of enactment of this Act that address the safety of composite
    materials to support the safe transportation of--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) natural gas;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) natural gas liquids;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) new fuels, such as hydrogen and hydrogen
            blended with natural gas; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) new fluids, such as carbon dioxide.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Deadline.--The assessment under subsection (a) shall
    be completed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
    Act.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing the
    assessment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the
    appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the conclusions
    of the assessment.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Rulemaking.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--If the Administrator concludes,
            based on the assessment under subsection (a), that composite
            materials provide, at a minimum, an equivalent level of safety
            as other pipelines under the jurisdiction of the
            Administration, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations,
            not later than 180 days after the date on which the report
            under subsection (c) is submitted, that allow for the use of
            composite materials for the transportation of new
            fuels.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Incorporation of existing standards.--The
            regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) may include
            adoption or incorporation by reference of existing industry
            consensus standards.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 211. ELEMENTS AND EVALUATION OF STATE DAMAGE PREVENTION
                  PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 60134 of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in the subsection heading, by
                    inserting ``State'' before ``Damage'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1)
                    through (9) as subparagraphs (A) through (I),
                    respectively;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in the matter preceding subparagraph
                    (A) (as so redesignated), by striking ``An'' and
                    inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--An'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by indenting subparagraphs (A)
                            through (I) appropriately; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by adding at the end the
                            following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(J) A State one-call program that
                    includes, or is making substantial progress toward
                    including, the one-call leading practices described in
                    paragraph (2).''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (E) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) One-call leading practices.--The one-call
            leading practices referred to in paragraph (1)(J) are the
            following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Restricting the size or scope of a
                    one-call ticket for standard locate requests (which may
                    include process exceptions for special large project
                    tickets).</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Restricting the longevity of a one-
                    call ticket for standard locate requests (which may
                    include process exceptions for special large project
                    tickets).</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Specifying tolerance (soft-dig only)
                    zone horizontal dimensions.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) Specifying tolerance zone
                    requirements.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) Specifying emergency excavation
                    notification requirements.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) Specifying the responsibilities of
                    excavators, including the reporting of damages or
                    suspected damages.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(G) Defining who is an excavator and
                    what is considered excavation.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(H) Requiring the use of white-
                    lining.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(I) Requiring a positive response before
                    excavation begins, such as a utility, municipality, or
                    other entity that places the relevant marks positively
                    responding to the notification center, and the
                    excavator checking for that positive response before
                    beginning excavation.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(J) Requiring that newly installed
                    underground facilities be locatable with commercially
                    available technology.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(K) Requiring the marking of sewer lines
                    and laterals.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(L) Specifying the qualifications of,
                    and requirements for, those excavators performing
                    trenchless excavation activities that are not subject
                    to pipeline construction requirements under part 192 or
                    195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or
                    successor regulations).''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``In'' and inserting the
                    following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--In''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Evaluation criteria.--The evaluation
            criteria used by the Secretary for determining the
            effectiveness of a State damage prevention program shall
            include consideration of whether the State, at a minimum--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) engages in effective, active, and
                    meaningful enforcement of State one-call laws,
                    including the efficacy of fines and
                    penalties;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) requires reporting to the local one-
                    call center of excavation damage events that affect
                    pipelines and other underground facilities that are not
                    privately owned, including (to the extent available at
                    the time of the reporting)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) information about the nature
                            of the incident, including its apparent
                            cause;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the organizations
                            involved;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) the impact to public
                            safety, utility operations, and customer
                            service; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) the impact to the
                            environment; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) limits exemptions to State damage
                    prevention laws.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 60114(f) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 60134(b)(7)'' and
    inserting ``section 60134(b)(1)(G)''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 212. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING
                  SYSTEM.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>``Sec. 60144. Voluntary information-sharing system</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator'
            means the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
            Safety Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Governing board.--The term `Governing Board'
            means the governing board established under subsection
            (d)(1).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Issue analysis team.--The term `Issue
            Analysis Team' means an Issue Analysis Team established under
            subsection (g)(1).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Program manager.--The term `Program Manager'
            means the Program Manager described in subsection
            (e).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(5) Third-party data manager.--The term `Third-
            Party Data Manager' means the Third-Party Data Manager
            appointed under subsection (f)(1).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(6) VIS.--The term `VIS' means the voluntary
            information-sharing system established under subsection
            (b)(1).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(b) Establishment.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
            date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall
            establish a confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-
            sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data
            and information in order to improve the safety of gas
            transmission pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, liquefied
            natural gas facilities, underground natural gas storage
            facilities, and hazardous liquid pipelines.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall be implemented
            and managed in accordance with the report entitled `Pipeline
            Safety Voluntary Information-Sharing System Recommendation
            Report' prepared under section 10 of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49
            U.S.C. 60108 note; Public Law 114-183) by the Voluntary
            Information Sharing System Working Group convened under that
            section.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the VIS shall be to
            serve as a comprehensive and integrated system--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) to gather, evaluate, and quantify
                    critical pipeline safety data and information;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) to share recommended remediation
                    measures and lessons learned across the pipeline
                    industry in an efficient and confidential
                    manner.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(c) Governance.--The VIS shall be governed, in
    accordance with this section, by the Governing Board, with support
    from--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) the Program Manager;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) the Third-Party Data Manager; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(d) Governing Board.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after
            the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator, after
            consulting with public and private pipeline safety
            stakeholders, shall establish a governing board for the
            VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Composition.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Governing Board
                    shall be composed of 15 members who shall represent a
                    balanced cross-section of pipeline safety stakeholders,
                    in accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C).</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Representation.--The Governing Board
                    shall be composed of the following members:</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) 5 individuals selected from
                            relevant pipeline safety departments, agencies,
                            or instrumentalities of the Federal Government
                            or State or territorial governments, 1 of whom
                            shall be the Administrator (or a designee of
                            the Administrator).</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) 5 individuals selected from
                            the gas or hazardous liquid industries, such as
                            individuals representing or otherwise
                            associated with--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) operators;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) trade
                                    associations;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) inspection
                                    technology, coating, or cathodic
                                    protection vendors;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(IV) standards
                                    development organizations;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(V) research and
                                    development consortia; or</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(VI) pipeline inspection
                                    organizations.</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) 5 individuals selected
                            from general public safety advocacy
                            organizations with relevant pipeline safety
                            expertise, including--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) pipeline safety and
                                    environmental public interest
                                    groups;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) public institutions
                                    of higher education with pipeline
                                    safety expertise; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) nonprofit employee
                                    labor organizations.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Requirements.--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) Pipeline industry.--At least
                            1 member of the Governing Board appointed under
                            subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be a representative
                            of the pipeline industry.</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) Pipeline safety public
                            interest groups.--At least 1 member of the
                            Governing Board appointed under subparagraph
                            (B)(iii) shall be a representative of a
                            pipeline safety public interest
                            group.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Terms.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
                    subparagraph (B), each member of the Governing Board
                    shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Initial members.--In appointing the
                    initial members of the Governing Board, the
                    Administrator shall appoint members to terms of 1, 2,
                    or 3 years to ensure that each year thereafter--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) the terms of 5 members will
                            expire; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the term of not less than 1
                            and not more than 2 members described in each
                            of clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph
                            (2)(B) will expire.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Reappointment.--A member or former
                    member of the Governing Board appointed under clause
                    (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(B) may be reappointed, but
                    may only serve for a total of 3 terms.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Co-chairs.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Governing Board
                    shall be co-chaired by--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) the Administrator (or a
                            designee of the Administrator);</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) a representative of the
                            pipeline industry appointed under paragraph
                            (2)(B)(ii), who shall be appointed co-chair by
                            the Administrator, with the advice and consent
                            of the Governing Board; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) a representative of a
                            pipeline safety public interest group, who
                            shall be appointed co-chair by the
                            Administrator, with the advice and consent of
                            the Governing Board.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The
                    co-chairs shall be jointly responsible for organizing
                    and conducting meetings of the Governing
                    Board.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(5) Authority.--The Governing Board shall have
            authority--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) to govern and provide strategic
                    oversight of the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) to develop governance documents,
                    including a charter for the Governing Board that
                    shall--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) be made available to the
                            public; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) describe--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) the scope of the
                                    authority of the Governing Board;
                                    and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) the objectives of
                                    the Governing Board;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) to select and appoint the Third-
                    Party Data Manager in accordance with subsection
                    (f);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) to approve the criteria and
                    procedures governing how the Third-Party Data Manager
                    will receive and accept pipeline safety data and
                    information;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) to establish, and appoint members
                    of, Issue Analysis Teams in accordance with subsection
                    (g);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) to collaborate with Issue Analysis
                    Teams to identify issues and topics to be analyzed by
                    the Issue Analysis Teams;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(G) to collaborate with Issue Analysis
                    Teams to specify the type of pipeline safety data and
                    information necessary for the Issue Analysis Teams to
                    analyze the issues and topics identified under
                    subparagraph (F);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(H) to determine the information to be
                    disseminated by the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(I) to determine the reports to be
                    disseminated by the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(J) to issue, not less frequently than
                    annually, publicly available reports on--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) VIS processes;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the membership of the
                            Governing Board;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) issues and topics being
                            investigated and analyzed by Issue Analysis
                            Teams or the Governing Board;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) pipeline safety data and
                            information that the VIS has requested for
                            submission to the VIS; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(v) safety trends identified by
                            the Administrator, Issue Analysis Teams, or the
                            Governing Board; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(K) to perform such other functions that
                    the Governing Board determines are--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) necessary or appropriate;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) consistent with the purpose
                            of the VIS described in subsection
                            (b)(3).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(6) Decisionmaking.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Decisions and approvals
                    of the Governing Board shall be made by a super-
                    majority of the members, as described in subparagraph
                    (B).</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Supermajority described.--A
                    supermajority referred to in subparagraph (A) shall
                    consist of not fewer than--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) \2/3\ of the total members
                            of the Governing Board; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) 1 additional member of the
                            Governing Board.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(e) Program Manager.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Administrator (or a
            designee of the Administrator) shall serve as the Program
            Manager for the VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Program Manager shall
            provide the day-to-day program management and administrative
            support for the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party
            Data Manager.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(f) Third-Party Data Manager.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall
            appoint a Third-Party Data Manager to provide data management
            and data oversight services for the VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Qualifications.--The Third-Party Data
            Manager shall have expertise in data protection, aggregation,
            and analytics.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the
            services described in paragraph (1), the Third-Party Data
            Manager shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) receive and secure pipeline safety
                    data and information submitted to the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) accept pipeline safety data and
                    information submitted to the VIS that meets the
                    criteria and procedures approved by the Governing Board
                    under subsection (d)(5)(D);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) de-identify, store, and manage
                    pipeline safety data and information that is accepted
                    by the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) collaborate with Issue Analysis
                    Teams to analyze and aggregate pipeline safety data and
                    information that is accepted by the VIS;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) prepare reports as requested by the
                    Governing Board regarding the type of pipeline safety
                    data and information that is managed by the VIS;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) make recommendations to the
                    Governing Board regarding the management of pipeline
                    safety data and information by the VIS, as
                    appropriate.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(g) Issue Analysis Teams.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall
            establish, and appoint the members of, 1 or more Issue Analysis
            Teams as the Governing Board determines to be appropriate and
            relevant to the pipeline safety work of the VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Qualifications.--An Issue Analysis Team
            established under paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), consist
                    of pipeline safety technical and subject matter
                    experts; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) may include, as appropriate,
                    representatives from public safety advocacy
                    organizations described in subsection
                    (d)(2)(B)(iii).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Responsibilities.--An Issue Analysis Team
            shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) work with the Third-Party Data
                    Manager to aggregate and analyze pipeline safety data
                    and information submitted to the VIS relating to the
                    issues and topics analyzed by the Issue Analysis Team;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) submit internal reports and
                    recommendations to the Governing Board on those issues
                    and topics.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(h) Application of FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5
    (commonly referred to as the `Federal Advisory Committee Act') shall
    not apply to--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) the VIS;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) the Governing Board; or</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) any Issue Analysis Team.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(i) Participation in the VIS.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The submission of data and
            information to the VIS by any person shall be voluntary, with
            no person compelled to participate in, or to submit data or
            information to any person for inclusion in, the VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall not accept data
            or information relating to an operator if the operator has not
            authorized the submission of that data or information for
            inclusion in the VIS.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Encouraging information sharing.--The
            Governing Board shall encourage the voluntary sharing of
            pipeline safety data and information among--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) operators of gas transmission, gas
                    distribution, and hazardous liquid pipelines;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) employees of those
                    operators;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) labor unions representing those
                    employees;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) contractors of the operators
                    described in subparagraph (A);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) in-line inspection service
                    providers;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) non-destructive evaluation
                    experts;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(G) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
                    Safety Administration; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(H) representatives of--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) State pipeline safety
                            agencies;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) relevant Tribal
                            agencies;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) pipeline safety public
                            interest groups;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) manufacturers of gas
                            transmission, gas distribution, and hazardous
                            liquid pipeline infrastructure and equipment;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(v) relevant research and
                            academic institutions.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Limitation on inclusion of data and
            information in the vis.--Pipeline safety data and information
            accepted by the Third-Party Data Manager for inclusion in the
            VIS under subsection (f)(3)(B) shall be related to the issues
            and topics identified by the Governing Board for analysis by an
            Issue Analysis Team under subsection (d)(5)(F).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(5) Types of data and information included in
            the vis.--Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the
            Third-Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under
            subsection (f)(3)(B) may include--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) pipeline integrity risk analysis
                    information;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) lessons learned from accidents and
                    near misses;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) process improvements;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) technology deployment
                    practices;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) information obtained through VIS
                    pipeline safety surveys of pipeline operator employees,
                    subject to the condition that such surveys are
                    voluntarily agreed to by the pipeline
                    operator;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) pipeline safety data and information
                    which may lead to the identification of pipeline safety
                    risks, as specified by the Governing Board;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(G) any other relevant data or
                    information, as determined by the Governing
                    Board.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(j) Confidentiality.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--To facilitate the sharing of
            otherwise nonpublic pipeline safety data and information with
            the VIS, the data and information accepted, stored, managed,
            analyzed, or produced by the VIS--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) shall be kept confidential by the
                    VIS; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) except as otherwise provided in this
                    section, is not subject to disclosure by the VIS under
                    any other law.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Prohibition.--Except as provided in
            paragraph (3), no person, including the Program Manager, the
            Third-Party Data Manager, any member of the Governing Board,
            and any member of an Issue Analysis Team, and no Federal,
            State, local, or Tribal agency having or obtaining access to
            nonpublic information accepted, analyzed, stored, managed, or
            produced by the VIS may release or communicate that nonpublic
            information from the VIS, either in an identified or de-
            identified form, to any person who does not have the authority
            to view VIS data.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Exception.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding
                    paragraphs (1) and (2) and subsections (k) and (l), on
                    approval by the Governing Board under subparagraph (B),
                    the Governing Board or the Administrator may disclose
                    de-identified nonpublic information obtained by the
                    VIS.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Approval.--Approval to disclose de-
                    identified nonpublic information under subparagraph
                    (A)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) shall be based on an
                            analysis of the de-identified nonpublic
                            information; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) may, in the sole discretion
                            of the Governing Board, consist of any safety
                            findings or recommendations that the Governing
                            Board determines to publish or authorizes the
                            Administrator to publish to improve pipeline
                            safety.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Public reports.--In issuing public
                    reports under subsection (d)(5)(J), the Governing Board
                    shall approve the disclosure of de-identified nonpublic
                    information obtained by the VIS that the Governing
                    Board determines is necessary to adequately describe
                    and illustrate the issues and topics being investigated
                    and analyzed by Issue Analysis Teams or the Governing
                    Board.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Savings provision.--This subsection does not
            apply to public information that may be submitted to the
            VIS.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(k) Applicability of FOIA.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Exemption.--Any nonpublic information that
            is accepted, stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS
            and subsequently obtained by the Secretary or the Administrator
            from the VIS is exempt from the requirements of section 552 of
            title 5.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Applicability.--For purposes of paragraph
            (1), this section shall be considered to be a statute described
            in section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(l) Exclusion of VIS Information in Litigation and Other
    Proceedings.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Excluded evidence.--Except as provided in
            paragraph (3), any nonpublic information that is accepted,
            stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS may not be
            obtained from the VIS--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) for use as evidence for any purpose
                    in any Federal, State, local, Tribal, or private
                    litigation, including any action or proceeding;
                    or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) to initiate any enforcement action
                    or civil litigation against a pipeline operator or the
                    employees or contractors of a pipeline operator
                    relating to a probable violation under this chapter
                    (including any regulation promulgated or order issued
                    under this chapter).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Exclusion from discovery.--Except as
            provided in paragraph (3), any nonpublic information that is
            accepted, stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS
            shall not be subject to discovery from the VIS in any Federal,
            State, local, Tribal, or private litigation or other
            proceeding.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions
            described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to data or
            information that--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) is evidence of a criminal
                    violation;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) is not related to the purpose of the
                    VIS described in subsection (b)(3);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) is otherwise required to be reported
                    to the Secretary under part 190, 191 (including
                    information about an incident or accident), 192, 194,
                    195, or 199 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations
                    (or successor regulations);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) is required to be reported to a
                    State authority under State pipeline safety laws;
                    or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) is developed or obtained from a
                    source other than the VIS, including through discovery
                    from a person or an entity other than the VIS in an
                    enforcement action or private litigation.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(m) Effect on Discovery.--Except as provided in
    subsection (l)(2), nothing in this section or any rule or regulation
    promulgated under this section--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) creates a defense to a discovery request;
            or</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) otherwise limits or affects the discovery of
            pipeline safety data and information arising from a cause of
            action authorized under any other Federal, State, or local
            law.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(n) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects
    any Federal, State, or local pipeline safety law.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(o) Annual Reports.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary
    shall submit to Congress, by the end of that fiscal year, a report on
    the status of the VIS.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(p) Funding.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Sustainable funding.--The Secretary shall--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) explore sustainable funding sources
                    for the VIS, including public-private partnerships;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
                    sustainably fund the VIS through the use of those
                    sustainable funding sources.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Limited additional funding.--In addition to
            the fees collected under section 60301, the Secretary may
            collect an additional $5,000,000 under that section for each of
            fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to establish, implement, and
            manage the VIS.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Definitions.--Section 60101(a) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating paragraphs (17) through (26)
            as paragraphs (18), (19), (20), (25), (26), (27), (22), (23),
            (24), and (28), respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as
            to appear in numerical order;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after paragraph (16) the
            following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(17) Nonpublic information.--The term `nonpublic
            information' means any pipeline safety data or information,
            regardless of form or format, that--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) a company does not disclose,
                    disseminate, or make available to the public;
                    or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) is not otherwise in the public
                    domain.''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after paragraph (20) (as so
            redesignated) the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(21) Public information.--The term `public
            information' means any data or information, regardless of form
            or format, that--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) a company discloses, disseminates,
                    or makes available to the public; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) is otherwise in the public
                    domain.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
    following:</DELETED>

