,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgfb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 ,franken 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,portman1 and ,ms4 ,baldwin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to prevent future propane shortages1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,propane ,supply and ,security ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,energy ,information ,administration4 7#b7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission4 7#c7 ,interstate commerce ,the term interstate commerce has the meaning given the term in section #b of the ,natural ,gas ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gag;a74 7#d7 ,propane pipeline ,the term propane pipeline means a pipeline used to transport propane in interstate commerce4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 #c4 ,information collection 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall publish1 to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with confidentiality requirements1 data on-- 7#a7 propane storage1 including-- 7,a7 weekly inventory data disaggregated below the level of the ,petroleum ,administration for ,defense ,districts 7,,padd71 including-- 7i7 data at the ,state level2 and 7ii7 data from the collective storage facilities at market hubs1 including storage facilities in and around ,mont ,belvieu1 ,texas1 ,conway1 ,kansas1 and any future market hubs of significant regional scope2 and 7,b7 weekly data to separately account for non-fuel propylene and propane for ,,padd #c and other regions if the ,administrator determines that inclusion of the nonfuel propylene supply data significantly distorts propane supply and pricing data1 and the ,administrator determines it is feasible to collect separate data on nonfuel propylene and propane2 and 7#b7 propane markets1 including pricing data