    <DELETED>``60144. Voluntary information-sharing system.''.
    <DELETED>    (d) Conforming Amendments.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Section 70012(c) of title 46, United States
            Code, is amended by striking ``section 60101(a)(18)'' and
            inserting ``section 60101(a)''.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Section 60102(q)(1) of title 49, United States
            Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
            striking ``subsection (a)(21)'' and inserting ``subsection
            (a)(26)''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 213. TRANSPORTING GAS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60101(a)(26) of title 49, United States Code (as
    redesignated by section 212(b)(1)), is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) by striking the paragraph designation and all
            that follows through ``(A) means'' in subparagraph (A) and
            inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(26) Transporting gas.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `transporting
                    gas' means'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``; but''
            and inserting a period; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
            following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting
                    gas' does not include--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) gathering gas (except
                            through regulated gathering lines) in a rural
                            area outside a populated area designated by the
                            Secretary as a nonrural area; or</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the movement of gas by the
                            owner or operator of a plant for use as a fuel,
                            a feedstock, or for any other purpose that
                            directly supports plant operations through--
                            </DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) in-plant piping
                                    systems that are located entirely on
                                    the grounds of the plant; or</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) transfer piping
                                    systems that extend less than 1 mile in
                                    length outside the grounds of the
                                    plant.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 214. INSPECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RIGHTS-OF-
                  WAY.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Inspection of Rights-of-Way.--Section 60108 of title
    49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
    following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(f) Inspection of Rights-of-Way.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--When requiring an operator to
            inspect the surface conditions on or adjacent to a pipeline
            right-of-way, the Secretary shall allow the use of unmanned
            aircraft systems and satellites.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this
            subsection affects any obligation to operate an unmanned
            aircraft system in accordance with all relevant Federal laws
            relating to the use of unmanned aircraft systems.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Management of Rights-of-Way.--Section 60108(a) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) Each'' and
            inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Each'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``(2) If'' and inserting
                    the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Revision.--If'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through
                    (E) appropriately; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (D), by indenting
                    clauses (i) through (iii) appropriately;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (3), by indenting the paragraph,
            and each subparagraph within the paragraph, appropriately;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Alternative methods of maintaining rights-
            of-way.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--As part of the review
                    conducted under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall
                    allow for an alternative method of maintaining rights-
                    of-way for pipelines and other pipeline facilities
                    under a voluntary program carried out by the operator
                    if the Secretary determines that the alternative
                    method--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) achieves a level of safety
                            at least equal to the level of safety required
                            by the regulations promulgated under this
                            chapter; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) allows for timely emergency
                            response.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Purpose.--An operator considering
                    implementing an alternative method described in
                    subparagraph (A) may consider incorporating into the
                    plan for implementing that method 1 or more
                    conservation practices, including--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) integrated vegetation
                            management practices, including reduced
                            mowing;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the development of habitat
                            and forage for pollinators and other wildlife
                            through seeding or planting of diverse native
                            forbs and grasses;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) practices relating to
                            maintenance strategies that promote early
                            successional vegetation or limit disturbance
                            during periods of highest use by target
                            pollinator species and other wildlife on
                            pipeline or facility rights-of-way, including--
                            </DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) increasing mowing
                                    height;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) reducing mowing
                                    frequency; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) refraining from
                                    mowing monarch and other pollinator
                                    habitat during periods in which
                                    monarchs or other pollinators are
                                    present;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) an integrated vegetation
                            management plan that may include approaches
                            such as mechanical tree and brush removal and
                            targeted and judicious use of herbicides and
                            mowing to address incompatible or undesirable
                            vegetation while promoting compatible and
                            beneficial vegetation on pipeline and facility
                            rights-of-way;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(v) planting or seeding of
                            deeply rooted, regionally appropriate perennial
                            grasses and wildflowers, including milkweed, to
                            enhance habitat;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(vi) removing shallow-rooted
                            grasses from planting and seeding mixes, except
                            for use as nurse or cover crops; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(vii) obtaining expert training
                            or assistance on wildlife- and pollinator-
                            friendly practices, including--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) native plant
                                    identification;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) establishment and
                                    management of regionally appropriate
                                    native plants;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) land management
                                    practices; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(IV) integrated
                                    vegetation management.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Consultation.--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) Available guidance.--In
                            developing alternative methods under this
                            paragraph, an operator shall consult any
                            available guidance issued by--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) the Secretary;
                                    or</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) an applicable State
                                    agency carrying out compliance
                                    activities on behalf of the Secretary
                                    in accordance with section
                                    60105.</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) Leading industry
                            practices.--In the absence of guidance
                            described in clause (i), an operator may
                            consult leading industry practices and guidance
                            to develop and implement alternative methods
                            under this paragraph.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) Requirements.--An operator using an
                    alternative method under this paragraph shall ensure
                    that the alternative inspection plans of the operator
                    continue to ensure that the operator can identify risks
                    to pipeline facilities.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) Savings provision.--Nothing in this
                    paragraph exempts an operator from compliance with any
                    applicable requirements under this chapter (including
                    any regulations promulgated under this
                    chapter).''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Inspector General Review.--3 years after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of
    Transportation shall initiate a review of a representative sample of
    the inspection and maintenance plans of operators that have utilized
    alternative methods of maintaining rights-of-way under section
    60108(a)(4) of title 49, United States Code, to determine--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) whether reduced mowing has limited the ability
            of pipeline operators to assess risks to pipeline
            facilities;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) with respect to any incidents that have
            occurred on the relevant pipeline facilities, whether reduced
            mowing hindered--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the ability of operators to identify a
                    risk that was related to the incident; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) the ability for operators and
                    emergency responders to respond to an incident;
                    and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) whether the alternative methods of maintaining
            rights-of-way have impacted pipeline safety.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Technical Correction.--Section 60108(e) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended, in the subsection heading, by striking
    ``In General'' and inserting ``Post-inspection Briefing and Preliminary
    Findings''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 215. GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Inspection and Maintenance Plans.--Section
    60108(a)(2)(D) of title 49, United States Code (as amended by section
    214(b)(2)), is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the
            end; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) mitigation of threats posed
                            by geological hazards; and''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Geological Hazard Mitigation Report.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
            date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare
            a report that--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) identifies geological hazards that may
                    cause a pipeline to move or be affected by abnormal
                    external loads, including landslides, volcanic
                    activity, earthquakes, and scouring;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) evaluates any industry consensus
                    standards or best practices relating to hazards
                    described in subparagraph (A);</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) evaluates existing Federal
                    requirements for pipeline facility design,
                    construction, operations, maintenance, and integrity
                    that relate to mitigation of geological hazards;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) makes recommendations to improve
                    geological hazard mitigation based on the findings of
                    the report.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Submission.--On completion of the report under
            paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit the report to the
            Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Regulatory Review.--Not later than 1 year after
    completion of the report under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall
    review, and may update, as appropriate, existing regulations and policy
    guidance that addresses the safety of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon
    dioxide pipeline facilities to include consideration of threats posed
    by geological hazards.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 216. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Request for Proposals.--Not later than 2 years after
    the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the
    Administrator shall--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) issue a request for proposals to identify
            potential alternative technologies that, if used by operators,
            will meet the intent of an existing pipeline safety regulation
            and provide an equal or greater level of pipeline safety;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) allow the public the opportunity to comment on
            those proposals.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Regulations.--If the Secretary determines that a
    technology that is commercially available would meet the intent of an
    existing pipeline safety regulation and provide an equal or greater
    level of pipeline safety, the Administrator may issue a notice of
    proposed rulemaking to update the relevant regulations to allow
    operators to adopt the use of such technology.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 217. FIRE SHUTOFF VALVES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60110 of title 49, United States Code, is amended
    by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(f) Fire Shutoff Valves or Equivalent Technology.--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Equivalent technology.--The term
                    `equivalent technology' means any technology that--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) is not an excess flow valve;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) meets the performance
                            standard of shutting off gas on a service line
                            of a distribution system to a dwelling or other
                            building in the event of a fire.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Fire-first ignition.--The term
                    `fire-first ignition' means an occurrence in which a
                    fire originating from a foreign source causes a natural
                    gas system to fail, release, or ignite.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Fire safety valve.--The term `fire
                    safety valve' means--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) a fire shutoff valve;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) any equivalent
                            technology.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) Fire shutoff valve.--The term `fire
                    shutoff valve' means a spring-loaded plug that is held
                    in place by a fusible link that--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) is made of a low-melting-
                            point alloy;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) is attached to a gas
                            source; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) melts when exposed to
                            fire, causing the spring-loaded plug to close,
                            shutting off the gas to a dwelling or other
                            building connected to a service line of a
                            distribution system.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Study.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years
                    after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
                    Secretary shall complete a study on the effectiveness
                    of fire safety valves in order to determine the ability
                    of fire safety valves to improve public safety through
                    mitigation of secondary ignitions, such as fire-first
                    ignitions.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Requirements.--The study under
                    subparagraph (A) shall evaluate--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) various scenarios and
                            applications for deploying fire safety
                            valves;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the current incidence of
                            fire-first ignition of natural gas distribution
                            pipelines;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) anticipated reduction of
                            fire-first ignition risk under various fire
                            safety valve deployment scenarios, including--
                            </DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) lowering the
                                    likelihood of gas ignition;
                                    and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) lowering the impact
                                    and damage of fire-first ignition
                                    incidents;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) the long-term durability,
                            construction, and effectiveness of fire safety
                            valves; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(v) the commercial availability
                            of fire safety valves for the pipeline
                            industry.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Rulemaking.--After completing the study
            described in paragraph (2), the Secretary may prescribe risk-
            based standards on the circumstances under which an operator of
            a natural gas distribution system shall be required to install
            fire shutoff valves or equivalent technologies in the
            system.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 218. EXEMPTION FROM POST-ACCIDENT TESTING.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this
    Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and
    Human Services, shall update the regulations of the Administration to
    provide that a covered employee (as defined in section 199.3 of title
    49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) whose
    previous performance of a covered function (as defined in that section
    (or a successor regulation)) takes place outside of the time frame
    during which the use of prohibited drugs or alcohol can be detected by
    post-accident testing under section 199.105(b) or 199.225(a), as
    applicable, of that title (or successor regulations)) is exempt from
    such post-accident testing.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 219. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE
                  RECORDS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Previously Tested Transmission Lines.--Until the
    report required under subsection (b)(1) and the rulemaking required
    under subsection (c) (if determined necessary by the Secretary) are
    completed, the Secretary shall not require an owner or operator of a
    pipeline facility to reconfirm the maximum allowable operating pressure
    of a natural gas transmission pipeline pursuant to section 192.624 of
    title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), if
    the owner or operator confirms the material strength of the pipeline
    through prior testing conducted to a sufficient minimum pressure in
    accordance with prevailing safety standards and practices, including
    any applicable class location factors, and documented in
    contemporaneous records.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Working Group Report.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall direct the
            existing maximum allowable operating pressure working group of
            the Administration (referred to in this subsection as the
            ``working group'') to continue producing a report containing
            recommendations on the contemporaneous records that are
            sufficient to confirm the material strength of a natural gas
            transmission pipeline through prior testing.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Composition of working group.--For purposes of
            carrying out paragraph (1), the working group shall be composed
            of the members of the working group as of January 1,
            2025.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) Considerations.--In preparing the report
            required under paragraph (1), the working group--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) shall consider historical practices
                    and all available research conducted regarding minimum
                    pressure and contemporaneous records on transmission
                    pipelines;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) may consider the need for any
                    additional research or analyses necessary to
                    demonstrate the adequacy of any strength testing
                    performed; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) shall consider the investigation,
                    report, and recommendations of the National
                    Transportation Safety Board following the San Bruno
                    pipeline explosion.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) Submission of report.--Not later than 180 days
            after the date of enactment of this Act, the working group
            shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of
            Congress the report produced under paragraph (1), including any
            minority views.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Rulemaking.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after
            receiving the report described in subsection (b)(1), if the
            Secretary determines necessary, the Secretary, after providing
            notice and opportunity for comment, shall promulgate standards
            revising the requirements addressing the records necessary to
            confirm the maximum allowable operating pressure of a natural
            gas transmission pipeline segment.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Limitations.--The rulemaking under paragraph
            (1) shall not delay the date by which pipeline operators must
            comply with maximum allowable operating pressure reconfirmation
            regulations with respect to their natural gas transmission
            pipeline segments under section 192.624 of title 49, Code of
            Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of
            this Act).</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 220. PIPELINE OPERATING STATUS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
    following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after
            the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, the
            Secretary shall promulgate regulations prescribing the
            applicability of the pipeline safety requirements to--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) idled natural gas transmission
                    pipelines;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) idled other gas transmission
                    pipelines; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) idled hazardous liquid
                    pipelines.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 221. POTENTIAL IMPACT RADIUS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Definition of Potential Impact Radius.--In this
    section, the term ``potential impact radius'' means the area within
    which the potential failure of a pipeline could have significant impact
    on persons or property, including injury or death.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Review and Update of Methodology.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Review.--Not later than 3 years after the date
            of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the methodology, including any
                    formulas, used by the Administration to determine a
                    potential impact radius for onshore gas transmission
                    pipelines; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) any applicable recommendations,
                    including any pipeline safety recommendations submitted
                    to the Secretary or Congress by the National
                    Transportation Safety Board or the Government
                    Accountability Office.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Report.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days
                    after completion of the review under paragraph (1), the
                    Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
                    Congress a report detailing the findings of the
                    review.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) Requirement.--The report under
                    subparagraph (A) shall evaluate whether the methodology
                    reviewed under paragraph (1)(A) accounts for--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) available human response
                            data;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) accident data relating to
                            recent pipeline incidents since January 1,
                            2000;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) the risk of serious injury
                            or death, or property damage, from a pipeline
                            incident; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iv) the unique characteristics of
                            the types of gas being transported.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Investigation Reports.--Beginning not later than 1
    year after the date of enactment of this Act, any Pipeline Failure
    Investigation reports prepared by the Accident Investigation Division
    of the Administration for accidents involving onshore gas transmission
    pipelines shall identify the location and distance from the pipeline of
    damage, including injuries and property damage, outside of the
    potential impact radius determined for the pipeline.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 222. EFFECTS OF WEATHER ON NATURAL GAS
                  PIPELINES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Applicable weather event.--The term
            ``applicable weather event'' means a relevant weather-related
            event described in the definition of the term ``major
            disaster'' in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
            Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) that has
            the potential to impact the safety of a natural gas pipeline
            facility.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Natural gas pipeline facility.--The term
            ``natural gas pipeline facility'' means--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) a natural gas pipeline; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) any related pipeline facility,
                    equipment, or infrastructure.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Review and Report.--Not later than 1 year after the
    date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) complete a review of the effects of applicable
            weather events on natural gas pipeline facilities to determine
            whether applicable weather events pose a risk to safety during
            and after the applicable weather event; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) submit to the appropriate committees of
            Congress a report on the results of that review.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 223. ALDYL-A PIPELINES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Assessment of Aldyl-A Polyethylene Piping.--Not later
    than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each owner or
    operator of a gas distribution pipeline facility shall assess its
    system for the presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Limitation.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall not require
            owners and operators of gas distribution pipeline facilities to
            conduct excavation activities for the purpose of the assessment
            required under subsection (a).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection
            affects the authority of the Secretary under--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) section 60112 of title 49, United
                    States Code; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) subsection (m) or (p) of section 60117
                    of that title.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Reporting.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
    enactment of this Act, each owner or operator of a pipeline facility
    described in subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary the estimated
    total pipeline mileage identified by the owner or operator as Aldyl-A
    polyethylene piping.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) State Pipeline Safety Program Certifications.--Section
    60105(b)(9)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking
    ``of cast iron and bare steel pipelines'' and inserting the following:
    ``of--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) cast iron and bare steel
                            pipelines; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) pipelines constructed of
                            historic plastics with known safety
                            issues''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (e) Evaluation of Risk in Distribution Integrity
    Management Programs.--Section 60109(e)(7)(A)(i) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended by striking ``presence of cast iron pipes and
    mains in the distribution system; and'' and inserting the following:
    ``presence, in the distribution system, of pipes and mains made of--
    </DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) cast iron;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) unprotected
                                    steel;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) wrought iron;
                                    or</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(IV) historic plastics
                                    with known safety issues;
                                    and''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 224. IMPROVEMENTS TO PIPELINE SAFETY INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT
                  PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    The Secretary shall conduct research into the use of
    quantitative data and modeling to assess whether the use of such data
    or modeling in the integrity management programs of operators would
    improve the estimation of costs and benefits of risk reduction
    measures.</DELETED>

       <DELETED>TITLE III--STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 301. REGULATORY UPDATES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 106 of the PIPES Act of 2020
    (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 2220) is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``a final'' and
                            inserting ``A final''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``that has not
                            been published in the Federal Register;'' and
                            inserting a period;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``a final'' and
                            inserting ``A final''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``that has not
                            been published in the Federal Register; and''
                            and inserting a period;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``any other'' and
                            inserting ``Any other''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``that has not
                            been published in the Federal
                            Register'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) by redesignating paragraphs (1)
                    through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C),
                    respectively, and indenting appropriately;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (E) by adding at the end the
                    following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) A final rule required to be issued
                    under the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (F) in the matter preceding subparagraph
                    (A) (as so redesignated), by striking ``In this
                    section, the term `outstanding mandate' means--'' and
                    inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term
            `outstanding mandate' means a final rule described in paragraph
            (2) that--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) is required to be issued by the
                    Secretary (including any subordinate of the Secretary);
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) has not been published in the
                    Federal Register.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Final rule described.--A final rule referred
            to in paragraph (1) is any of the following:'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``referred
            to in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) is published
            in the Federal Register'' and inserting ``described in
            subsection (a)(2) is published in the Federal Register with
            respect to the applicable outstanding mandate''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(d) Required Briefing.--If the Secretary fails to update
    the website as required under subsection (b)(1), an appropriate
    employee of the Administration shall provide an in-person briefing to
    the relevant committees of Congress every 30 days until the
    requirements of that subsection are met.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(e) Optional Briefing.--Annually, the Administrator
    shall offer to provide a briefing, by the Administrator or a designee,
    to the relevant committees of Congress on the status of outstanding
    mandates.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(f) Restriction of Funds.--If a requirement of
    subsection (b) is not met for over 90 days, no funds authorized or
    appropriated may be used to support travel for the Administrator or the
    Deputy Administrator of the Administration, unless necessary for the
    response to or investigation of a pipeline or hazardous materials
    incident.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Deadline Noncompliance.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Briefings.--If the Secretary does not complete
            a requirement described in paragraph (2) by the deadline
            established by statute for the completion of that requirement,
            the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of
            Congress in person on the status of the requirement--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) not later than 7 days after the
                    applicable deadline; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) every 90 days thereafter until the
                    Secretary completes the requirement.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirements.--A requirement referred to in
            paragraph (1) is any of the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) The rulemaking required under section
                    60143(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, relating
                    to idled pipelines.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) The issuance of a final rule under
                    section 601 with respect to the final regulations
                    required under section 60102(q)(1) of title 49, United
                    States Code, relating to gas pipeline leak detection
                    and repair programs.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 302. STATE USE OF INTEGRATED INSPECTIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, is amended
    by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(g) State Use of Integrated Inspections.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Appropriate committees of
                    congress.--The term `appropriate committees of
                    Congress' has the meaning given the term in section 2
                    of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Inspector general.--The term
                    `Inspector General' means the Inspector General of the
                    Department of Transportation.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Risk-based integrated inspection
                    program.--The term `risk-based integrated inspection
                    program' means an inspection program that uses risk
                    information and data to focus inspection resources on
                    pipeline facilities and regulatory requirements that
                    have the highest priority during an
                    inspection.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Authorization.--Subject to all other
            applicable provisions of this section, with the written
            agreement of the Secretary and a State authority certified
            under this section, which may be in the form of a memorandum of
            understanding, the Secretary may authorize, and the State
            authority may carry out, a risk-based integrated inspection
            program.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Procedural and substantive requirements.--A
            State authority that is authorized to carry out a risk-based
            integrated inspection program--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) shall be subject to the same
                    procedural and substantive requirements that would
                    apply if the Secretary were carrying out the program;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) shall ensure--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) that no pipeline system goes
                            without inspection for more than 5 years;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) that unsatisfactory
                            conditions found in inspections are addressed
                            in a timely manner.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Application and criteria.--Not later than 1
            year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
            Secretary shall establish procedures and criteria for State
            authorities to apply to carry out a risk-based integrated
            inspection program pursuant to this subsection.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(5) Evaluation timeline.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year
                    after receiving an application from a State authority
                    to carry out a risk-based integrated inspection program
                    under this subsection, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) review the application;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) approve or deny the
                            application.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Explanation of denial.--If the
                    Secretary denies an application submitted by a State
                    authority under this subsection, the Secretary shall
                    provide an explanation to the State authority of--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) why the Secretary denied the
                            application; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) changes that the State
                            authority could make to the application that
                            would result in the Secretary approving the
                            application.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(6) Review of programs.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall
                    establish a process to review the implementation of a
                    risk-based integrated inspection program by a State
                    authority.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Review by inspector general.--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The Inspector
                            General shall--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) review each risk-
                                    based integrated inspection program
                                    authorized by the Secretary under this
                                    subsection not later than 3 years after
                                    the date on which the relevant
                                    application is approved to determine
                                    whether the program meets the needs of
                                    pipeline safety; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) submit to the
                                    Secretary and the appropriate
                                    committees of Congress a report on that
                                    review.</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) Requirement.--If the
                            Inspector General determines that a risk-based
                            integrated inspection program is not adequate
                            and should be terminated, the Inspector General
                            shall notify the Secretary and the appropriate
                            committees of Congress.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(7) Termination.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Termination by the secretary.--The
                    Secretary may terminate an authorization for a State
                    authority to carry out a risk-based integrated
                    inspection program if--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) the Secretary determines
                            that the State authority is not adequately
                            carrying out the program;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) the Secretary provides to
                            the State authority--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) a notification of
                                    the intent of the Secretary to
                                    terminate the authorization for the
                                    State authority to carry out a risk-
                                    based integrated inspection
                                    program;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) a period of not
                                    less than 120 days to take such
                                    corrective action as the Secretary
                                    determines to be necessary to comply
                                    with the requirements of this section;
                                    and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(III) on request of the
                                    State authority, a detailed description
                                    of the aspects of the program that are
                                    inadequate; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) the State authority, after
                            the notification described in clause (ii)(I),
                            fails to take satisfactory corrective action in
                            accordance with clause (ii)(II) before the
                            expiration of the period provided under that
                            clause.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Termination by a state authority.--A
                    State authority may terminate its authority to carry
                    out a risk-based integrated inspection program at any
                    time by providing to the Secretary a notice not later
                    than 90 days before the date of
                    termination.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 303. OPTIMIZING PIPELINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Office.--The term ``office'' means a regional
            office, district office, and any other office of the
            Administration serving a particular region.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Region.--The term ``region'' means a region
            for which a regional office of the Administration has been
            established.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) State partners.--The term ``State partners''
            means the State authorities described in subparagraphs (B) and
            (C) of subsection (b)(1).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Study.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the
            United States shall conduct a study to evaluate enforcement
            actions and the inspection scheduling and coordination
            practices and procedures used by--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the Administration;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) State authorities certified under
                    section 60105 of title 49, United States Code;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) State authorities with which the
                    Secretary has made an agreement under section 60106(a)
                    of that title.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirements.--The study under paragraph (1)
            shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) identify ways in which the
                    Administration and States may coordinate with each
                    other for more effective inspections and
                    enforcement;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) evaluate the extent of any--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) substantive overlap of
                            inspections carried out by the Administration
                            and the State partners, such that the
                            Administration and the State partners are
                            inspecting the same operator programs and
                            procedures multiple times in the same annual or
                            biennial period;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) substantive overlap of
                            inspections carried out by offices in different
                            regions, such that offices in multiple regions
                            are inspecting the same operator programs and
                            procedures multiple times in the same annual or
                            biennial period;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) coordination among offices
                            in different regions on inspection findings
                            relating to an operator before the
                            Administration decides to take any enforcement
                            or other action against that
                            operator;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iv) coordination among offices in
                            different regions and between the
                            Administration and State partners on the
                            scheduling and scoping of inspections of
                            operators to avoid substantive
                            overlaps;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (v) resolution processes for
                            operators in cases in which offices in
                            different regions, or the Administration and
                            State partners, take different interpretive
                            positions on the same compliance issue or
                            operator program; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (vi) opportunities--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (I) to reduce substantive
                                    unnecessary overlaps (in the process of
                                    which the Comptroller General of the
                                    United States shall identify and
                                    describe any overlaps that the
                                    Comptroller the believes are
                                    necessary);</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (II) to avoid inconsistent
                                    interpretations--</DELETED>
                                            <DELETED>    (aa) by offices in
                                            different regions;
                                            and</DELETED>
                                            <DELETED>    (bb) between the
                                            Administration and State
                                            partners;</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (III) to optimize
                                    inspection scheduling and coordination;
                                    and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    (IV) to improve compliance
                                    with Federal pipeline safety laws;
                                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) review the Federal enforcement process
                    for its ability to fairly ensure compliance with
                    Federal pipeline safety laws.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
    shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that
    describes the results of the study conducted under subsection (b),
    which shall include recommendations that the Administrator could adopt
    to better coordinate inspection practices and procedures with State
    partners, and between State partners, to address deficiencies
    identified under subsection (b)(2)--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) without compromising pipeline safety;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) while improving the enforcement
            process.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Summary of Pipeline Inspections.--Not later than June
    1 of each year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the
    Administrator shall make available to the public in an electronically
    accessible format a summary of Federal and State pipeline inspections
    conducted under direct or delegated authority under title 49, United
    States Code, during the previous calendar year, including--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) the date of the inspection;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) the name of the pipeline owner or
            operator;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) the pipeline system or segment
            inspected;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) the 1 or more regions of the Administration in
            which the inspected system or segment operates;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) the 1 or more States in which the inspected
            system or segment operates;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (6) any violations or proposed violations alleged
            as a result of the inspection; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (7) any enforcement actions taken.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 304. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PHMSA ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO
                  RULEMAKING ACTIVITIES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    It is the sense of Congress that, if the Secretary
    determines it to be appropriate, the Secretary should engage with
    pipeline stakeholder groups, including State pipeline safety programs
    with an approved certification under section 60105 of title 49, United
    States Code, and the public during predrafting stages of rulemaking
    activities--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) to inform the work of the Secretary in
            carrying out the goals of chapter 601 of title 49, United
            States Code; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) to reduce the timeline for issuance of
            proposed and final rules.</DELETED>

        <DELETED>TITLE IV--IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 401. STUDIES OF HYDROGEN PIPELINE
                  TRANSPORTATION.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Study.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an
            agreement with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2
            of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801))--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) to conduct a study of the safety,
                    technical, and practical considerations relating to the
                    blending of hydrogen into existing natural gas
                    systems;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) to issue a report on the results of
                    that study, in accordance with paragraph (2);
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) to make recommendations to the
                    Secretary for how to avoid or minimize any risks
                    identified under paragraph (2)(C).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Considerations.--In conducting the study under
            paragraph (1), the following factors shall be taken into
            consideration:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) Systems that utilize a hydrogen
                    content above 5 percent to determine if there are
                    additional restrictions or requirements for the
                    processes, materials, and standards that the operators
                    of those systems have implemented to operate those
                    systems safely.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) Remaining knowledge gaps, if any,
                    relating to safely moving hydrogen-methane blends
                    through existing natural gas distribution
                    systems.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) Safety risks, if any, of hydrogen-
                    methane blends composed of over 5 percent hydrogen in
                    existing natural gas distribution systems, including--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) leak rates of hydrogen-methane
                            blends;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) the performance of hydrogen-
                            methane blends in existing residential,
                            commercial, and industrial infrastructure;
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) underground migration of
                            leaked hydrogen-methane blends.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) Any relevant findings or
                    recommendations of--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) the HyBlend research and
                            development initiative commenced by the
                            Department of Energy in 2021 for the purpose of
                            addressing opportunities for hydrogen blending
                            in natural gas pipelines; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) the study on hydrogen
                            blending commissioned by the California Public
                            Utilities Commission and carried out by the
                            University of California, Riverside, entitled
                            ``Hydrogen Blending Impacts Study''.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the
            appropriate committees of Congress the report prepared under
            paragraph (1)(B).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) GAO Report.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
            date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
            United States shall conduct a study on existing natural gas
            distribution systems that utilize hydrogen-natural gas blending
            applications, or utilize gas with a higher hydrogen content, to
            identify processes, materials, and standards that operators
            have implemented to operate those systems safely.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirement.--The study conducted under
            paragraph (1) shall include an examination of natural gas
            distribution systems currently operating in--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the United States;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) Canada;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) Europe;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) Australia;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (E) Hong Kong; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (F) any other appropriate location, as
                    determined by the Comptroller General of the United
                    States.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) Considerations.--In conducting the study under
            paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States
            shall consider systems that utilize a hydrogen content above 5
            percent to determine if there are additional restrictions or
            requirements for the processes, materials, and standards that
            the operators of those systems have implemented to operate
            those systems safely.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Regulatory Considerations.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after
            completion of the studies under subsections (a) and (b), the
            Secretary shall determine whether any updates to regulations
            are necessary to ensure the safety of natural gas distribution
            systems intentionally blending hydrogen at levels exceeding 5
            percent.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirement.--If the Secretary determines that
            updates to regulations are not necessary, the Secretary shall
            submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that
            describes the reasons for that determination.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) authorizes the removal of the exemption for
            certain hydrogen pipelines described in section 192.625(b)(4)
            of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on
            October 1, 2023); or</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) affects--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the authority of the Secretary under--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) section 60112 of title 49,
                            United States Code; or</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) subsection (m) or (p) of
                            section 60117 of that title; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) the authority of the Secretary to
                    prescribe standards otherwise affecting the
                    transportation of hydrogen by pipelines.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 402. SAFETY OF CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Minimum Safety Standards.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
            date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in
            the Federal Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking
            proceeding with Regulation Identifier Number 2137-AF60 after
            providing an opportunity for comment to ensure the safety of
            all phases of carbon dioxide transported in pipelines,
            including carbon dioxide in gaseous, liquid, and supercritical
            states.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirements.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Any standard adopted by
                    the final rule required under paragraph (1) shall--
                    </DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) include appropriate
                            requirements addressing updates to emergency
                            response plans to address any risks unique to
                            carbon dioxide pipeline accidents or
                            incidents;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) include minimum safety
                            standards applicable to each operator of a
                            pipeline facility by which carbon dioxide is
                            transported, including performing vapor
                            dispersion modeling to identify high
                            consequence areas that could be affected by a
                            release from such a pipeline
                            facility;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) clarify that carbon dioxide
                            shall not be used as a testing medium for spike
                            hydrostatic pressure testing; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iv) require carbon dioxide
                            pipeline operators to provide information to
                            State, local, and Tribal emergency response
                            organizations (in each jurisdiction in which a
                            carbon dioxide pipeline facility of the
                            operator is located) on any risks unique to
                            carbon dioxide pipeline accidents or incidents,
                            including by making relevant portions of
                            emergency response plans available to first
                            responders on request.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) Vapor dispersion modeling.--Vapor
                    dispersion modeling under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall
                    consider--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) the topography surrounding the
                            pipeline facility;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) atmospheric conditions that
                            could affect vapor dispersion; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) pipeline facility operating
                            characteristics.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) Considerations.--Any standard adopted
                    by the final rule required under paragraph (1) shall
                    consider--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) conversion of service
                            standards; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) safety-related condition
                            reporting and leak reporting appropriate to any
                            unique safety risks associated with carbon
                            dioxide.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Effect.--Completion of the rulemaking required under
    subsection (a) shall satisfy the rulemaking requirement under section
    60102(i)(2) of title 49, United States Code.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Odorant.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Study.--The Secretary shall enter into an
            agreement with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2
            of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) to study
            the feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide
            pipelines.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date
            of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
            appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the
            feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide
            pipelines.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Additional Resources.--The Secretary shall make
    available, on request, to relevant emergency responders information
    that is tailored specifically to carbon dioxide pipeline releases,
    including information on the potential impact area and any relevant
    odorants.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 403. REPORTING OF BLENDED PRODUCTS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--All operators of natural gas pipelines
    shall report to the Secretary non-predominant products intentionally
    blended and intended to exceed, at any point in time, 2 percent by
    volume of the product transported by the pipeline.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Frequency.--Reports under subsection (a) shall be
    required not more frequently than annually.</DELETED>

              <DELETED>TITLE V--IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND
                             TRANSPARENCY</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 501. BITUMEN OIL RESPONSE PLAN REVIEW.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Inspector General Review.--Not later than 1 year after
    the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
    Department of Transportation shall review--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) the findings of the study required under
            section 16 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and
            Job Creation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-90; 125 Stat. 1915);
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) the emergency response plans required under
            section 60102(d)(5) of title 49, United States Code, for
            operators transporting diluted bitumen oil.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Purpose.--The review under subsection (a) shall
    determine the extent to which the response plans required under section
    60102(d)(5) of title 49, United States Code--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) identify, using industry-standard names, all
            of the crude oils transported by the operator, including
            diluted bitumen;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) include safety data sheets for each of the
            crude oils identified in the response plan;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) describe the geographic areas most sensitive
            to the effects of a diluted bitumen spill, including the water
            bodies potentially at risk;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) describe the response activities planned and
            resources available to mitigate the impacts of spills of
            diluted bitumen, if applicable, including the capabilities of
            the operator for detection, containment, and recovery of
            submerged and sunken oil;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) specify the procedures by which the operator
            shall provide to the applicable On-Scene Coordinator (as
            defined in section 194.5 of title 49, Code of Federal
            Regulations (or a successor regulation)) or an equivalent State
            official relevant response information; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (6) include all spill-relevant properties and
            considerations with respect to each crude oil transported by
            the operator and identified in the response plan in accordance
            with paragraph (1).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after completing the
    review under subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department of
    Transportation shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
    report that summarizes the findings of that review and contains any
    recommendations of the Inspector General.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 502. NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR HAZARDOUS LIQUID
                  PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--After submitting the report under
    subsection (c) to the committees of Congress described in that
    subsection, and subject to the availability of funds appropriated by
    Congress for the applicable purpose, the Secretary, in consultation
    with hazardous liquid pipeline sector stakeholders, may establish a
    center, to be known as the ``National Center of Excellence for
    Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Leak Detection'' (referred to in this section
    as the ``Center of Excellence'').</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Location.--The Center of Excellence shall be located--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) within the Great Lakes Basin;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in a State that hosts an international mixed-
            use pipeline that transports crude oil and natural gas liquids
            where the pipeline crosses through the Great Lakes;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in close proximity to an institution of higher
            education with adequate capabilities, experience, and expertise
            in researching and evaluating pipeline safety, including
            pipeline risk analyses.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Report on Establishment.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after
            the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
            to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
            Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on
            Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and
            Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that
            describes--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the resources necessary to establish
                    the Center of Excellence; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) the manner in which the Center of
                    Excellence will carry out the functions described in
                    subsection (d).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirement.--The report under paragraph (1)
            shall include an estimate of all potential costs and
            appropriations necessary to carry out the functions described
            in subsection (d).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Functions.--The Center of Excellence shall--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) review the availability of leak detection
            technology for hazardous liquid pipelines that can detect leaks
            at very low volumes;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) conduct research into the operational,
            economic, and technical feasibility of incorporating
            technologies reviewed under paragraph (1) into pipeline
            systems;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) be a repository of information on best
            practices relating to, and expertise on, hazardous liquid leak
            detection; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) perform other duties, as determined by the
            Secretary, to improve leak detection for hazardous liquid
            pipelines.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (e) Joint Operation With Educational Institution.--The
    Secretary shall enter into an agreement with an institution of higher
    education described in subsection (b)(3)--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) to provide for joint operation of the Center
            of Excellence; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) to provide necessary administrative services
            for the Center of Excellence.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (f) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
    which the Center of Excellence is established under subsection (a), the
    Center of Excellence shall submit to the appropriate committees of
    Congress a report on the findings of the Center of Excellence with
    respect to leak detection technologies that can detect leaks at very
    low volumes.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 503. OPERATOR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Not later than 7 calendar days after the date on which an
    operator of a pipeline facility (as defined in section 60101(a) of
    title 49, United States Code) files a petition for relief under chapter
    7 or 11 of title 11, United States Code, the operator shall notify the
    Secretary of that filing.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 504. DATA AND TRANSPARENCY.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
    Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary
    shall publish, on a publicly accessible website, summary data
    pertaining to pipeline leaks required to be reported by operators in
    the annual reports submitted to the Administration by the
    operators.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 505. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(referred to
            in this section as the `Administration')'' after ``Safety
            Administration'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by
            inserting ``(referred to in this section as the
            `Administrator'),'' after ``shall be the Administrator'';
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(h) Office of Public Engagement.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Appropriate committees of
                    congress.--The term `appropriate committees of
                    Congress' has the meaning given the term in section 2
                    of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Director.--The term `Director' means
                    the Director of the Office.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Office.--The term `Office' means the
                    Office of Public Engagement of the Administration
                    established under paragraph (2).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after
            the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator
            shall establish within the Administration an office, to be
            known as the `Office of Public Engagement'.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a
            Director, who shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) report to the Associate
                    Administrator for Pipeline Safety; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) be responsible for the discharge of
                    the functions and duties of the Office.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Employees.--The Director shall--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) appoint and assign the duties of
                    employees of the Office; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) prioritize the hiring of individuals
                    who have experience in community engagement, including
                    working with the public, State, local and Tribal
                    governments, and pipeline safety public interest
                    groups.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(5) Community liaisons.--The Director shall
            appoint agency community liaison personnel employed as of the
            date on which the Office is established as employees of the
            Office.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(6) Duties and functions of the office.--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Coordination of assistance.--The
                    Director shall coordinate the provision of technical
                    assistance and educational assistance to the public
                    with respect to the authorities exercised by the
                    Administration.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Public engagement.--The Director
                    shall coordinate active and ongoing engagement with the
                    public with respect to the authority and activities of
                    the Administration, including by--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) conducting--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) outreach, which may
                                    include public postings, signage at
                                    relevant physical locations, newspaper
                                    publications, utility bill inserts,
                                    mailings, phone calls, canvassing, and
                                    door hangers, to communities using
                                    varied media; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) when appropriate,
                                    meetings;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) assisting individuals in
                            resolving pipeline safety inquiries;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) making publicly available,
                            and disseminating, information on the manner in
                            which members of the public may file inquiries
                            relating to pipeline safety;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) assisting individuals in
                            contacting, as necessary, the Federal Energy
                            Regulatory Commission, State agencies, and
                            other agencies, in order to appropriately
                            direct public inquiries that are not within the
                            jurisdiction of the Administration to the
                            relevant agency; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(v) preparing, and making
                            publicly available in accessible formats,
                            educational materials about the Administration,
                            the responsibilities of the Administration, and
                            how those responsibilities interact with
                            entities under the jurisdiction of the
                            Administration and other Federal, State, local,
                            or Tribal government agencies.''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 506. CLARIFICATION OF CONFIRMED DISCOVERY.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) review--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) the definition of confirmed discovery
                    used by the Administration for purposes of the
                    reporting of accidents and incidents to the National
                    Response Center and the Secretary (including any
                    regulations promulgated under section 9 of the Pipeline
                    Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of
                    2011 (49 U.S.C. 60117 note; Public Law 112-90)),
                    establishing communication with first responders and
                    other relevant public officials as described in section
                    60102(r)(1) of title 49, United States Code, providing
                    immediate notice to the National Response Center as
                    described in section 191.5 and 195.52 of title 49, Code
                    of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations),
                    and any other relevant purposes; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) for each initial notice of an accident
                    or incident submitted to the National Response Center
                    telephonically or electronically under section 191.5 or
                    195.52 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, during
                    the 5-year period ending on the date of enactment of
                    this Act--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) the time between the first
                            signs of an accident or incident and the time
                            at which operators determined that the accident
                            or incident met the definition of confirmed
                            discovery;</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) the methods that operators
                            used to confirm that an accident or incident
                            met that definition; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (iii) the time that it took for
                            operators to report an accident or incident
                            after confirming that the accident or incident
                            met that definition; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) submit to the appropriate committees of
            Congress a report that provides the findings of the review
            under paragraph (1), including the details described in
            subparagraph (B) of that paragraph for each accident or
            incident.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Civil Penalty Considerations.--Section 60122(b)(1) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at
            the end;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at
            the end; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) the timeliness of emergency response
                    notification, including by reducing penalties for cases
                    in which incidents are reported within 10 minutes of a
                    suspected release; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) advanced coordination with State,
                    local, Tribal, and territorial governmental entities
                    resulting in the relevant and timely use of existing
                    public alert notification systems; and''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 507. PUBLIC ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE
                  FACILITIES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Public Alert Notification System.--The Secretary, in
    consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
    Agency, shall develop voluntary guidance to assist owners and operators
    of pipeline facilities with coordinating with State, local, Tribal, and
    territorial governmental entities to make use of existing public alert
    notification systems, such as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning
    System of the Federal Emergency Management Agency described in section
    526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o) to issue
    emergency alerts and appropriate guidance via mobile phones, radio, or
    television in a locally targeted area in the event of a pipeline
    emergency..</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Emergency Response Plans.--Any procedures established
    by an operator under subsection (a) shall be incorporated into the
    emergency response plan maintained by the operator under section
    60102(d)(5) of title 49, United States Code.</DELETED>

                   <DELETED>TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON PHMSA OPERATION, PROCUREMENT, OR
                  CONTRACTING ACTION WITH RESPECT TO COVERED UNMANNED
                  AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 448 of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>``Sec. 44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or
                  contracting action with respect to covered unmanned
                  aircraft systems</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Administration.--The term `Administration'
            means the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
            Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Administrator.--The term `Administrator'
            means the Administrator of the Administration.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) Covered foreign country.--The term `covered
            foreign country' means any of the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) The People's Republic of
                    China.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) The Russian Federation.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) The Islamic Republic of
                    Iran.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(D) The Democratic People's Republic of
                    Korea.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(E) The Bolivarian Republic of
                    Venezuela.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(F) The Republic of Cuba.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(4) Covered unmanned aircraft system.--The term
            `covered unmanned aircraft system' means an unmanned aircraft
            system that is, or is owned by an entity that is--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) included on the Consolidated
                    Screening List or Entity List as designated by the
                    Secretary of Commerce;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) domiciled in a covered foreign
                    country; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) subject to influence or control by
                    the government of a covered foreign country.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(b) Restrictions.--Subject to subsection (c), the
    Administrator shall not--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) operate a covered unmanned aircraft system;
            or</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) enter into, extend, or renew a contract--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) for the procurement of a covered
                    unmanned aircraft system; or</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) with an entity that operates (as
                    determined by the Secretary of Transportation) a
                    covered unmanned aircraft system in the performance of
                    any Administration contract.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(c) Exemption.--The restrictions under subsection (b)
    shall not apply if the operation, procurement, or contracting action is
    for the purpose of intelligence, electronic warfare, and information
    warfare operations, testing, analysis, and training.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(d) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive the
    restrictions under subsection (b) on a case by case basis by
    certifying, in writing, to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the
    appropriate committees of Congress that the operation, procurement, or
    contracting action is required in the public interest of the United
    States.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(e) Replacement of Covered Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--
    Subject to available appropriations, not later than 1 year after the
    date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall replace any
    covered unmanned aircraft system that is owned or operated by the
    Administration as of that date of enactment with an unmanned aircraft
    system manufactured in the United States or an allied country (as
    defined in section 2350f(d) of title 10).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after
    the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit
    to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes--
    </DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) a description of the changes the
            Administration has made to its operation, procurement, and
            contracting processes to ensure that the Administration does
            not acquire any covered unmanned aircraft system;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) the number of covered unmanned aircraft
            systems that needed to be replaced in accordance with
            subsection (e), including--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) an explanation of the purposes for
                    which such covered unmanned aircraft systems were
                    used;</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) a description of the unmanned
                    aircraft systems that the Administrator will purchase
                    to replace such covered unmanned aircraft systems;
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) the cost to purchase the unmanned
                    aircraft systems described in subparagraph (B);
                    and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(3) any other information determined appropriate
            by the Administrator.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 448 of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
    relating to section 44814 the following:</DELETED>

    <DELETED>``44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or
                                contracting action with respect to covered
                                unmanned aircraft systems.''.

    <DELETED>SEC. 602. NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE
                  SAFETY AND MODERNIZATION GRANTS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Secretary may provide grants to
    assist publicly owned natural gas distribution pipeline systems in
    repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing pipeline systems to improve
    pipeline safety.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible to receive a
    grant under this section is a utility that--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) is owned by a community or municipality;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) is not a for-profit entity.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant
    under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
    time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
    may require, including a description of the projects or activities
    proposed to be funded by the grant.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) Uses.--A grant provided under this section may be
    used--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) to repair, rehabilitate, or replace a natural
            gas distribution pipeline system or portions of a natural gas
            distribution pipeline system; or</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) to acquire equipment for use in a repair,
            rehabilitation, or replacement project under paragraph
            (1).</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (e) Considerations.--The Secretary shall establish
    procedures for awarding grants under this section that take into
    consideration--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) the risk profile of the existing pipeline
            system, including pipe material, operated by the applicant;
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) supporting communities that have limited
            ability to invest in the infrastructure of the community
            through increased utility rates due to economic conditions,
            including high poverty rates, high unemployment, or low median
            wages.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (f) Limitations.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Awards to a single utility.--The Secretary may
            not award more than 12.5 percent of the total amount made
            available to carry out this section to a single eligible entity
            described in subsection (b).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 2
            percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection (h)(1) for
            a fiscal year may be used by the Secretary for the
            administrative costs of carrying out this section.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) Cost sharing.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Except as provided in
                    subparagraph (B), any grant provided by the Secretary
                    under this section shall not represent more than 50
                    percent of the actual total cost of the repair,
                    rehabilitation, or replacement project for which the
                    grant is provided.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) Exception.--In the case of a grant
                    under this section for a project in an area with a
                    population of less than 50,000 residents, based on the
                    most recent decennial census, the Secretary may
                    increase the grant share of the cost of the project
                    under subparagraph (A) to not more than 80
                    percent.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (g) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 3 days
    before the date on which the Secretary publishes the selection of
    projects and activities for which a grant will be provided under this
    section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
    Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
    Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a
    written notice that includes--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) a list of all applications reviewed by the
            Secretary as part of the selection process; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) a report that describes each project or
            activity for which a grant will be provided under this section
            for that round of selection.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (h) Funding.--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
            authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
            this section $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
            2030, to remain available until expended.</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) Requirement.--Any amounts used to carry out
            this section--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) shall be derived from general
                    revenues; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) shall not be derived from user fees
                    collected under section 60301.</DELETED>

    SEC. 603. ISSUES AFFECTING FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES.

    <DELETED>    (a) Indian and Tribal Definitions.--Section 60101 of title
    49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
    following:</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    ``(c) Indian and Tribal Definitions.--In this
    chapter:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Indian land.--The term `Indian land' has the
            meaning given the term `Indian lands' in section 4 of the
            Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Indian Tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has
            the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
            Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
            5304).''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Safety Standards and Reports.--Section 60102 of title
    49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking
            ``located,'' and inserting ``located and any affected Indian
            Tribe'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
                    in the first sentence, by striking ``and an appropriate
                    State official as determined by the Secretary'' and
                    inserting ``, an appropriate State official (as
                    determined by the Secretary), and an appropriate Tribal
                    official (as determined by the Secretary) from any
                    affected Indian Tribe'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter
                    preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or, with
                    respect to an affected Indian Tribe, on affected Indian
                    land,'' after ``location in the State'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) in subparagraph (B), by
                            inserting ``and Tribal officials from any
                            affected Indian Tribe'' after ``State and local
                            authorities''; and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) in subparagraph (C), by
                            inserting ``and Tribal officials from any
                            affected Indian Tribe'' after ``State and local
                            officials''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (D) in paragraph (6)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by inserting ``or an affected
                            Indian Tribe'' after ``inform a State'';
                            and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by inserting ``or on affected
                            Indian land'' before the period at the
                            end;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (h)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``the
                    appropriate Tribe'' and inserting ``any affected Indian
                    Tribe with respect to the location''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``or
                    Tribal official if no such commission or committee
                    exists'' before the semicolon at the end; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) in subsection (r)(1), in the matter preceding
            subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including Tribal officials''
            after ``public officials''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (c) Inspection and Maintenance.--Section 60108(c)(6)(C) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by
    inserting ``and Tribal officials from any affected Indian Tribe'' after
    ``to the Secretary''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (d) High-density Population Areas and Environmentally
    Sensitive Areas.--Section 60109(e)(7) of title 49, United States Code,
    is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
    following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(C) Deadlines.--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) Emergency response plan.--
                            Not later than 2 years after the date of
                            enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025,
                            each operator of a distribution system shall
                            make available to the Secretary or the relevant
                            State authority with a certification in effect
                            under section 60105, as applicable, and to any
                            affected Indian Tribe, a copy of the emergency
                            response plan under section
                            60102(d)(5).</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) Other documents.--Not later
                            than 2 years after the date of enactment of the
                            PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, each operator of a
                            distribution system shall make available to the
                            Secretary or the relevant State authority with
                            a certification in effect under section 60105,
                            as applicable, a copy of--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) the distribution
                                    integrity management plan of the
                                    operator; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) the procedural
                                    manual for operations, maintenance, and
                                    emergencies under section
                                    60102(d)(4).</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) Updates.--Not later than
                            60 days after the date of a significant update,
                            as determined by the Secretary, to a plan or
                            manual described in clause (i) or (ii), the
                            operator of the applicable distribution system
                            shall--</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) in the case of an
                                    emergency response plan described in
                                    clause (i), make available to the
                                    Secretary or make available for
                                    inspection to the relevant State
                                    authority described in that clause (if
                                    applicable), and make available for
                                    inspection to any affected Indian
                                    Tribe, an updated copy of the emergency
                                    response plan; and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) in the case of a
                                    plan or manual described in clause
                                    (ii), make available to the Secretary
                                    or make available for inspection to the
                                    relevant State authority described in
                                    that clause (if applicable) an updated
                                    copy of the applicable plan or
                                    manual.</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iv) Applicability of foia.--
                            Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
                            to authorize the disclosure of any information
                            that is exempt from disclosure under section
                            552(b) of title 5.''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (e) Pipeline Facilities Hazardous to Life and Property.--
    Section 60112(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the
    second sentence, by inserting ``and a Tribal official from any affected
    Indian Tribe'' after ``affected local officials''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (f) Technical Safety Standards Committees.--Section
    60115(b)(3)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking
    ``and of'' and inserting ``, Indian Tribes, and''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (g) Public Education Programs.--Section 60116(b) of title
    49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Not later
            than 12 months after the date of enactment of the Pipeline
            Safety Improvement Act of 2002'' and inserting ``Not later than
            1 year after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act
            of 2025''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in the second sentence, by inserting
            ``affected Indian Tribes,'' after ``advise''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (h) Administrative.--Section 60117 of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``and an
            appropriate Tribal official from any affected Indian Tribe''
            after ``is located'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (i)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting
                    ``Indian Tribes,'' after ``States,''; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting
                    ``Indian Tribes,'' after ``local
                    governments,'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (l), in the first sentence, by
            inserting ``Indian Tribes,'' after ``local
            government,'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) in subsection (n)(1), by inserting ``Indian
            Tribes,'' after ``the States,''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) in subsection (p)(2)(B), by inserting ``Indian
            Tribes,'' after ``State agencies,''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (i) Judicial Review.--Section 60119(a)(1) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting ``,
    including an Indian Tribe,'' before ``adversely affected''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (j) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(1) of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by
    inserting ``, and affected Indian Tribes,'' after ``local
    governments''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (k) National Pipeline Mapping System.--Section 60132 of
    title 49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``State and
            local'' and inserting ``State, local, and Tribal'';
            and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by
            striking ``State and local'' and inserting ``State, local, and
            Tribal''.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (l) Coordination of Environmental Reviews.--Section 60133
    of title 49, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``and
            local'' and inserting ``, local, and Tribal''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``Tribal,''
            after ``State,''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 604. IDENTIFICATION OF AND JUSTIFICATION FOR
                  REDACTIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    If the Administration redacts any portion of a document
    produced to another person, the Administration shall cite a specific
    statute authorizing the withholding of the information
    redacted.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 605. FEES FOR LOAN GUARANTEES.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Section 116(d) of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (15
    U.S.C. 720n(d)) is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``(1) The Secretary'' and
                    inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Loan terms.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary'';
                    and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (A) (as so
                    designated), in the second sentence, by striking ``The
                    term'' and inserting the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Duration.--The term''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) An
            eligible'' and inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(2) Fees.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) Administrative expenses.--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding
                            any other provision of law, the Secretary shall
                            charge, and collect on or after the date of the
                            financial close of an obligation, a fee for a
                            guarantee in an amount that the Secretary
                            determines is sufficient to cover applicable
                            administrative expenses (including any costs
                            associated with third-party consultants engaged
                            by the Secretary).</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(ii) Availability.--Fees
                            collected under this paragraph shall--
                            </DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(I) be deposited by the
                                    Secretary into the Treasury;
                                    and</DELETED>
                                    <DELETED>    ``(II) remain available to
                                    the Secretary, without further
                                    appropriation, until expended to cover
                                    applicable administrative expenses
                                    described in clause (i).</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    ``(iii) Reduction in fee amount.--
                            Notwithstanding clause (i), and subject to the
                            availability of appropriations, the Secretary
                            may reduce the amount of a fee for a guarantee
                            under this subparagraph.</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Debt obligations.--An
                    eligible''.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 606. IMPROVING PIPELINE CYBERSECURITY.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
    this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish in the
    Federal Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking proceeding
    entitled ``Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management'' (Docket Number
    TSA-2022-0001; Regulation Identifier Number 1652-AA74) relating to the
    cybersecurity of pipelines.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>SEC. 607. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.</DELETED>

    <DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--Section 60101(a) of title 49, United
    States Code (as amended by section 212(b)), is amended--</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
            striking ``chapter--'' and inserting ``chapter:'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (2) in each of paragraphs (1) through (16), (18),
            (19), (20), (22) (23), (25), and (27), by striking the
            semicolon at the end of the paragraph and inserting a
            period;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking the paragraph designation
                    and all that follows through ``(A) means'' in
                    subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(1) Existing liquefied natural gas facility.--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `existing
                    liquefied natural gas facility' means'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking
                    ``; but'' and inserting a period; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``(B) does not''
                            and inserting the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `existing
                    liquefied natural gas facility' does not'';
                    and</DELETED>
                            <DELETED>    (ii) by inserting ``described in
                            subparagraph (A)'' after
                            ``approval'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (14)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking the paragraph designation
                    and all that follows through ``(A) means'' in
                    subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(14) Liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.--
            </DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `liquefied
                    natural gas pipeline facility' means'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``;
                    but'' and inserting a period; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B)
                    does not'' and inserting the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `liquefied
                    natural gas pipeline facility' does not'';</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (5) in paragraph (24) (relating to the term
            ``Secretary''), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
            period;</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (6) in paragraph (27)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by striking the paragraph designation
                    and all that follows through ``(A) means'' in
                    subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    ``(27) Transporting hazardous liquid.--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `transporting
                    hazardous liquid' means'';</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking
                    ``; but'' and inserting a period; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B)
                    does not'' and inserting the following:</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting
                    hazardous liquid' does not''; and</DELETED>
            <DELETED>    (7) in each of paragraphs (2) through (13), (15),
            (16), (18), (19), (20), (22) through (25), and (28)--</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (A) by inserting ``The term'' after the
                    paragraph designation; and</DELETED>
                    <DELETED>    (B) by inserting a paragraph heading, the
                    text of which comprises the term defined in the
                    paragraph.</DELETED>
    <DELETED>    (b) Report.--Section 60102(b) of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended by striking paragraph (7).</DELETED>

    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

        (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pipeline
    Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in
    the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of 2025'' or the ``PIPELINE
    Safety Act of 2025''.
        (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
    follows:

    Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
    Sec. 2. Definitions.

                           TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATIONS

    Sec. 101. Gas and hazardous liquid.
    Sec. 102. Operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
                                Safety Administration.
    Sec. 103. Other programs.

                     TITLE II--MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY

    Sec. 201. Inspection of in-service breakout tanks.
    Sec. 202. Risk assessment obligations.
    Sec. 203. Timely incorporation by reference.
    Sec. 204. Report on updates to the National Pipeline Mapping System.
    Sec. 205. Pipeline safety enhancement programs.
    Sec. 206. Technical safety standards committees.
    Sec. 207. Enforcement procedures.
    Sec. 208. Civil penalties.
    Sec. 209. Improving whistleblower protections.
    Sec. 210. Assessment of composite materials.
    Sec. 211. Elements and evaluation of State damage prevention programs.
    Sec. 212. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system.
    Sec. 213. Transporting gas.
    Sec. 214. Inspection and management of rights-of-way.
    Sec. 215. Geological hazards.
    Sec. 216. Alternative technologies.
    Sec. 217. Fire shutoff valves.
    Sec. 218. Exemption from post-accident testing.
    Sec. 219. Maximum allowable operating pressure records.
    Sec. 220. Pipeline operating status.
    Sec. 221. Potential impact radius.
    Sec. 222. Effects of weather on natural gas pipelines.
    Sec. 223. Aldyl-A pipelines.
    Sec. 224. Improvements to pipeline safety integrity management
                                programs.
    Sec. 225. Nonemergency waivers by the Secretary.

                 TITLE III--STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES

    Sec. 301. Regulatory updates.
    Sec. 302. State use of integrated inspections.
    Sec. 303. Optimizing pipeline safety inspections.
    Sec. 304. Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement prior to rulemaking
                                activities.

                  TITLE IV--IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES

    Sec. 401. Studies of hydrogen pipeline transportation.
    Sec. 402. Safety of carbon dioxide pipelines.
    Sec. 403. Reporting of blended products.

             TITLE V--IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND TRANSPARENCY

    Sec. 501. Bitumen oil response plan review.
    Sec. 502. National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline
                                Leak Detection.
    Sec. 503. Operator financial disclosure.
    Sec. 504. Data and transparency.
    Sec. 505. Office of Public Engagement.
    Sec. 506. Clarification of confirmed discovery.
    Sec. 507. Public alert notification system for pipeline facilities.

                            TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS

    Sec. 601. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or contracting
                                action with respect to covered unmanned
                                aircraft systems.
    Sec. 602. Natural gas distribution pipeline infrastructure safety and
                                modernization grants.
    Sec. 603. Issues affecting federally recognized Indian Tribes.
    Sec. 604. Identification of and justification for redactions.
    Sec. 605. Fees for loan guarantees.
    Sec. 606. Improving pipeline cybersecurity.
    Sec. 607. Technical corrections.

    SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

        In this Act:
                (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
            Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
                (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
            Administrator of the Administration.
                (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
            ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                        (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                    Transportation of the Senate;
                        (B) the Committee on Transportation and
                    Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
                        (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
                    House of Representatives.
                (4) Document produced to another person.--The term
            ``document produced to another person'' means a document
            produced in response to a request under section 552 of title 5,
            United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of
            Information Act), a submission to a Federal, State, or Tribal
            court, information made available on a website, and a document
            transmitted to Congress.
                (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
            of Transportation.

                           TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATIONS

    SEC. 101. GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID.

        Section 60125(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in paragraph (1)--
                        (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$156,400,000 for fiscal year 2021''
                            and inserting ``$185,000,000 for fiscal year
                            2026''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii), by striking
                            ``$63,000,000'' and inserting ``$83,250,000'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$158,500,000 for fiscal year 2022''
                            and inserting ``$190,365,000 for fiscal year
                            2027''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                        (I) by striking ``$66,000,000'' and
                                    inserting ``$85,660,000''; and
                                        (II) by striking ``and'' at the
                                    end;
                        (C) in subparagraph (C)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$162,700,000 for fiscal year 2023''
                            and inserting ``$195,886,000 for fiscal year
                            2028''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                        (I) by striking ``$69,000,000'' and
                                    inserting ``$88,150,000''; and
                                        (II) by striking the period at the
                                    end and inserting a semicolon; and
                        (D) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(D) $201,556,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
                                ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out
                            section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement
                            Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law
                            107-355); and
                                ``(ii) $90,700,000 shall be used for making
                            grants; and
                        ``(E) $207,412,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which--
                                ``(i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out
                            section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement
                            Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law
                            107-355); and
                                ``(ii) $93,340,000 shall be used for making
                            grants.'';
                (2) in paragraph (2)--
                        (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$27,000,000 for fiscal year 2021''
                            and inserting ``$30,000,000 for fiscal year
                            2026''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii), by striking
                            ``$11,000,000'' and inserting ``$13,500,000'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$27,650,000 for fiscal year 2022''
                            and inserting ``$31,000,000 for fiscal year
                            2027''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                        (I) by striking ``$12,000,000'' and
                                    inserting ``$13,950,000''; and
                                        (II) by striking ``and'' at the
                                    end;
                        (C) in subparagraph (C)--
                                (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
                            striking ``$28,700,000 for fiscal year 2023''
                            and inserting ``$32,000,000 for fiscal year
                            2028''; and
                                (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                        (I) by striking ``$13,000,000'' and
                                    inserting ``$14,400,000''; and
                                        (II) by striking the period at the
                                    end and inserting a semicolon; and
                        (D) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(D) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
                                ``(i) $3,000,000 shall be used to carry out
                            section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement
                            Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law
                            107-355); and
                                ``(ii) $14,850,000 shall be used for making
                            grants; and
                        ``(E) 34,000,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which--
                                ``(i) $3,000,000 shall be used to carry out
                            section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement
                            Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law
                            107-355); and
                                ``(ii) $15,300,000 shall be used for making
                            grants.''; and
                (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$8,000,000 for each of
            fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting ``$7,000,000 for
            each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030''.

    SEC. 102. OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
                  SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

        There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the
    necessary operational expenses of the Administration--
                (1) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                (2) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                (3) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
                (4) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
                (5) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.

    SEC. 103. OTHER PROGRAMS.

        (a) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(2) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by striking ``$10,000,000 for each of
    fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out this subsection'' and
    inserting ``to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
    years 2026 through 2030''.
        (b) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.--Section
    60130 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (c)--
                        (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 2(b) of
                    the PIPES Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-183; 130 Stat.
                    515), the Secretary shall use $2,000,000 for each of
                    fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out this
                    section.'' and inserting the following: ``section
                    60125(a)(1), the Secretary shall use to carry out this
                    section--
                        ``(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                        ``(B) $2,750,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                        ``(C) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
                        ``(D) $3,250,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
                        ``(E) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.''; and
                        (B) in paragraph (2)--
                                (i) by striking ``$1,000,000''; and
                                (ii) by striking ``section.'' and inserting
                            the following: ``section--
                        ``(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                        ``(B) $1,250,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                        ``(C) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2028;
                        ``(D) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
                        ``(E) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.'';
                (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
                (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
        ``(d) Deadlines.--
                ``(1) Notice of funding opportunity.--Not later than 60
            days after the date on which funds are made available to carry
            out this section, the Secretary shall publish a notice of
            funding opportunity for the funds.
                ``(2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant
            under this section, an eligible applicant shall submit to the
            Secretary an application--
                        ``(A) in such form and containing such information
                    as the Secretary considers to be appropriate; and
                        ``(B) by such date as the Secretary may establish,
                    subject to the condition that the date shall be not
                    later than 60 days after the date on which the
                    Secretary publishes the notice of funding opportunity
                    under paragraph (1).
                ``(3) Selection.--Not later than 120 days after the date on
            which the Secretary publishes the notice of funding opportunity
            under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall announce the selection
            by the Secretary of eligible applicants to receive grants in
            accordance with this section.''.
        (c) Damage Prevention Programs.--Section 60134(i) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,500,000 for each of
    fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Such funds shall remain'' and inserting
    ``$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain''.
        (d) Pipeline Integrity Program.--Section 12(f) of the Pipeline
    Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 107-
    355) is amended--
                (1) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and inserting
            ``$2,500,000''; and
                (2) by striking ``the fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and
            inserting ``fiscal years 2026 through 2030''.

                     TITLE II--MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY

    SEC. 201. INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE BREAKOUT TANKS.

        (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Secretary shall revise part 195 of title 49, Code of
    Federal Regulations, to allow for risk-based inspections of in-service
    breakout tanks if the Secretary finds such revisions maintain or
    enhance safety.
        (b) Considerations.--In revising the regulations under subsection
    (a), the Secretary shall consider the American Petroleum Institute
    standard entitled ``Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and
    Reconstruction'', dated November 2014, and numbered API Standard 653
    (Fifth Edition) (or a successor standard).
        (c) Requirements.--In revising the regulations under subsection
    (a), for any in-service breakout tanks that would be internally
    inspected less frequently under the revised regulations than required
    under part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect
    on January 1, 2025), the Secretary shall require operators--
                (1) to visually monitor the external conditions of those
            tanks on a routine basis; and
                (2) to use a secondary containment system designed to
            contain hazardous liquids in the event of a leak.
        (d) Notification.--If the regulations promulgated under subsection
    (a) differ from the American Petroleum Institute standard referred to
    in subsection (b), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
    committees of Congress a notification explaining the reasons for the
    differences not later than 60 days after the date on which the
    regulations are published in the Federal Register.

    SEC. 202. RISK ASSESSMENT OBLIGATIONS.

        Section 60102(b)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--
                (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and
            inserting ``; and''; and
                (3) by adding at the end the following:
                                ``(iii) require that an officer or employee
                            of the Department of Transportation with
                            expertise in conducting risk assessments or
                            cost-benefit analyses for pipeline facilities
                            or other modes of transportation attend any
                            meeting in which a committee described in
                            clause (i) is serving as a peer review panel
                            with respect to that risk assessment
                            information.''.

    SEC. 203. TIMELY INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

        Section 60102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
    striking subsection (l) and inserting the following:
        ``(l) Updating Standards.--
                ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 5
            years, the Secretary shall--
                        ``(A) review each industry consensus standard--
                                ``(i) that has been adopted or
                            incorporated, partially or in full, as part of
                            the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program
                            under this chapter;
                                ``(ii) that has been modified by a
                            standards development organization (as defined
                            in section 2(a) of the National Cooperative
                            Research and Production Act of 1993 (15 U.S.C.
                            4301(a))) since being adopted or incorporated;
                            and
                                ``(iii) the modification of which has been
                            published by a standards development
                            organization (as defined in that section); and
                        ``(B) update, as determined necessary by the
                    Secretary, the adoption or incorporation of each
                    industry consensus standard reviewed under subparagraph
                    (A).
                ``(2) List of industry standards.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall maintain a
                    publicly available list of all industry standards
                    considered for adoption or incorporation under this
                    chapter, including--
                                ``(i) the determination of the Secretary
                            with respect to each standard considered; and
                                ``(ii) with respect to each standard not
                            adopted or incorporated in full, the reasoning
                            for not adopting or incorporating that standard
                            in full.
                        ``(B) Availability.--Not later than 30 days after
                    initial completion and each revision of the list under
                    subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish the list
                    on the public website of the Pipeline and Hazardous
                    Materials Safety Administration.
                ``(3) Consideration of industry consensus standards.--In
            prescribing new safety standards under this chapter, the
            Secretary shall consider adopting or incorporating industry
            consensus standards.
                ``(4) Public access.--
                        ``(A) In general.--For all industry consensus
                    standards incorporated or partially incorporated under
                    this chapter on or after the date of enactment of the
                    PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, the Secretary shall
                    publish on the public website of the Pipeline and
                    Hazardous Materials Safety Administration the full text
                    of the standard or a direct link to an external source
                    where the full text is available to the public on a
                    website to view at no cost for the duration of time
                    that the Secretary has the incorporation by reference
                    available for public comment.
                        ``(B) Exception.--If the full text of an industry
                    consensus standard is not published on the public
                    website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
                    Administration or available from that website via a
                    direct link to an external source where the full text
                    is available to the public on a website to view at no
                    cost for the duration of time that the Secretary has
                    the incorporation by reference available for public
                    comment, then the Secretary shall not incorporate or
                    partially incorporate under this chapter that industry
                    consensus standard by reference.
                        ``(C) Previously incorporated standards.--For
                    industry consensus standards incorporated or partially
                    incorporated under this chapter before the date of
                    enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 that are
                    publicly available on a public-facing website at no
                    charge to the public, the Secretary shall publish on
                    the public website of the Pipeline and Hazardous
                    Materials Safety Administration the full text of the
                    standard or a direct link to an external source where
                    the full text is available to the public on a
                    website.''.

    SEC. 204. REPORT ON UPDATES TO THE NATIONAL PIPELINE MAPPING SYSTEM.

        (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
    to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the management of
    the National Pipeline Mapping System by the Administration.
        (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall
    describe--
                (1) how and when the Administration updates the high
            consequence area data contained in the National Pipeline
            Mapping System;
                (2) what sources of scientific data are used for those
            updates; and
                (3) how those data are validated for accuracy.
        (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to require that
    the information submitted under section 60132(a) of title 49, United
    States Code, has a spatial accuracy within a radius of 50 feet from the
    location of the facility (+/- 50 feet).

    SEC. 205. PIPELINE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS.

        Section 60142 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``3 years after the
            date of enactment of this section'' and inserting ``5 years
            after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of
            2025'';
                (2) in subsection (d)--
                        (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or equal to''
                    after ``greater than''; and
                        (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
                    following:
                ``(2) Determination.--
                        ``(A) In general.--To accomplish the purpose of a
                    testing program, the Secretary may issue an order
                    waiving compliance with any part of an applicable
                    standard prescribed under this chapter if the condition
                    described in paragraph (1) is met, as determined by the
                    Secretary.
                        ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not require
                    testing program applicants to use the nonemergency
                    waiver process, or to otherwise meet the requirements
                    of the nonemergency waiver process, established under
                    section 60118(c)(1).'';
                (3) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
        ``(h) Authority to Terminate Program.--
                ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall immediately
            terminate a testing program under subsection (a) if
            continuation of the testing program would not be consistent
            with the goals and objectives of this chapter.
                ``(2) Notification.--Not later than 10 days after the
            termination of a testing program under paragraph (1), the
            Secretary shall notify the relevant pipeline operators of how
            they can address any deficiencies identified by the Secretary.
                ``(3) Reinstatement.--If the Secretary determines that the
            deficiencies identified under paragraph (2) are addressed, the
            Secretary shall reinstate the testing program.''; and
                (4) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(m) Approval Process.--Establishment of a testing program under
    subsection (a) shall not be considered a major Federal action (as
    defined in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    (42 U.S.C. 4336e)) for purposes of that Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
    seq.).''.

    SEC. 206. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.

        (a) Notification to Congress.--Section 60115(c)(2) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended, in the fifth sentence, by inserting
    ``and notify the appropriate committees of Congress (as defined in
    section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025)'' after ``the Secretary
    shall publish the reasons''.
        (b) Frequency of Meetings.--Section 60115(e) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended by striking ``up to 4'' and inserting ``2''.

    SEC. 207. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

        (a) In General.--Section 60117(b)(1) of title 49, United States
    Code, is amended--
                (1) in subparagraph (B)--
                        (A) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' at the end;
                        (B) in clause (ii), by adding ``or'' after the
                    semicolon at the end; and
                        (C) by adding at the end the following:
                                ``(iii) to allow a recipient of a warning
                            under section 190.205 of title 49, Code of
                            Federal Regulations (or a successor
                            regulation), to discuss claims made in the
                            warning with relevant staff;'';
                (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                (3) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
            and inserting a semicolon; and
                (4) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(K) for civil penalties over $1,000,000, adjusted
                    each year for inflation, allow the respondent to
                    request a formal hearing in accordance with section 554
                    of title 5, conducted by an administrative law judge;
                    and
                        ``(L) provide a written response to a request for
                    the withdrawal or modification of a written warning
                    issued under this section.''.
        (b) Hearings.--Section 60117(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
                ``(2) Hearing requirements.--A hearing under this section
            shall--
                        ``(A) be noticed to the public on the website of
                    the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
                    Administration on its own page titled `Upcoming
                    Enforcement Hearings';
                        ``(B) provide an orderly and timely process, as
                    determined by the Secretary;
                        ``(C) in the case of a formal hearing, be open to
                    the public.''.
        (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Secretary shall update the regulations prescribing
    protocols for all hearings under section 60117 of title 49, United
    States Code.
        (d) Application.--Section 60117(b)(1)(K) of title 49, United States
    Code (as added by subsection (a)(4)) shall apply only to civil
    penalties for violations that occur on or after the date of enactment
    of this Act.

    SEC. 208. CIVIL PENALTIES.

        Section 60122(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``$200,000'' and
            inserting ``$400,000''; and
                (2) in the third sentence, by striking ``$2,000,000'' and
            inserting ``$4,000,000''.

    SEC. 209. IMPROVING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.

        Section 60129 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                        (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the
                    end;
                        (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``such a
                    person.'' and inserting ``a person described in
                    subparagraph (A); or''; and
                        (C) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(C) an officer, employee, or agent of a person
                    described in subparagraph (A).''; and
                (2) in subsection (b)(3)(B)--
                        (A) in clause (ii), by inserting ``with interest''
                    after ``back pay''; and
                        (B) in clause (iii), by inserting ``, including
                    compensation for any special damages sustained as a
                    result of the discrimination'' after ``compensatory
                    damages to the complainant''.

    SEC. 210. ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

        (a) In General.--The Administrator shall gather and assess any
    studies, data, standards, and approved applications available as of the
    date of enactment of this Act that address the safety of composite
    materials to support the safe transportation of--
                (1) natural gas;
                (2) hazardous liquids;
                (3) new fuels, such as hydrogen and hydrogen blended with
            natural gas; and
                (4) new fluids, such as carbon dioxide.
        (b) Deadline.--The assessment under subsection (a) shall be
    completed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
    Act.
        (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing the assessment
    under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate
    committees of Congress a report describing the conclusions of the
    assessment.
        (d) Rulemaking.--
                (1) In general.--If the Administrator concludes, based on
            the assessment under subsection (a), that composite materials
            provide, at a minimum, an equivalent level of safety as other
            pipelines under the jurisdiction of the Administration, the
            Administrator shall promulgate regulations, not later than 1
            year after the date on which the report under subsection (c) is
            submitted, that allow for the use of composite materials for
            the transportation of new fuels.
                (2) Incorporation of existing standards.--The regulations
            promulgated under paragraph (1) may include adoption or
            incorporation by reference of existing industry consensus
            standards.

    SEC. 211. ELEMENTS AND EVALUATION OF STATE DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

        (a) In General.--Section 60134 of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended--
                (1) in subsection (b)--
                        (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
                    ``State'' before ``Damage'';
                        (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as
                    subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively;
                        (C) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
                    redesignated), by striking ``An'' and inserting the
                    following:
                ``(1) In general.--An'';
                        (D) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)--
                                (i) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through
                            (I) appropriately; and
                                (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(J) A State one-call program that includes, or is
                    making substantial progress toward including, the one-
                    call leading practices described in paragraph (2).'';
                    and
                        (E) by adding at the end the following:
                ``(2) One-call leading practices.--The one-call leading
            practices referred to in paragraph (1)(J) are the following:
                        ``(A) Restricting the size or scope of a one-call
                    ticket for standard locate requests (which may include
                    process exceptions for special large project tickets).
                        ``(B) Restricting the longevity of a one-call
                    ticket for standard locate requests (which may include
                    process exceptions for special large project tickets).
                        ``(C) Specifying tolerance (soft-dig only) zone
                    horizontal dimensions.
                        ``(D) Specifying tolerance zone requirements.
                        ``(E) Specifying emergency excavation notification
                    requirements.
                        ``(F) Specifying the responsibilities of
                    excavators, including the reporting of damages or
                    suspected damages.
                        ``(G) Defining who is an excavator and what is
                    considered excavation.
                        ``(H) Requiring the use of white-lining.
                        ``(I) Requiring a positive response before
                    excavation begins, such as a utility, municipality, or
                    other entity that places the relevant marks positively
                    responding to the notification center, and the
                    excavator checking for that positive response before
                    beginning excavation.
                        ``(J) Requiring that newly installed underground
                    facilities be locatable with commercially available
                    technology.
                        ``(K) Requiring the marking of sewer lines and
                    laterals.
                        ``(L) Specifying the qualifications of, and
                    requirements for, those excavators performing
                    trenchless excavation activities that are not subject
                    to pipeline construction requirements under part 192 or
                    195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or
                    successor regulations).''; and
                (2) in subsection (c)--
                        (A) by striking ``In'' and inserting the following:
                ``(1) In general.--In''; and
                        (B) by adding at the end the following:
                ``(2) Evaluation criteria.--The evaluation criteria used by
            the Secretary for determining the effectiveness of a State
            damage prevention program shall include consideration of
            whether the State, at a minimum--
                        ``(A) engages in effective, active, and meaningful
                    enforcement of State one-call laws, including the
                    efficacy of fines and penalties;
                        ``(B) requires reporting to the local one-call
                    center of excavation damage events that affect
                    pipelines and other underground facilities that are not
                    privately owned, including (to the extent available at
                    the time of the reporting)--
                                ``(i) information about the nature of the
                            incident, including its apparent cause;
                                ``(ii) the organizations involved;
                                ``(iii) the impact to public safety,
                            utility operations, and customer service; and
                                ``(iv) the impact to the environment; and
                        ``(C) limits exemptions to State damage prevention
                    laws.''.
        (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 60114(f) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended by striking ``section 60134(b)(7)'' and
    inserting ``section 60134(b)(1)(G)''.

    SEC. 212. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.

        (a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``Sec. 60144. Voluntary information-sharing system
        ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
                ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
            Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
            Administration.
                ``(2) Governing board.--The term `Governing Board' means
            the governing board established under subsection (d)(1).
                ``(3) Issue analysis team.--The term `Issue Analysis Team'
            means an Issue Analysis Team established under subsection
            (g)(1).
                ``(4) Program manager.--The term `Program Manager' means
            the Program Manager described in subsection (e).
                ``(5) Third-party data manager.--The term `Third-Party Data
            Manager' means the Third-Party Data Manager appointed under
            subsection (f)(1).
                ``(6) VIS.--The term `VIS' means the voluntary information-
            sharing system established under subsection (b)(1).
        ``(b) Establishment.--
                ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
            enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a
            confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing
            system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and
            information in order to improve the safety of gas transmission
            pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, liquefied natural gas
            facilities, underground natural gas storage facilities, and
            hazardous liquid pipelines.
                ``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall be implemented and
            managed in accordance with the report entitled `Pipeline Safety
            Voluntary Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report'
            prepared under section 10 of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C.
            60108 note; Public Law 114-183) by the Voluntary Information
            Sharing System Working Group convened under that section.
                ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the VIS shall be to serve as
            a comprehensive and integrated system--
                        ``(A) to gather, evaluate, and quantify critical
                    pipeline safety data and information; and
                        ``(B) to share recommended remediation measures and
                    lessons learned across the pipeline industry in an
                    efficient and confidential manner.
        ``(c) Governance.--The VIS shall be governed, in accordance with
    this section, by the Governing Board, with support from--
                ``(1) the Program Manager;
                ``(2) the Third-Party Data Manager; and
                ``(3) 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams.
        ``(d) Governing Board.--
                ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
            of enactment of this section, the Administrator, after
            consulting with public, government, and private pipeline safety
            stakeholders, shall establish a governing board for the VIS.
                ``(2) Composition.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be
                    composed of 15 members who shall represent a balanced
                    cross-section of pipeline safety stakeholders, in
                    accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C).
                        ``(B) Representation.--The Governing Board shall be
                    composed of the following members:
                                ``(i) 5 individuals selected from relevant
                            pipeline safety departments, agencies, or
                            instrumentalities of the Federal Government or
                            State or territorial governments, 1 of whom
                            shall be the Administrator (or a designee of
                            the Administrator).
                                ``(ii) 5 individuals selected from the gas
                            or hazardous liquid industries, such as
                            individuals representing or otherwise
                            associated with--
                                        ``(I) operators;
                                        ``(II) trade associations;
                                        ``(III) inspection technology,
                                    coating, or cathodic protection
                                    vendors;
                                        ``(IV) standards development
                                    organizations;
                                        ``(V) research and development
                                    consortia; or
                                        ``(VI) pipeline inspection
                                    organizations.
                                ``(iii) 5 individuals selected from general
                            public safety advocacy organizations with
                            relevant pipeline safety expertise, including--
                                        ``(I) pipeline safety and
                                    environmental public interest groups;
                                        ``(II) public institutions of
                                    higher education with pipeline safety
                                    expertise; and
                                        ``(III) nonprofit employee labor
                                    organizations.
                        ``(C) Requirements.--
                                ``(i) Pipeline industry.--At least 1 member
                            of the Governing Board appointed under
                            subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be a representative
                            of the pipeline industry.
                                ``(ii) Pipeline safety public interest
                            groups.--At least 1 member of the Governing
                            Board appointed under subparagraph (B)(iii)
                            shall be a representative of a pipeline safety
                            public interest group.
                ``(3) Terms.--
                        ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
                    subparagraph (B), each member of the Governing Board
                    shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
                        ``(B) Initial members.--In appointing the initial
                    members of the Governing Board, the Administrator shall
                    appoint members to terms of 1, 2, or 3 years to ensure
                    that each year thereafter--
                                ``(i) the terms of 5 members will expire;
                            and
                                ``(ii) the term of not less than 1 and not
                            more than 2 members described in each of
                            clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (2)(B)
                            will expire.
                        ``(C) Reappointment.--A member or former member of
                    the Governing Board appointed under clause (i) or (ii)
                    of paragraph (2)(B) may be reappointed, but may only
                    serve for a total of 3 terms.
                ``(4) Co-chairs.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be co-
                    chaired by--
                                ``(i) the Administrator (or a designee of
                            the Administrator);
                                ``(ii) a representative of the pipeline
                            industry appointed under paragraph (2)(B)(ii),
                            who shall be appointed co-chair by the
                            Administrator, with the advice and consent of
                            the Governing Board; and
                                ``(iii) a representative of a pipeline
                            safety public interest group, who shall be
                            appointed co-chair by the Administrator, with
                            the advice and consent of the Governing Board.
                        ``(B) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The co-chairs
                    shall be jointly responsible for organizing and
                    conducting meetings of the Governing Board.
                ``(5) Authority.--The Governing Board shall have
            authority--
                        ``(A) to govern and provide strategic oversight of
                    the VIS;
                        ``(B) to develop governance documents, including a
                    charter for the Governing Board that shall--
                                ``(i) be made available to the public; and
                                ``(ii) describe--
                                        ``(I) the scope of the authority of
                                    the Governing Board; and
                                        ``(II) the objectives of the
                                    Governing Board;
                        ``(C) to select and appoint the Third-Party Data
                    Manager in accordance with subsection (f);
                        ``(D) to approve the criteria and procedures
                    governing how the Third-Party Data Manager will receive
                    and accept pipeline safety data and information;
                        ``(E) to establish, and appoint members of, Issue
                    Analysis Teams in accordance with subsection (g);
                        ``(F) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
                    identify issues and topics to be analyzed by the Issue
                    Analysis Teams;
                        ``(G) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
                    specify the type of pipeline safety data and
                    information necessary for the Issue Analysis Teams to
                    analyze the issues and topics identified under
                    subparagraph (F);
                        ``(H) to determine the information to be
                    disseminated by the VIS;
                        ``(I) to determine the reports to be disseminated
                    by the VIS;
                        ``(J) to issue, not less frequently than annually,
                    publicly available reports on--
                                ``(i) VIS processes;
                                ``(ii) the membership of the Governing
                            Board;
                                ``(iii) issues and topics being
                            investigated and analyzed by Issue Analysis
                            Teams or the Governing Board;
                                ``(iv) pipeline safety data and information
                            that the VIS has requested for submission to
                            the VIS; and
                                ``(v) safety trends identified by the
                            Administrator, Issue Analysis Teams, or the
                            Governing Board; and
                        ``(K) to perform such other functions that the
                    Governing Board determines are--
                                ``(i) necessary or appropriate; and
                                ``(ii) consistent with the purpose of the
                            VIS described in subsection (b)(3).
                ``(6) Decisionmaking.--
                        ``(A) In general.--Decisions and approvals of the
                    Governing Board shall be made by a super-majority of
                    the members, as described in subparagraph (B).
                        ``(B) Supermajority described.--A supermajority
                    referred to in subparagraph (A) shall consist of not
                    fewer than--
                                ``(i) \2/3\ of the total members of the
                            Governing Board; and
                                ``(ii) 1 additional member of the Governing
                            Board.
        ``(e) Program Manager.--
                ``(1) In general.--The Administrator (or a designee of the
            Administrator) shall serve as the Program Manager for the VIS.
                ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Program Manager shall provide
            the day-to-day program management and administrative support
            for the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party Data
            Manager.
        ``(f) Third-Party Data Manager.--
                ``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall appoint a
            Third-Party Data Manager to provide data management and data
            oversight services for the VIS.
                ``(2) Qualifications.--The Third-Party Data Manager shall
            have expertise in data protection, aggregation, and analytics.
                ``(3) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the services
            described in paragraph (1), the Third-Party Data Manager
            shall--
                        ``(A) receive and secure pipeline safety data and
                    information submitted to the VIS;
                        ``(B) accept pipeline safety data and information
                    submitted to the VIS that meets the criteria and
                    procedures approved by the Governing Board under
                    subsection (d)(5)(D);
                        ``(C) de-identify, store, and manage pipeline
                    safety data and information that is accepted by the
                    VIS;
                        ``(D) collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
                    analyze and aggregate pipeline safety data and
                    information that is accepted by the VIS;
                        ``(E) prepare reports as requested by the Governing
                    Board regarding the type of pipeline safety data and
                    information that is managed by the VIS; and
                        ``(F) make recommendations to the Governing Board
                    regarding the management of pipeline safety data and
                    information by the VIS, as appropriate.
        ``(g) Issue Analysis Teams.--
                ``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall establish, and
            appoint the members of, 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams as the
            Governing Board determines to be appropriate and relevant to
            the pipeline safety work of the VIS.
                ``(2) Qualifications.--An Issue Analysis Team established
            under paragraph (1) shall--
                        ``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), consist of
                    pipeline safety technical and subject matter experts;
                    and
                        ``(B) may include, as appropriate, representatives
                    from public safety advocacy organizations described in
                    subsection (d)(2)(B)(iii).
                ``(3) Responsibilities.--An Issue Analysis Team shall--
                        ``(A) work with the Third-Party Data Manager to
                    aggregate and analyze pipeline safety data and
                    information submitted to the VIS relating to the issues
                    and topics analyzed by the Issue Analysis Team; and
                        ``(B) submit internal reports and recommendations
                    to the Governing Board on those issues and topics.
        ``(h) Application of FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5 (commonly
    referred to as the `Federal Advisory Committee Act') shall not apply
    to--
                ``(1) the VIS;
                ``(2) the Governing Board; or
                ``(3) any Issue Analysis Team.
        ``(i) Participation in the VIS.--
                ``(1) In general.--The submission of data and information
            to the VIS by any person shall be voluntary, with no person
            compelled to participate in, or to submit data or information
            to any person for inclusion in, the VIS.
                ``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall not accept data or
            information relating to an operator if the operator has not
            authorized the submission of that data or information for
            inclusion in the VIS.
                ``(3) Encouraging information sharing.--The Governing Board
            shall encourage the voluntary sharing of pipeline safety data
            and information among--
                        ``(A) operators of gas transmission pipelines, gas
                    distribution pipelines, and hazardous liquid pipelines;
                        ``(B) employees of those operators;
                        ``(C) labor unions representing those employees;
                        ``(D) contractors of the operators described in
                    subparagraph (A);
                        ``(E) in-line inspection service providers;
                        ``(F) non-destructive evaluation experts;
                        ``(G) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
                    Administration; and
                        ``(H) representatives of--
                                ``(i) State pipeline safety agencies;
                                ``(ii) relevant Tribal agencies;
                                ``(iii) pipeline safety public interest
                            groups;
                                ``(iv) manufacturers of gas transmission,
                            gas distribution, and hazardous liquid pipeline
                            infrastructure and equipment; and
                                ``(v) relevant research and academic
                            institutions.
                ``(4) Limitation on inclusion of data and information in
            the vis.--Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the
            Third-Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under
            subsection (f)(3)(B) shall be related to the issues and topics
            identified by the Governing Board for analysis by an Issue
            Analysis Team under subsection (d)(5)(F).
                ``(5) Types of data and information included in the vis.--
            Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the Third-
            Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under subsection
            (f)(3)(B) may include--
                        ``(A) pipeline integrity risk analysis information;
                        ``(B) lessons learned from accidents and near
                    misses;
                        ``(C) process improvements;
                        ``(D) technology deployment practices;
                        ``(E) information obtained through VIS pipeline
                    safety surveys of pipeline operator employees, subject
                    to the condition that such surveys are voluntarily
                    agreed to by the pipeline operator;
                        ``(F) pipeline safety data and information which
                    may lead to the identification of pipeline safety
                    risks, as specified by the Governing Board; and
                        ``(G) any other relevant data or information, as
                    determined by the Governing Board.
        ``(j) Confidentiality.--
                ``(1) In general.--To facilitate the sharing of otherwise
            nonpublic pipeline safety data and information with the VIS,
            the data and information accepted, stored, managed, analyzed,
            or produced by the VIS--
                        ``(A) shall be kept confidential by the VIS; and
                        ``(B) except as otherwise provided in this section,
                    is not subject to disclosure by the VIS under any other
                    law.
                ``(2) Prohibition.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), no
            person, including the Program Manager, the Third-Party Data
            Manager, any member of the Governing Board, and any member of
            an Issue Analysis Team, and no Federal, State, local, or Tribal
            agency having or obtaining access to nonpublic information
            accepted, analyzed, stored, managed, or produced by the VIS may
            release or communicate that nonpublic information from the VIS,
            either in an identified or de-identified form, to any person
            who does not have the authority to view VIS data.
                ``(3) Exception.--
                        ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)
                    and (2) and subsections (k) and (l), on approval by the
                    Governing Board under subparagraph (B), the Governing
                    Board or the Administrator may disclose de-identified
                    nonpublic information obtained by the VIS.
                        ``(B) Approval.--Approval to disclose de-identified
                    nonpublic information under subparagraph (A)--
                                ``(i) shall be based on an analysis of the
                            de-identified nonpublic information; and
                                ``(ii) may, in the sole discretion of the
                            Governing Board, consist of any safety findings
                            or recommendations that the Governing Board
                            determines to publish or authorizes the
                            Administrator to publish to improve pipeline
                            safety.
                        ``(C) Public reports.--In issuing public reports
                    under subsection (d)(5)(J), the Governing Board shall
                    approve the disclosure of de-identified nonpublic
                    information obtained by the VIS that the Governing
                    Board determines is necessary to adequately describe
                    and illustrate the issues and topics being investigated
                    and analyzed by Issue Analysis Teams or the Governing
                    Board.
                ``(4) Savings provision.--This subsection does not apply to
            public information that may be submitted to the VIS.
        ``(k) Applicability of FOIA.--
                ``(1) Exemption.--Any nonpublic information that is
            accepted, stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS and
            subsequently obtained by the Secretary or the Administrator
            from the VIS is exempt from the requirements of section 552 of
            title 5.
                ``(2) Applicability.--For purposes of paragraph (1), this
            section shall be considered to be a statute described in
            section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5.
        ``(l) Exclusion of VIS Information in Litigation and Other
    Proceedings.--
                ``(1) Excluded evidence.--Except as provided in paragraph
            (3), any nonpublic information that is accepted, stored,
            managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS may not be obtained
            from the VIS--
                        ``(A) for use as evidence for any purpose in any
                    Federal, State, local, Tribal, or private litigation,
                    including any action or proceeding; or
                        ``(B) to initiate any enforcement action or civil
                    litigation against a pipeline operator or the employees
                    or contractors of a pipeline operator relating to a
                    probable violation under this chapter (including any
                    regulation promulgated or order issued under this
                    chapter).
                ``(2) Exclusion from discovery.--Except as provided in
            paragraph (3), any nonpublic information that is accepted,
            stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS shall not be
            subject to discovery from the VIS in any Federal, State, local,
            Tribal, or private litigation or other proceeding.
                ``(3) Limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions described
            in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to data or
            information that--
                        ``(A) is evidence of a criminal violation;
                        ``(B) is not related to the purpose of the VIS
                    described in subsection (b)(3);
                        ``(C) is otherwise required to be reported to the
                    Secretary under part 190, 191 (including information
                    about an incident or accident), 192, 194, 195, or 199
                    of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
                    regulations);
                        ``(D) is required to be reported to a State
                    authority under State pipeline safety laws; or
                        ``(E) is developed or obtained from a source other
                    than the VIS, including through discovery from a person
                    or an entity other than the VIS in an enforcement
                    action or private litigation.
        ``(m) Effect on Discovery.--Except as provided in subsection
    (l)(2), nothing in this section or any rule or regulation promulgated
    under this section--
                ``(1) creates a defense to a discovery request; or
                ``(2) otherwise limits or affects the discovery of pipeline
            safety data and information arising from a cause of action
            authorized under any other Federal, State, or local law.
        ``(n) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects any
    Federal, State, or local pipeline safety law.
        ``(o) Annual Reports.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit
    to Congress, by the end of that fiscal year, a report on the status of
    the VIS.
        ``(p) Funding.--
                ``(1) Sustainable funding.--The Secretary shall--
                        ``(A) explore sustainable funding sources for the
                    VIS, including public-private partnerships; and
                        ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
                    sustainably fund the VIS through the use of those
                    sustainable funding sources.
                ``(2) Limited additional funding.--In addition to the fees
            collected under section 60301, the Secretary may collect an
            additional $5,000,000 under that section for each of fiscal
            years 2026 through 2030 to establish, implement, and manage the
            VIS.''.
        (b) Definitions.--Section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code,
    is amended--
                (1) by redesignating paragraphs (17) through (26) as
            paragraphs (18), (19), (20), (25), (26), (27), (22), (23),
            (24), and (28), respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as
            to appear in numerical order;
                (2) by inserting after paragraph (16) the following:
                ``(17) Nonpublic information.--The term `nonpublic
            information' means any pipeline safety data or information,
            regardless of form or format, that--
                        ``(A) a company does not disclose, disseminate, or
                    make available to the public; or
                        ``(B) is not otherwise in the public domain.''; and
                (3) by inserting after paragraph (20) (as so redesignated)
            the following:
                ``(21) Public information.--The term `public information'
            means any data or information, regardless of form or format,
            that--
                        ``(A) a company discloses, disseminates, or makes
                    available to the public; or
                        ``(B) is otherwise in the public domain.''.
        (c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

    ``60144. Voluntary information-sharing system.''.
        (d) Conforming Amendments.--
                (1) Section 70012(c) of title 46, United States Code, is
            amended by striking ``section 60101(a)(18)'' and inserting
            ``section 60101(a)''.
                (2) Section 60102(q)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is
            amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
            ``subsection (a)(21)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(26)''.

    SEC. 213. TRANSPORTING GAS.

        Section 60101(a)(26) of title 49, United States Code (as
    redesignated by section 212(b)(1)), is amended--
                (1) by striking the paragraph designation and all that
            follows through ``(A) means'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting
            the following:
                ``(26) Transporting gas.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The term `transporting gas'
                    means'';
                (2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``; but'' and
            inserting a period; and
                (3) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
            following:
                        ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting gas' does
                    not include--
                                ``(i) gathering gas (except through
                            regulated gathering lines) in a rural area
                            outside a populated area designated by the
                            Secretary as a nonrural area; or
                                ``(ii) the movement of gas by the owner or
                            operator of a plant for use as a fuel, a
                            feedstock, or for any other purpose that
                            directly supports plant operations through--
                                        ``(I) in-plant piping systems that
                                    are located entirely on the grounds of
                                    the plant; or
                                        ``(II) transfer piping systems that
                                    extend less than 1 mile in length
                                    outside the grounds of the plant.''.

    SEC. 214. INSPECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

        (a) Inspection of Rights-of-way.--Section 60108 of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(f) Inspection of Rights-of-way.--
                ``(1) In general.--When requiring an operator to inspect
            the surface conditions on or adjacent to a pipeline right-of-
            way, the Secretary shall allow the use of unmanned aircraft
            systems and satellites.
                ``(2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection
            affects any obligation to operate an unmanned aircraft system
            in accordance with all relevant Federal laws relating to the
            use of unmanned aircraft systems.''.
        (b) Management of Rights-of-way.--Section 60108(a) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) Each'' and
            inserting the following:
                ``(1) In general.--Each'';
                (2) in paragraph (2)--
                        (A) by striking ``(2) If'' and inserting the
                    following:
                ``(2) Revision.--If'';
                        (B) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (E)
                    appropriately; and
                        (C) in subparagraph (D), by indenting clauses (i)
                    through (iii) appropriately;
                (3) in paragraph (3), by indenting the paragraph, and each
            subparagraph within the paragraph, appropriately; and
                (4) by adding at the end the following:
                ``(4) Alternative methods of maintaining rights-of-way.--
                        ``(A) In general.--As part of the review conducted
                    under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall allow for an
                    alternative method of maintaining rights-of-way for
                    pipelines and other pipeline facilities under a
                    voluntary program carried out by the operator if the
                    Secretary determines that the alternative method--
                                ``(i) achieves a level of safety at least
                            equal to the level of safety required by the
                            regulations promulgated under this chapter; and
                                ``(ii) allows for timely emergency
                            response.
                        ``(B) Purpose.--An operator considering
                    implementing an alternative method described in
                    subparagraph (A) may consider incorporating into the
                    plan for implementing that method 1 or more
                    conservation practices, including--
                                ``(i) integrated vegetation management
                            practices, including reduced mowing;
                                ``(ii) the development of habitat and
                            forage for pollinators and other wildlife
                            through seeding or planting of diverse native
                            forbs and grasses;
                                ``(iii) practices relating to maintenance
                            strategies that promote early successional
                            vegetation or limit disturbance during periods
                            of highest use by target pollinator species and
                            other wildlife on pipeline or facility rights-
                            of-way, including--
                                        ``(I) increasing mowing height;
                                        ``(II) reducing mowing frequency;
                                    and
                                        ``(III) refraining from mowing
                                    monarch and other pollinator habitat
                                    during periods in which monarchs or
                                    other pollinators are present;
                                ``(iv) an integrated vegetation management
                            plan that may include approaches such as
                            mechanical tree and brush removal and targeted
                            and judicious use of herbicides and mowing to
                            address incompatible or undesirable vegetation
                            while promoting compatible and beneficial
                            vegetation on pipeline and facility rights-of-
                            way;
                                ``(v) planting or seeding of deeply rooted,
                            regionally appropriate perennial grasses and
                            wildflowers, including milkweed, to enhance
                            habitat;
                                ``(vi) removing shallow-rooted grasses from
                            planting and seeding mixes, except for use as
                            nurse or cover crops; and
                                ``(vii) obtaining expert training or
                            assistance on wildlife- and pollinator-friendly
                            practices, including--
                                        ``(I) native plant identification;
                                        ``(II) establishment and management
                                    of regionally appropriate native
                                    plants;
                                        ``(III) land management practices;
                                    and
                                        ``(IV) integrated vegetation
                                    management.
                        ``(C) Consultation.--
                                ``(i) Available guidance.--In developing
                            alternative methods under this paragraph, an
                            operator shall consult any available guidance
                            issued by--
                                        ``(I) the Secretary; or
                                        ``(II) an applicable State agency
                                    carrying out compliance activities on
                                    behalf of the Secretary in accordance
                                    with section 60105.
                                ``(ii) Leading industry practices.--In the
                            absence of guidance described in clause (i), an
                            operator may consult leading industry practices
                            and guidance to develop and implement
                            alternative methods under this paragraph.
                        ``(D) Requirements.--An operator using an
                    alternative method under this paragraph shall ensure
                    that the alternative inspection plans of the operator
                    continue to ensure that the operator can identify risks
                    to pipeline facilities.
                        ``(E) Savings provision.--Nothing in this paragraph
                    exempts an operator from compliance with any applicable
                    requirements under this chapter (including any
                    regulations promulgated under this chapter).''.
        (c) Inspector General Review.--5 years after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation
    shall initiate a review of a representative sample of the inspection
    and maintenance plans of operators that have utilized alternative
    methods of maintaining rights-of-way under section 60108(a)(4) of title
    49, United States Code, to determine--
                (1) whether reduced mowing has limited the ability of
            pipeline operators to assess risks to pipeline facilities;
                (2) with respect to any incidents that have occurred on the
            relevant pipeline facilities, whether reduced mowing hindered--
                        (A) the ability of operators to identify a risk
                    that was related to the incident; or
                        (B) the ability for operators and emergency
                    responders to respond to an incident; and
                (3) whether the alternative methods of maintaining rights-
            of-way have impacted pipeline safety.
        (d) Technical Correction.--Section 60108(e) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended, in the subsection heading, by striking ``In
    General'' and inserting ``Post-inspection Briefing and Preliminary
    Findings''.

    SEC. 215. GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS.

        (a) Inspection and Maintenance Plans.--Section 60108(a)(2)(D) of
    title 49, United States Code (as amended by section 214(b)(2)), is
    amended--
                (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
                (2) by adding at the end the following:
                                ``(iv) mitigation of threats posed by
                            geological hazards; and''.
        (b) Geological Hazard Mitigation Report.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare a report
            that--
                        (A) identifies geological hazards that may cause a
                    pipeline to move or be affected by abnormal external
                    loads, including landslides, volcanic activity,
                    earthquakes, and scouring;
                        (B) evaluates any industry consensus standards or
                    best practices relating to hazards described in
                    subparagraph (A);
                        (C) evaluates existing Federal requirements for
                    pipeline facility design, construction, operations,
                    maintenance, and integrity that relate to mitigation of
                    geological hazards; and
                        (D) makes recommendations to improve geological
                    hazard mitigation based on the findings of the report.
                (2) Submission.--On completion of the report under
            paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit the report to the
            Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress.
        (c) Regulatory Review.--Not later than 1 year after completion of
    the report under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall review, and may
    update, as appropriate, existing regulations and policy guidance that
    addresses the safety of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide
    pipeline facilities to include consideration of threats posed by
    geological hazards.

    SEC. 216. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

        (a) Request for Proposals.--Not later than 2 years after the date
    of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the
    Administrator shall--
                (1) issue a request for proposals to identify potential
            alternative technologies that, if used by operators, will meet
            the intent of an existing pipeline safety regulation and
            provide an equal or greater level of pipeline safety; and
                (2) allow the public the opportunity to comment on those
            proposals.
        (b) Regulations.--If the Secretary determines that a technology
    that is commercially available would meet the intent of an existing
    pipeline safety regulation and provide an equal or greater level of
    pipeline safety, the Administrator may issue a notice of proposed
    rulemaking to update the relevant regulations to allow operators to
    adopt the use of such technology.

    SEC. 217. FIRE SHUTOFF VALVES.

        Section 60110 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
    at the end the following:
        ``(f) Fire Shutoff Valves or Equivalent Technology.--
                ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                        ``(A) Equivalent technology.--The term `equivalent
                    technology' means any technology that--
                                ``(i) is not an excess flow valve; and
                                ``(ii) meets the performance standard of
                            shutting off gas on a service line of a
                            distribution system to a dwelling or other
                            building in the event of a fire.
                        ``(B) Fire-first ignition.--The term `fire-first
                    ignition' means an occurrence in which a fire
                    originating from a foreign source causes a natural gas
                    system to fail, release, or ignite.
                        ``(C) Fire safety valve.--The term `fire safety
                    valve' means--
                                ``(i) a fire shutoff valve; and
                                ``(ii) any equivalent technology.
                        ``(D) Fire shutoff valve.--The term `fire shutoff
                    valve' means a spring-loaded plug that is held in place
                    by a fusible link that--
                                ``(i) is made of a low-melting-point alloy;
                                ``(ii) is attached to a gas source; and
                                ``(iii) melts when exposed to fire, causing
                            the spring-loaded plug to close, shutting off
                            the gas to a dwelling or other building
                            connected to a service line of a distribution
                            system.
                ``(2) Study.--
                        ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
                    date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
                    shall complete a study on the effectiveness of fire
                    safety valves in order to determine the ability of fire
                    safety valves to improve public safety through
                    mitigation of secondary ignitions, such as fire-first
                    ignitions.
                        ``(B) Requirements.--The study under subparagraph
                    (A) shall evaluate--
                                ``(i) various scenarios and applications
                            for deploying fire safety valves;
                                ``(ii) the current incidence of fire-first
                            ignition of natural gas distribution pipelines;
                                ``(iii) anticipated reduction of fire-first
                            ignition risk under various fire safety valve
                            deployment scenarios, including--
                                        ``(I) lowering the likelihood of
                                    gas ignition; and
                                        ``(II) lowering the impact and
                                    damage of fire-first ignition
                                    incidents;
                                ``(iv) the long-term durability,
                            construction, and effectiveness of fire safety
                            valves; and
                                ``(v) the commercial availability of fire
                            safety valves for the pipeline industry.
                ``(3) Rulemaking.--After completing the study described in
            paragraph (2), the Secretary may prescribe risk-based standards
            on the circumstances under which an operator of a natural gas
            distribution system shall be required to install fire shutoff
            valves or equivalent technologies in the system.''.

    SEC. 218. EXEMPTION FROM POST-ACCIDENT TESTING.

        Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
    Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
    Services, shall update the regulations of the Administration to provide
    that a covered employee (as defined in section 199.3 of title 49, Code
    of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) whose previous
    performance of a covered function (as defined in that section (or a
    successor regulation)) takes place outside of the time frame during
    which the use of prohibited drugs or alcohol can be detected by post-
    accident testing under section 199.105(b) or 199.225(a), as applicable,
    of that title (or successor regulations)) is exempt from such post-
    accident testing.

    SEC. 219. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE RECORDS.

        (a) Previously Tested Transmission Lines.--Until the report
    required under subsection (b)(1) and the rulemaking required under
    subsection (c) (if determined necessary by the Secretary) are
    completed, the Secretary shall not require an owner or operator of a
    pipeline facility to reconfirm the maximum allowable operating pressure
    of a natural gas transmission pipeline pursuant to section 192.624 of
    title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), if
    the owner or operator confirms the material strength of the pipeline
    through prior testing conducted to a sufficient minimum pressure in
    accordance with prevailing safety standards and practices, including
    any applicable class location factors, and documented in
    contemporaneous records.
        (b) Working Group Report.--
                (1) In general.--The Secretary shall direct the existing
            maximum allowable operating pressure working group of the
            Administration (referred to in this subsection as the ``working
            group'') to continue producing a report containing
            recommendations on the contemporaneous records that are
            sufficient to confirm the material strength of a natural gas
            transmission pipeline through prior testing.
                (2) Composition of working group.--For purposes of carrying
            out paragraph (1), the working group shall be composed of the
            members representing the same stakeholders of the working group
            as of January 1, 2025.
                (3) Considerations.--In preparing the report required under
            paragraph (1), the working group--
                        (A) shall consider historical practices and all
                    available research conducted regarding minimum pressure
                    and contemporaneous records on transmission pipelines;
                        (B) may consider the need for any additional
                    research or analyses necessary to demonstrate the
                    adequacy of any strength testing performed; and
                        (C) shall consider the investigation, report, and
                    recommendations of the National Transportation Safety
                    Board following the San Bruno pipeline explosion.
                (4) Submission of report.--Not later than 180 days after
            the date of enactment of this Act, the working group shall
            submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of
            Congress the report produced under paragraph (1), including any
            minority views.
        (c) Rulemaking.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after receiving the
            report described in subsection (b)(1), if the Secretary
            determines necessary, the Secretary, after providing notice and
            opportunity for comment, shall promulgate standards revising
            the requirements addressing the records necessary to confirm
            the maximum allowable operating pressure of a natural gas
            transmission pipeline segment.
                (2) Limitations.--The rulemaking under paragraph (1) shall
            not delay the date by which pipeline operators must comply with
            maximum allowable operating pressure reconfirmation regulations
            with respect to their natural gas transmission pipeline
            segments under section 192.624 of title 49, Code of Federal
            Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this
            Act).

    SEC. 220. PIPELINE OPERATING STATUS.

        Section 60143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
    striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
                ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
            enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, the Secretary
            shall promulgate regulations prescribing the applicability of
            the pipeline safety requirements to--
                        ``(A) idled natural gas transmission pipelines;
                        ``(B) idled other gas transmission pipelines; and
                        ``(C) idled hazardous liquid pipelines.''.

    SEC. 221. POTENTIAL IMPACT RADIUS.

        (a) Definition of Potential Impact Radius.--In this section, the
    term ``potential impact radius'' means the area within which the
    potential failure of a pipeline could have significant impact on
    persons or property, including injury or death.
        (b) Review of Methodology.--
                (1) Review.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review--
                        (A) the methodology, including any formulas, used
                    by the Administration to determine a potential impact
                    radius for onshore gas transmission pipelines; and
                        (B) any applicable recommendations, including any
                    pipeline safety recommendations submitted to the
                    Secretary or Congress by the National Transportation
                    Safety Board or the Government Accountability Office.
                (2) Report.--
                        (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after
                    completion of the review under paragraph (1), the
                    Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
                    Congress a report detailing the findings of the review.
                        (B) Requirement.--The report under subparagraph (A)
                    shall evaluate whether the methodology reviewed under
                    paragraph (1)(A) accounts for--
                                (i) available human response data;
                                (ii) accident data relating to recent
                            pipeline incidents since January 1, 2000;
                                (iii) the risk of serious injury or death,
                            or property damage, from a pipeline incident;
                            and
                                (iv) the unique characteristics of the
                            types of gas being transported.
        (c) Investigation Reports.--Beginning not later than 1 year after
    the date of enactment of this Act, any Pipeline Failure Investigation
    reports prepared by the Accident Investigation Division of the
    Administration for accidents involving onshore gas transmission
    pipelines shall identify the location and distance from the pipeline of
    damage, including injuries and property damage, outside of the
    potential impact radius determined for the pipeline.

    SEC. 222. EFFECTS OF WEATHER ON NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.

        (a) Definitions.--In this section:
                (1) Applicable weather event.--The term ``applicable
            weather event'' means--
                        (A) a relevant weather-related event described in
                    the definition of the term ``major disaster'' in
                    section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
                    and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) that has
                    the potential to impact the safety of a natural gas
                    pipeline facility;
                        (B) the February 2021 winter storm known as
                    ``Winter Storm Uri''; and
                        (C) the December 2022 winter storm known as
                    ``Winter Storm Elliott''.
                (2) Natural gas pipeline facility.--The term ``natural gas
            pipeline facility'' means--
                        (A) a natural gas pipeline; and
                        (B) any related pipeline facility, equipment, or
                    infrastructure.
        (b) Review and Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                (1) complete a review of the effects of applicable weather
            events on natural gas pipeline facilities to determine whether
            applicable weather events pose a risk to safety during and
            after the applicable weather event; and
                (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
            report on the results of that review.
        (c) Distribution Integrity Management Plans.--Not later than 90
    days after the date on which the report under subsection (b)(2) is
    submitted, the Secretary shall review the distribution integrity
    management plans relating to pipelines that are at increased risk of
    applicable weather events to ensure that the owners and operators of
    those pipelines are mitigating the effects of applicable weather events
    to ensure public safety.

    SEC. 223. ALDYL-A PIPELINES.

        (a) Assessment of Aldyl-A Polyethylene Piping.--Not later than 3
    years after the date of enactment of this Act, each owner or operator
    of a gas distribution pipeline facility shall assess its system for the
    presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene.
        (b) Limitation.--
                (1) In general.--The Secretary shall not require owners and
            operators of gas distribution pipeline facilities to conduct
            excavation activities for the purpose of the assessment
            required under subsection (a).
                (2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection affects
            the authority of the Secretary under--
                        (A) section 60112 of title 49, United States Code;
                    or
                        (B) subsection (m) or (p) of section 60117 of that
                    title.
        (c) Reporting.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
    of this Act, each owner or operator of a pipeline facility described in
    subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary the estimated total
    pipeline mileage identified by the owner or operator as Aldyl-A
    polyethylene piping.
        (d) State Pipeline Safety Program Certifications.--Section
    60105(b)(9)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking
    ``of cast iron and bare steel pipelines'' and inserting the following:
    ``of--
                                ``(i) cast iron and bare steel pipelines;
                            and
                                ``(ii) pipelines constructed of historic
                            plastics with known safety issues''.
        (e) Evaluation of Risk in Distribution Integrity Management
    Programs.--Section 60109(e)(7)(A)(i) of title 49, United States Code,
    is amended by striking ``presence of cast iron pipes and mains in the
    distribution system; and'' and inserting the following: ``presence, in
    the distribution system, of pipes and mains made of--
                                        ``(I) cast iron;
                                        ``(II) unprotected steel;
                                        ``(III) wrought iron; or
                                        ``(IV) historic plastics with known
                                    safety issues; and''.

    SEC. 224. IMPROVEMENTS TO PIPELINE SAFETY INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT
                  PROGRAMS.

        The Secretary shall conduct research into the use of quantitative
    data and modeling to assess whether the use of such data or modeling in
    the integrity management programs of operators would improve the
    estimation of costs and benefits of risk reduction measures.

    SEC. 225. NONEMERGENCY WAIVERS BY THE SECRETARY.

        Section 60118(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in paragraph (1)--
                        (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``not
                    inconsistent'' and inserting ``consistent'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and
                    comment'' after ``only after notice''; and
                        (C) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(C) Action on application.--Not later than 180
                    days after receiving an application for a waiver under
                    this paragraph, the Secretary shall--
                                ``(i) complete any applicable review
                            relating to the application and act on the
                            application by--
                                        ``(I) issuing an order granting the
                                    waiver; or
                                        ``(II) denying the application; or
                                ``(ii) inform the applicant that additional
                            time is needed to review the application,
                            including by providing notifications of the
                            need for additional time at least once every
                            180 days until the waiver is granted or the
                            application is denied.''; and
                (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
                ``(3) Statement of reasons.--The Secretary shall state in
            an order issued under this subsection that is publicly posted
            on the website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
            Administration the reasons for granting or denying the
            waiver.''.

                 TITLE III--STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES

    SEC. 301. REGULATORY UPDATES.

        (a) In General.--Section 106 of the PIPES Act of 2020 (Public Law
    116-260; 134 Stat. 2220) is amended--
                (1) in subsection (a)--
                        (A) in paragraph (1)--
                                (i) by striking ``a final'' and inserting
                            ``A final''; and
                                (ii) by striking ``that has not been
                            published in the Federal Register;'' and
                            inserting a period;
                        (B) in paragraph (2)--
                                (i) by striking ``a final'' and inserting
                            ``A final''; and
                                (ii) by striking ``that has not been
                            published in the Federal Register; and'' and
                            inserting a period;
                        (C) in paragraph (3)--
                                (i) by striking ``any other'' and inserting
                            ``Any other''; and
                                (ii) by striking ``that has not been
                            published in the Federal Register'';
                        (D) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
                    subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and
                    indenting appropriately;
                        (E) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(D) A final rule required to be issued under the
                    PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.''; and
                        (F) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
                    redesignated), by striking ``In this section, the term
                    `outstanding mandate' means--'' and inserting the
                    following:
                ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `outstanding
            mandate' means a final rule described in paragraph (2) that--
                        ``(A) is required to be issued by the Secretary
                    (including any subordinate of the Secretary); and
                        ``(B) has not been published in the Federal
                    Register.
                ``(2) Final rule described.--A final rule referred to in
            paragraph (1) is any of the following:'';
                (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``referred to in
            paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) is published in
            the Federal Register'' and inserting ``described in subsection
            (a)(2) is published in the Federal Register with respect to the
            applicable outstanding mandate''; and
                (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(d) Required Briefing.--If the Secretary fails to update the
    website as required under subsection (b)(1), an appropriate employee of
    the Administration shall provide an in-person briefing to the relevant
    committees of Congress every 30 days until the requirements of that
    subsection are met.
        ``(e) Optional Briefing.--Annually, the Administrator shall offer
    to provide a briefing, by the Administrator or a designee, to the
    relevant committees of Congress on the status of outstanding mandates.
        ``(f) Restriction of Funds.--If a requirement of subsection (b) is
    not met for over 90 days, no funds authorized or appropriated may be
    used to support travel for the Administrator or the Deputy
    Administrator of the Administration, unless necessary for the response
    to or investigation of a pipeline or hazardous materials incident.''.
        (b) Deadline Noncompliance.--
                (1) Briefings.--If the Secretary does not complete a
            requirement described in paragraph (2) by the deadline
            established by statute for the completion of that requirement,
            the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of
            Congress in person on the status of the requirement--
                        (A) not later than 7 days after the applicable
                    deadline; and
                        (B) every 90 days thereafter until the Secretary
                    completes the requirement.
                (2) Requirements.--A requirement referred to in paragraph
            (1) is any of the following:
                        (A) The rulemaking required under section
                    60143(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, relating
                    to idled pipelines.
                        (B) The issuance of a final rule with respect to
                    the regulations required under section 60102(q)(1) of
                    title 49, United States Code, relating to gas pipeline
                    leak detection and repair programs.

    SEC. 302. STATE USE OF INTEGRATED INSPECTIONS.

        Section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
    at the end the following:
        ``(g) State Use of Integrated Inspections.--
                ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                        ``(A) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
                    `appropriate committees of Congress' has the meaning
                    given the term in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act
                    of 2025.
                        ``(B) Inspector general.--The term `Inspector
                    General' means the Inspector General of the Department
                    of Transportation.
                        ``(C) Risk-based integrated inspection program.--
                    The term `risk-based integrated inspection program'
                    means an inspection program that uses risk information
                    and data to focus inspection resources on pipeline
                    facilities and regulatory requirements that have the
                    highest priority during an inspection.
                ``(2) Authorization.--Subject to all other applicable
            provisions of this section, with the written agreement of the
            Secretary and a State authority certified under this section,
            which may be in the form of a memorandum of understanding, the
            Secretary may authorize, and the State authority may carry out,
            a risk-based integrated inspection program.
                ``(3) Procedural and substantive requirements.--A State
            authority that is authorized to carry out a risk-based
            integrated inspection program--
                        ``(A) shall be subject to the same procedural and
                    substantive requirements that would apply if the
                    Secretary were carrying out the program; and
                        ``(B) shall ensure--
                                ``(i) that no pipeline system goes without
                            inspection for more than 5 years; and
                                ``(ii) that unsatisfactory conditions found
                            in inspections are addressed in a timely
                            manner.
                ``(4) Application and criteria.--Not later than 1 year
            after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
            shall establish procedures and criteria for State authorities
            to apply to carry out a risk-based integrated inspection
            program pursuant to this subsection.
                ``(5) Evaluation timeline.--
                        ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after
                    receiving an application from a State authority to
                    carry out a risk-based integrated inspection program
                    under this subsection, the Secretary shall--
                                ``(i) review the application; and
                                ``(ii) approve or deny the application.
                        ``(B) Explanation of denial.--If the Secretary
                    denies an application submitted by a State authority
                    under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide an
                    explanation to the State authority of--
                                ``(i) why the Secretary denied the
                            application; and
                                ``(ii) changes that the State authority
                            could make to the application that would result
                            in the Secretary approving the application.
                ``(6) Review of programs.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
                    process to review the implementation of a risk-based
                    integrated inspection program by a State authority.
                        ``(B) Review by inspector general.--
                                ``(i) In general.--The Inspector General
                            shall--
                                        ``(I) review each risk-based
                                    integrated inspection program
                                    authorized by the Secretary under this
                                    subsection not later than 3 years after
                                    the date on which the relevant
                                    application is approved to determine
                                    whether the program meets the needs of
                                    pipeline safety; and
                                        ``(II) submit to the Secretary and
                                    the appropriate committees of Congress
                                    a report on that review.
                                ``(ii) Requirement.--If the Inspector
                            General determines that a risk-based integrated
                            inspection program is not adequate and should
                            be terminated, the Inspector General shall
                            notify the Secretary and the appropriate
                            committees of Congress.
                ``(7) Termination.--
                        ``(A) Termination by the secretary.--The Secretary
                    may terminate an authorization for a State authority to
                    carry out a risk-based integrated inspection program
                    if--
                                ``(i) the Secretary determines that the
                            State authority is not adequately carrying out
                            the program;
                                ``(ii) the Secretary provides to the State
                            authority--
                                        ``(I) a notification of the intent
                                    of the Secretary to terminate the
                                    authorization for the State authority
                                    to carry out a risk-based integrated
                                    inspection program;
                                        ``(II) a period of not less than
                                    120 days to take such corrective action
                                    as the Secretary determines to be
                                    necessary to comply with the
                                    requirements of this section; and
                                        ``(III) on request of the State
                                    authority, a detailed description of
                                    the aspects of the program that are
                                    inadequate; and
                                ``(iii) the State authority, after the
                            notification described in clause (ii)(I), fails
                            to take satisfactory corrective action in
                            accordance with clause (ii)(II) before the
                            expiration of the period provided under that
                            clause.
                        ``(B) Termination by a state authority.--A State
                    authority may terminate its authority to carry out a
                    risk-based integrated inspection program at any time by
                    providing to the Secretary a notice not later than 90
                    days before the date of termination.''.

    SEC. 303. OPTIMIZING PIPELINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

        (a) Definitions.--In this section:
                (1) Office.--The term ``office'' means a regional office,
            district office, and any other office of the Administration
            serving a particular region.
                (2) Region.--The term ``region'' means a region for which a
            regional office of the Administration has been established.
                (3) State partners.--The term ``State partners'' means the
            State authorities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of
            subsection (b)(1).
        (b) Study.--
                (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
            States shall conduct a study to evaluate enforcement actions
            and the inspection scheduling and coordination practices and
            procedures used by--
                        (A) the Administration;
                        (B) State authorities certified under section 60105
                    of title 49, United States Code; and
                        (C) State authorities with which the Secretary has
                    made an agreement under section 60106(a) of that title.
                (2) Requirements.--The study under paragraph (1) shall--
                        (A) identify ways in which the Administration and
                    States may coordinate with each other for more
                    effective inspections and enforcement;
                        (B) evaluate the extent of any--
                                (i) substantive overlap of inspections
                            carried out by the Administration and the State
                            partners, such that the Administration and the
                            State partners are inspecting the same operator
                            programs and procedures multiple times in the
                            same annual or biennial period;
                                (ii) substantive overlap of inspections
                            carried out by offices in different regions,
                            such that offices in multiple regions are
                            inspecting the same operator programs and
                            procedures multiple times in the same annual or
                            biennial period;
                                (iii) coordination among offices in
                            different regions on inspection findings
                            relating to an operator before the
                            Administration decides to take any enforcement
                            or other action against that operator;
                                (iv) coordination among offices in
                            different regions and between the
                            Administration and State partners on the
                            scheduling and scoping of inspections of
                            operators to avoid substantive overlaps;
                                (v) resolution processes for operators in
                            cases in which offices in different regions, or
                            the Administration and State partners, take
                            different interpretive positions on the same
                            compliance issue or operator program; and
                                (vi) opportunities--
                                        (I) to reduce substantive
                                    unnecessary overlaps (in the process of
                                    which the Comptroller General of the
                                    United States shall identify and
                                    describe any overlaps that the
                                    Comptroller the believes are
                                    necessary);
                                        (II) to avoid inconsistent
                                    interpretations--
                                                (aa) by offices in
                                            different regions; and
                                                (bb) between the
                                            Administration and State
                                            partners;
                                        (III) to optimize inspection
                                    scheduling and coordination; and
                                        (IV) to improve compliance with
                                    Federal pipeline safety laws; and
                        (C) review the Federal enforcement process for its
                    ability to fairly ensure compliance with Federal
                    pipeline safety laws.
        (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
    this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
    the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the
    results of the study conducted under subsection (b), which shall
    include recommendations that the Administrator could adopt to better
    coordinate inspection practices and procedures with State partners, and
    between State partners, to address deficiencies identified under
    subsection (b)(2)--
                (1) without compromising pipeline safety; and
                (2) while improving the enforcement process.
        (d) Summary of Pipeline Inspections.--Not later than June 1 of each
    year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the
    Administrator shall make available to the public in an electronically
    accessible format a summary of Federal and State pipeline inspections
    conducted under direct or delegated authority under title 49, United
    States Code, during the previous calendar year, including--
                (1) the date of the inspection;
                (2) the name of the pipeline owner or operator;
                (3) the pipeline system or segment inspected;
                (4) the 1 or more regions of the Administration in which
            the inspected system or segment operates;
                (5) the 1 or more States in which the inspected system or
            segment operates;
                (6) any violations or proposed violations alleged as a
            result of the inspection; and
                (7) any enforcement actions taken.

    SEC. 304. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PHMSA ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO RULEMAKING
                  ACTIVITIES.

        It is the sense of Congress that, if the Secretary determines it to
    be appropriate, the Secretary should engage with a broad range of
    pipeline stakeholder groups, including State pipeline safety programs
    with an approved certification under section 60105 of title 49, United
    States Code, during predrafting stages of rulemaking activities--
                (1) to inform the work of the Secretary in carrying out the
            goals of chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code; and
                (2) to reduce the timeline for issuance of proposed and
            final rules.

                  TITLE IV--IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES

    SEC. 401. STUDIES OF HYDROGEN PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION.

        (a) Study.--
                (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an
            agreement with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2
            of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801))--
                        (A) to conduct a study of the safety, technical,
                    and practical considerations relating to the blending
                    of hydrogen into existing natural gas systems;
                        (B) to issue a report on the results of that study,
                    in accordance with paragraph (2); and
                        (C) to make recommendations to the Secretary for
                    how to avoid or minimize any risks identified under
                    paragraph (2)(C).
                (2) Considerations.--In conducting the study under
            paragraph (1), the following factors shall be taken into
            consideration:
                        (A) Systems that utilize a hydrogen content above 5
                    percent to determine if there are additional
                    restrictions or requirements for the processes,
                    materials, and standards that the operators of those
                    systems have implemented to operate those systems
                    safely.
                        (B) Remaining knowledge gaps, if any, relating to
                    safely moving hydrogen-methane blends through existing
                    natural gas distribution systems.
                        (C) Safety risks, if any, of hydrogen-methane
                    blends composed of over 5 percent hydrogen in existing
                    natural gas distribution systems, including--
                                (i) leak rates of hydrogen-methane blends;
                                (ii) the performance of hydrogen-methane
                            blends in existing residential, commercial, and
                            industrial infrastructure; and
                                (iii) underground migration of leaked
                            hydrogen-methane blends.
                        (D) Any relevant findings or recommendations of--
                                (i) the HyBlend research and development
                            initiative commenced by the Department of
                            Energy in 2021 for the purpose of addressing
                            opportunities for hydrogen blending in natural
                            gas pipelines; and
                                (ii) the study on hydrogen blending
                            commissioned by the California Public Utilities
                            Commission and carried out by the University of
                            California, Riverside, entitled ``Hydrogen
                            Blending Impacts Study''.
                (3) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
            committees of Congress the report prepared under paragraph
            (1)(B).
        (b) GAO Report.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
            States shall conduct a study on existing natural gas
            distribution systems that utilize hydrogen-natural gas blending
            applications, or utilize gas with a higher hydrogen content, to
            identify processes, materials, and standards that operators
            have implemented to operate those systems safely.
                (2) Requirement.--The study conducted under paragraph (1)
            shall include an examination of natural gas distribution
            systems currently operating in--
                        (A) the United States;
                        (B) Canada;
                        (C) Europe;
                        (D) Australia;
                        (E) Hong Kong; and
                        (F) any other appropriate location, as determined
                    by the Comptroller General of the United States.
                (3) Considerations.--In conducting the study under
            paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States
            shall consider systems that utilize a hydrogen content above 5
            percent to determine if there are additional restrictions or
            requirements for the processes, materials, and standards that
            the operators of those systems have implemented to operate
            those systems safely.
        (c) Regulatory Considerations.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after completion of
            the studies under subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall
            determine whether any updates to regulations are necessary to
            ensure the safety of natural gas distribution systems
            intentionally blending hydrogen at levels exceeding 5 percent.
                (2) Requirement.--If the Secretary determines that updates
            to regulations are not necessary, the Secretary shall submit to
            the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes
            the reasons for that determination.
        (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section--
                (1) authorizes the removal of the exemption for certain
            hydrogen pipelines described in section 192.625(b)(4) of title
            49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on October 1,
            2023); or
                (2) affects--
                        (A) the authority of the Secretary under--
                                (i) section 60112 of title 49, United
                            States Code; or
                                (ii) subsection (m) or (p) of section 60117
                            of that title; or
                        (B) the authority of the Secretary to prescribe
                    standards otherwise affecting the transportation of
                    hydrogen by pipelines.

    SEC. 402. SAFETY OF CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINES.

        (a) Minimum Safety Standards.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the
            Federal Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking
            proceeding with Regulation Identifier Number 2137-AF60 after
            providing an opportunity for comment to ensure the safety of
            all phases of carbon dioxide transported in pipelines,
            including carbon dioxide in gaseous, liquid, and supercritical
            states.
                (2) Requirements.--
                        (A) In general.--Any standard adopted by the final
                    rule required under paragraph (1) shall--
                                (i) include appropriate requirements
                            addressing updates to emergency response plans
                            to address any risks unique to carbon dioxide
                            pipeline accidents or incidents;
                                (ii) include minimum safety standards
                            applicable to each operator of a pipeline
                            facility by which carbon dioxide is
                            transported, including performing vapor
                            dispersion modeling to identify high
                            consequence areas that could be affected by a
                            release from such a pipeline facility;
                                (iii) clarify that carbon dioxide shall not
                            be used as a testing medium for spike
                            hydrostatic pressure testing; and
                                (iv) require carbon dioxide pipeline
                            operators to provide information to State,
                            local, and Tribal emergency response
                            organizations (in each jurisdiction in which a
                            carbon dioxide pipeline facility of the
                            operator is located) on any risks unique to
                            carbon dioxide pipeline accidents or incidents,
                            including by making relevant portions of
                            emergency response plans available to first
                            responders on request.
                        (B) Vapor dispersion modeling.--Vapor dispersion
                    modeling under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall consider--
                                (i) the topography surrounding the pipeline
                            facility;
                                (ii) atmospheric conditions that could
                            affect vapor dispersion; and
                                (iii) pipeline facility operating
                            characteristics.
                        (C) Considerations.--Any standard adopted by the
                    final rule required under paragraph (1) shall
                    consider--
                                (i) conversion of service standards; and
                                (ii) safety-related condition reporting and
                            leak reporting appropriate to any unique safety
                            risks associated with carbon dioxide.
        (b) Effect.--Completion of the rulemaking required under subsection
    (a) shall satisfy the rulemaking requirement under section 60102(i)(2)
    of title 49, United States Code.
        (c) Odorant.--
                (1) Study.--The Secretary shall enter into an agreement
            with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the
            Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) to study the
            feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide pipelines.
                (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
            appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the
            feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide pipelines.
        (d) Additional Resources.--The Secretary shall make available, on
    request, to relevant emergency responders information that is tailored
    specifically to carbon dioxide pipeline releases, including information
    on the potential impact area and any relevant odorants.

    SEC. 403. REPORTING OF BLENDED PRODUCTS.

        (a) In General.--All operators of natural gas pipelines shall
    report to the Secretary non-predominant products intentionally blended
    and intended to exceed, at any point in time, 2 percent by volume of
    the product transported by the pipeline.
        (b) Frequency.--Reports under subsection (a) shall be required not
    more frequently than annually.

             TITLE V--IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND TRANSPARENCY

    SEC. 501. BITUMEN OIL RESPONSE PLAN REVIEW.

        (a) Inspector General Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date
    of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of
    Transportation shall review--
                (1) the findings of the study required under section 16 of
            the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act
            of 2011 (Public Law 112-90; 125 Stat. 1915); and
                (2) the oil spill response plans required under part 194 of
            title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
            regulations), for operators transporting diluted bitumen oil.
        (b) Purpose.--The review under subsection (a) shall determine the
    extent to which the response plans required under part 194 of title 49,
    Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)--
                (1) identify, using industry-standard names, all of the
            crude oils transported by the operator, including diluted
            bitumen;
                (2) include safety data sheets for each of the crude oils
            identified in the response plan;
                (3) describe the geographic areas most sensitive to the
            effects of a diluted bitumen spill, including the water bodies
            potentially at risk;
                (4) describe the response activities planned and resources
            available to mitigate the impacts of spills of diluted bitumen,
            if applicable, including the capabilities of the operator for
            detection, containment, and recovery of submerged and sunken
            oil;
                (5) specify the procedures by which the operator shall
            provide to the applicable On-Scene Coordinator (as defined in
            section 194.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or
            successor regulations)) or an equivalent State official
            relevant response information; and
                (6) include all spill-relevant properties and
            considerations with respect to each crude oil transported by
            the operator and identified in the response plan in accordance
            with paragraph (1).
        (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after completing the review
    under subsection (a), the Inspector General of the Department of
    Transportation shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
    report that summarizes the findings of that review and contains any
    recommendations of the Inspector General.

    SEC. 502. NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE
                  LEAK DETECTION.

        (a) Establishment.--After submitting the report under subsection
    (c) to the committees of Congress described in that subsection, and
    subject to the availability of funds appropriated by Congress for the
    applicable purpose, the Secretary, in consultation with hazardous
    liquid pipeline sector stakeholders, may establish a center, to be
    known as the ``National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid
    Pipeline Leak Detection'' (referred to in this section as the ``Center
    of Excellence'').
        (b) Location.--The Center of Excellence shall be located--
                (1) within the Great Lakes Basin;
                (2) in a State that hosts an international mixed-use
            pipeline that transports crude oil and natural gas liquids
            where the pipeline crosses through the Great Lakes; and
                (3) in close proximity to an institution of higher
            education with adequate capabilities, experience, and expertise
            in researching and evaluating pipeline safety, including
            pipeline risk analyses.
        (c) Report on Establishment.--
                (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
            enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
            Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and
            Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on
            Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and
            Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that
            describes--
                        (A) the resources necessary to establish the Center
                    of Excellence; and
                        (B) the manner in which the Center of Excellence
                    will carry out the functions described in subsection
                    (d).
                (2) Requirement.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
            include an estimate of all potential costs and appropriations
            necessary to carry out the functions described in subsection
            (d).
        (d) Functions.--The Center of Excellence shall--
                (1) review the availability of leak detection technology
            for hazardous liquid pipelines that can detect leaks at very
            low volumes;
                (2) conduct research into the operational, economic, and
            technical feasibility of incorporating technologies reviewed
            under paragraph (1) into pipeline systems;
                (3) be a repository of information on best practices
            relating to, and expertise on, hazardous liquid leak detection;
            and
                (4) perform other duties, as determined by the Secretary,
            to improve leak detection for hazardous liquid pipelines.
        (e) Joint Operation With Educational Institution.--The Secretary
    shall enter into an agreement with an institution of higher education
    described in subsection (b)(3)--
                (1) to provide for joint operation of the Center of
            Excellence; and
                (2) to provide necessary administrative services for the
            Center of Excellence.
        (f) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the
    Center of Excellence is established under subsection (a), the Center of
    Excellence shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
    report on the findings of the Center of Excellence with respect to leak
    detection technologies that can detect leaks at very low volumes.

    SEC. 503. OPERATOR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

        Not later than 7 calendar days after the date on which an operator
    of a pipeline facility (as defined in section 60101(a) of title 49,
    United States Code) files a petition for relief under chapter 7 or 11
    of title 11, United States Code, the operator shall notify the
    Secretary of that filing.

    SEC. 504. DATA AND TRANSPARENCY.

        Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
    not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
    publish, on a publicly accessible website, summary data pertaining to
    pipeline leaks required to be reported by operators in the annual
    reports submitted to the Administration by the operators.

    SEC. 505. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

        Section 108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(referred to in this
            section as the `Administration')'' after ``Safety
            Administration'';
                (2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by inserting
            ``(referred to in this section as the `Administrator'),'' after
            ``shall be the Administrator''; and
                (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(h) Office of Public Engagement.--
                ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                        ``(A) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
                    `appropriate committees of Congress' has the meaning
                    given the term in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act
                    of 2025.
                        ``(B) Director.--The term `Director' means the
                    Director of the Office.
                        ``(C) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office
                    of Public Engagement of the Administration established
                    under paragraph (2).
                ``(2) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date
            of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall
            establish within the Administration an office, to be known as
            the `Office of Public Engagement'.
                ``(3) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director,
            who shall--
                        ``(A) report to the Associate Administrator for
                    Pipeline Safety; and
                        ``(B) be responsible for the discharge of the
                    functions and duties of the Office.
                ``(4) Employees.--The Director shall--
                        ``(A) appoint and assign the duties of employees of
                    the Office; and
                        ``(B) prioritize the hiring of individuals who have
                    experience in community engagement, including working
                    with the public, State, local and Tribal governments,
                    and pipeline safety public interest groups.
                ``(5) Community liaisons.--The Director shall appoint
            agency community liaison personnel employed as of the date on
            which the Office is established as employees of the Office.
                ``(6) Duties and functions of the office.--
                        ``(A) Coordination of assistance.--The Director
                    shall coordinate the provision of technical assistance
                    and educational assistance to the public with respect
                    to the authorities exercised by the Administration.
                        ``(B) Public engagement.--The Director shall
                    coordinate active and ongoing engagement with the
                    public with respect to the authority and activities of
                    the Administration, including by--
                                ``(i) conducting--
                                        ``(I) outreach, which may include
                                    public postings, signage at relevant
                                    physical locations, newspaper
                                    publications, mailings, phone calls,
                                    canvassing, and door hangers, to
                                    communities using varied media; and
                                        ``(II) when appropriate, meetings;
                                ``(ii) assisting individuals in resolving
                            pipeline safety inquiries;
                                ``(iii) making publicly available, and
                            disseminating, information on the manner in
                            which members of the public may file inquiries
                            relating to pipeline safety;
                                ``(iv) assisting individuals in contacting,
                            as necessary, the Federal Energy Regulatory
                            Commission, State agencies, and other agencies,
                            in order to appropriately direct public
                            inquiries that are not within the jurisdiction
                            of the Administration to the relevant agency;
                            and
                                ``(v) preparing, and making publicly
                            available in accessible formats, educational
                            materials about the Administration, the
                            responsibilities of the Administration, and how
                            those responsibilities interact with entities
                            under the jurisdiction of the Administration
                            and other Federal, State, local, or Tribal
                            government agencies.''.

    SEC. 506. CLARIFICATION OF CONFIRMED DISCOVERY.

        (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
    of this Act, the Secretary shall--
                (1) review--
                        (A) the definition of confirmed discovery used by
                    the Administration for purposes of the reporting of
                    accidents and incidents to the National Response Center
                    and the Secretary (including any regulations
                    promulgated under section 9 of the Pipeline Safety,
                    Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (49
                    U.S.C. 60117 note; Public Law 112-90)), establishing
                    communication with first responders and other relevant
                    public officials, providing immediate notice to the
                    National Response Center as described in section 191.5
                    and 195.52 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or
                    any successor regulations), and any other relevant
                    purposes; and
                        (B) for each initial notice of an accident or
                    incident submitted to the National Response Center
                    telephonically or electronically under section 191.5 or
                    195.52 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, during
                    the 5-year period ending on the date of enactment of
                    this Act--
                                (i) the time between the first signs of an
                            accident or incident and the time at which
                            operators determined that the accident or
                            incident met the definition of confirmed
                            discovery;
                                (ii) the methods that operators used to
                            confirm that an accident or incident met that
                            definition; and
                                (iii) the time that it took for operators
                            to report an accident or incident after
                            confirming that the accident or incident met
                            that definition; and
                (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
            report that provides the findings of the review under paragraph
            (1), including the details described in subparagraph (B) of
            that paragraph for each accident or incident.
        (b) Civil Penalty Considerations.--Section 60122(b)(1) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            and
                (3) by adding at the end the following:
                        ``(E) the timeliness of emergency response
                    notification, including by reducing penalties for cases
                    in which incidents are reported within 10 minutes of a
                    suspected release; and
                        ``(F) advanced coordination with State, local,
                    Tribal, and territorial governmental entities resulting
                    in the relevant and timely use of existing public alert
                    notification systems; and''.

    SEC. 507. PUBLIC ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE FACILITIES.

        (a) Public Alert Notification System.--The Secretary, in
    consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
    Agency, shall develop voluntary guidance to assist owners and operators
    of pipeline facilities with coordinating with State, local, Tribal, and
    territorial governmental entities to make use of existing public alert
    notification systems, such as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning
    System of the Federal Emergency Management Agency described in section
    526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o) to issue
    emergency alerts and appropriate guidance via mobile phones, radio, or
    television in a locally targeted area in the event of a pipeline
    emergency..
        (b) Emergency Response Plans.--Any procedures established by an
    operator under subsection (a) shall be incorporated into the response
    plans maintained by the operator under sections 60102(d)(5) and 60138
    of title 49, United States Code.

                            TITLE VI--OTHER MATTERS

    SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON PHMSA OPERATION, PROCUREMENT, OR CONTRACTING
                  ACTION WITH RESPECT TO COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

        (a) In General.--Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``Sec. 44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or
                  contracting action with respect to covered unmanned
                  aircraft systems
        ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
                ``(1) Administration.--The term `Administration' means the
            Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
                ``(2) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
            Administrator of the Administration.
                ``(3) Covered foreign country.--The term `covered foreign
            country' means any of the following:
                        ``(A) The People's Republic of China.
                        ``(B) The Russian Federation.
                        ``(C) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
                        ``(D) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
                        ``(E) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
                        ``(F) The Republic of Cuba.
                ``(4) Covered unmanned aircraft system.--The term `covered
            unmanned aircraft system' means an unmanned aircraft system
            that is, or is owned by an entity that is--
                        ``(A) included on the Consolidated Screening List
                    or Entity List as designated by the Secretary of
                    Commerce;
                        ``(B) domiciled in a covered foreign country; or
                        ``(C) subject to influence or control by the
                    government of a covered foreign country.
        ``(b) Restrictions.--Subject to subsection (c), the Administrator
    shall not--
                ``(1) operate a covered unmanned aircraft system; or
                ``(2) enter into, extend, or renew a contract--
                        ``(A) for the procurement of a covered unmanned
                    aircraft system; or
                        ``(B) with an entity that operates (as determined
                    by the Secretary of Transportation) a covered unmanned
                    aircraft system in the performance of any
                    Administration contract.
        ``(c) Exemption.--The restrictions under subsection (b) shall not
    apply if the operation, procurement, or contracting action is for the
    purpose of intelligence, electronic warfare, and information warfare
    operations, testing, analysis, and training.
        ``(d) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive the restrictions under
    subsection (b) on a case by case basis by certifying, in writing, to
    the Secretary of Homeland Security and the appropriate committees of
    Congress that the operation, procurement, or contracting action is
    required in the public interest of the United States.
        ``(e) Replacement of Covered Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--Subject to
    available appropriations, not later than 1 year after the date of
    enactment of this section, the Administrator shall replace any covered
    unmanned aircraft system that is owned or operated by the
    Administration as of that date of enactment with an unmanned aircraft
    system manufactured in the United States or an allied country (as
    defined in section 2350f(d) of title 10).
        ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date
    of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to the
    appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes--
                ``(1) a description of the changes the Administration has
            made to its operation, procurement, and contracting processes
            to ensure that the Administration does not acquire any covered
            unmanned aircraft system;
                ``(2) the number of covered unmanned aircraft systems that
            needed to be replaced in accordance with subsection (e),
            including--
                        ``(A) an explanation of the purposes for which such
                    covered unmanned aircraft systems were used;
                        ``(B) a description of the unmanned aircraft
                    systems that the Administrator will purchase to replace
                    such covered unmanned aircraft systems; and
                        ``(C) the cost to purchase the unmanned aircraft
                    systems described in subparagraph (B); and
                ``(3) any other information determined appropriate by the
            Administrator.''.
        (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 448 of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
    section 44814 the following:

    ``44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or contracting
                                action with respect to covered unmanned
                                aircraft systems.''.

    SEC. 602. NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY AND
                  MODERNIZATION GRANTS.

        (a) In General.--The Secretary may provide grants to assist
    publicly owned natural gas distribution pipeline systems in repairing,
    rehabilitating, or replacing pipeline systems to improve pipeline
    safety.
        (b) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible to receive a grant under
    this section is a utility that--
                (1) is owned by a community or municipality; and
                (2) is not a for-profit entity.
        (c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
    section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
    such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
    require, including a description of the projects or activities proposed
    to be funded by the grant.
        (d) Uses.--A grant provided under this section may be used--
                (1) to repair, rehabilitate, or replace a natural gas
            distribution pipeline system or portions of a natural gas
            distribution pipeline system; or
                (2) to acquire equipment for use in a repair,
            rehabilitation, or replacement project under paragraph (1).
        (e) Considerations.--The Secretary shall establish procedures for
    awarding grants under this section that take into consideration--
                (1) the risk profile of the existing pipeline system,
            including pipe material, operated by the applicant; and
                (2) supporting communities that have limited ability to
            invest in the infrastructure of the community through increased
            utility rates due to economic conditions, including high
            poverty rates, high unemployment, or low median wages.
        (f) Limitations.--
                (1) Awards to a single utility.--The Secretary may not
            award more than 12.5 percent of the total amount made available
            to carry out this section in a single fiscal year to a single
            eligible entity described in subsection (b).
                (2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 2 percent of
            the amounts appropriated under subsection (h)(1) for a fiscal
            year may be used by the Secretary for the administrative costs
            of carrying out this section.
                (3) Cost sharing.--
                        (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
                    (B), any grant provided by the Secretary under this
                    section shall not represent more than 50 percent of the
                    actual total cost of the repair, rehabilitation, or
                    replacement project for which the grant is provided.
                        (B) Exception.--In the case of a grant under this
                    section for a project in an area with a population of
                    less than 50,000 residents, based on the most recent
                    decennial census, the Secretary may increase the grant
                    share of the cost of the project under subparagraph (A)
                    to not more than 80 percent.
        (g) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 3 days before the
    date on which the Secretary publishes the selection of projects and
    activities for which a grant will be provided under this section, the
    Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
    Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
    Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a written notice that
    includes--
                (1) a list of all applications reviewed by the Secretary as
            part of the selection process; and
                (2) a report that describes each project or activity for
            which a grant will be provided under this section for that
            round of selection.
        (h) Funding.--
                (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
            to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
            $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030, to
            remain available until expended.
                (2) Requirement.--Any amounts used to carry out this
            section--
                        (A) shall be derived from general revenues; and
                        (B) shall not be derived from user fees collected
                    under section 60301.

    SEC. 603. ISSUES AFFECTING FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES.

        (a) Indian and Tribal Definitions.--Section 60101 of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(c) Indian and Tribal Definitions.--In this chapter:
                ``(1) Indian land.--The term `Indian land' has the meaning
            given the term `Indian lands' in section 4 of the Indian Gaming
            Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).
                ``(2) Indian Tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
            meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
            Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).''.
        (b) Safety Standards and Reports.--Section 60102 of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking ``located,'' and
            inserting ``located and any affected Indian Tribe'';
                (2) in subsection (d)--
                        (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the
                    first sentence, by striking ``and an appropriate State
                    official as determined by the Secretary'' and inserting
                    ``, an appropriate State official (as determined by the
                    Secretary), and an appropriate Tribal official (as
                    determined by the Secretary) from any affected Indian
                    Tribe'';
                        (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
                    subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or, with respect to an
                    affected Indian Tribe, on affected Indian land,'' after
                    ``location in the State'';
                        (C) in paragraph (5)--
                                (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and
                            Tribal officials from any affected Indian
                            Tribe'' after ``State and local authorities'';
                            and
                                (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
                            ``and Tribal officials from any affected Indian
                            Tribe'' after ``State and local officials'';
                            and
                        (D) in paragraph (6)--
                                (i) by inserting ``or an affected Indian
                            Tribe'' after ``inform a State''; and
                                (ii) by inserting ``or on affected Indian
                            land'' before the period at the end;
                (3) in subsection (h)--
                        (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``the
                    appropriate Tribe'' and inserting ``any affected Indian
                    Tribe with respect to the location''; and
                        (B) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``or Tribal
                    official if no such commission or committee exists''
                    before the semicolon at the end; and
                (4) in subsection (r)(1), in the matter preceding
            subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, including Tribal officials''
            after ``public officials''.
        (c) Inspection and Maintenance.--Section 60108(c)(6)(C) of title
    49, United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting
    ``and Tribal officials from any affected Indian Tribe'' after ``to the
    Secretary''.
        (d) High-density Population Areas and Environmentally Sensitive
    Areas.--Section 60109(e)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
    by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
                        ``(C) Deadlines.--
                                ``(i) Emergency response plan.--Not later
                            than 2 years after the date of enactment of the
                            PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, each operator of a
                            distribution system shall make available to the
                            Secretary or the relevant State authority with
                            a certification in effect under section 60105,
                            as applicable, and to any affected Indian
                            Tribe, a copy of the emergency response plan
                            under section 60102(d)(5).
                                ``(ii) Other documents.--Not later than 2
                            years after the date of enactment of the
                            PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, each operator of a
                            distribution system shall make available to the
                            Secretary or the relevant State authority with
                            a certification in effect under section 60105,
                            as applicable, a copy of--
                                        ``(I) the distribution integrity
                                    management plan of the operator; and
                                        ``(II) the procedural manual for
                                    operations, maintenance, and
                                    emergencies under section 60102(d)(4).
                                ``(iii) Updates.--Not later than 60 days
                            after the date of a significant update, as
                            determined by the Secretary, to a plan or
                            manual described in clause (i) or (ii), the
                            operator of the applicable distribution system
                            shall--
                                        ``(I) in the case of an emergency
                                    response plan described in clause (i),
                                    make available to the Secretary or make
                                    available for inspection to the
                                    relevant State authority described in
                                    that clause (if applicable), and make
                                    available for inspection to any
                                    affected Indian Tribe, an updated copy
                                    of the emergency response plan; and
                                        ``(II) in the case of a plan or
                                    manual described in clause (ii), make
                                    available to the Secretary or make
                                    available for inspection to the
                                    relevant State authority described in
                                    that clause (if applicable) an updated
                                    copy of the applicable plan or manual.
                                ``(iv) Applicability of foia.--Nothing in
                            this subsection shall be construed to authorize
                            the disclosure of any information that is
                            exempt from disclosure under section 552(b) of
                            title 5.''.
        (e) Pipeline Facilities Hazardous to Life and Property.--Section
    60112(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the second
    sentence, by inserting ``and a Tribal official from any affected Indian
    Tribe'' after ``affected local officials''.
        (f) Technical Safety Standards Committees.--Section 60115(b)(3)(A)
    of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and of'' and
    inserting ``, Indian Tribes, and''.
        (g) Public Education Programs.--Section 60116(b) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Not later than 12
            months after the date of enactment of the Pipeline Safety
            Improvement Act of 2002'' and inserting ``Not later than 1 year
            after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of
            2025''; and
                (2) in the second sentence, by inserting ``affected Indian
            Tribes,'' after ``advise''.
        (h) Administrative.--Section 60117 of title 49, United States Code,
    is amended--
                (1) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``and an appropriate
            Tribal official from any affected Indian Tribe'' after ``is
            located'';
                (2) in subsection (i)--
                        (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``Indian
                    Tribes,'' after ``States,''; and
                        (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``Indian
                    Tribes,'' after ``local governments,'';
                (3) in subsection (l), in the first sentence, by inserting
            ``Indian Tribes,'' after ``local government,'';
                (4) in subsection (n)(1), by inserting ``Indian Tribes,''
            after ``the States,''; and
                (5) in subsection (p)(2)(B), by inserting ``Indian
            Tribes,'' after ``State agencies,''.
        (i) Judicial Review.--Section 60119(a)(1) of title 49, United
    States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting ``,
    including an Indian Tribe,'' before ``adversely affected''.
        (j) Emergency Response Grants.--Section 60125(b)(1) of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting ``,
    and affected Indian Tribes,'' after ``local governments''.
        (k) National Pipeline Mapping System.--Section 60132 of title 49,
    United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``State and local'' and
            inserting ``State, local, and Tribal''; and
                (2) in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by striking
            ``State and local'' and inserting ``State, local, and Tribal''.
        (l) Coordination of Environmental Reviews.--Section 60133 of title
    49, United States Code, is amended--
                (1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``and local'' and
            inserting ``, local, and Tribal''; and
                (2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``Tribal,'' after
            ``State,''.

    SEC. 604. IDENTIFICATION OF AND JUSTIFICATION FOR REDACTIONS.

        If the Administration redacts any portion of a document produced to
    another person, the Administration shall cite a specific statute
    authorizing the withholding of the information redacted.

    SEC. 605. FEES FOR LOAN GUARANTEES.

        Section 116(d) of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (15 U.S.C.
    720n(d)) is amended--
                (1) in paragraph (1)--
                        (A) by striking ``(1) The Secretary'' and inserting
                    the following:
                ``(1) Loan terms.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                        (B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), in the
                    second sentence, by striking ``The term'' and inserting
                    the following:
                        ``(B) Duration.--The term''; and
                (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) An eligible'' and
            inserting the following:
                ``(2) Fees.--
                        ``(A) Administrative expenses.--
                                ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any
                            other provision of law, the Secretary shall
                            charge, and collect on or after the date of the
                            financial close of an obligation, a fee for a
                            guarantee in an amount that the Secretary
                            determines is sufficient to cover applicable
                            administrative expenses (including any costs
                            associated with third-party consultants engaged
                            by the Secretary).
                                ``(ii) Availability.--Fees collected under
                            this paragraph shall--
                                        ``(I) be deposited by the Secretary
                                    into the Treasury; and
                                        ``(II) remain available to the
                                    Secretary, without further
                                    appropriation, until expended to cover
                                    applicable administrative expenses
                                    described in clause (i).
                                ``(iii) Reduction in fee amount.--
                            Notwithstanding clause (i), and subject to the
                            availability of appropriations, the Secretary
                            may reduce the amount of a fee for a guarantee
                            under this subparagraph.
                        ``(B) Debt obligations.--An eligible''.

    SEC. 606. IMPROVING PIPELINE CYBERSECURITY.

        Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
    the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish in the Federal
    Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking proceeding entitled
    ``Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management'' (Docket Number TSA-2022-
    0001; Regulation Identifier Number 1652-AA74) relating to the
    cybersecurity of pipelines.

    SEC. 607. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

        (a) Definitions.--Section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code
    (as amended by section 212(b)), is amended--
                (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
            ``chapter--'' and inserting ``chapter:'';
                (2) in each of paragraphs (1) through (16), (18), (19),
            (20), (22) (23), (25), and (27), by striking the semicolon at
            the end of the paragraph and inserting a period;
                (3) in paragraph (1)--
                        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all
                    that follows through ``(A) means'' in subparagraph (A)
                    and inserting the following:
                ``(1) Existing liquefied natural gas facility.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The term `existing liquefied
                    natural gas facility' means'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``; but''
                    and inserting a period; and
                        (C) in subparagraph (B)--
                                (i) by striking ``(B) does not'' and
                            inserting the following:
                        ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `existing liquefied
                    natural gas facility' does not''; and
                                (ii) by inserting ``described in
                            subparagraph (A)'' after ``approval'';
                (4) in paragraph (14)--
                        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all
                    that follows through ``(A) means'' in subparagraph (A)
                    and inserting the following:
                ``(14) Liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The term `liquefied natural gas
                    pipeline facility' means'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; but'' and
                    inserting a period; and
                        (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B) does
                    not'' and inserting the following:
                        ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `liquefied natural gas
                    pipeline facility' does not'';
                (5) in paragraph (24) (relating to the term ``Secretary''),
            by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;
                (6) in paragraph (27)--
                        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all
                    that follows through ``(A) means'' in subparagraph (A)
                    and inserting the following:
                ``(27) Transporting hazardous liquid.--
                        ``(A) In general.--The term `transporting hazardous
                    liquid' means'';
                        (B) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``; but''
                    and inserting a period; and
                        (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B) does
                    not'' and inserting the following:
                        ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting hazardous
                    liquid' does not''; and
                (7) in each of paragraphs (2) through (13), (15), (16),
            (18), (19), (20), (22) through (25), and (28)--
                        (A) by inserting ``The term'' after the paragraph
                    designation; and
                        (B) by inserting a paragraph heading, the text of
                    which comprises the term defined in the paragraph.
        (b) Report.--Section 60102(b) of title 49, United States Code, is
    amended by striking paragraph (7).
                                                           Calendar No. 331

    119th CONGRESS

      2d Session

                                    S. 2975

                              [Report No. 119-102]

    _______________________________________________________________________

                                     A BILL

        To amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety of
                pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

    _______________________________________________________________________

                               February 11, 2026

                           Reported with an amendment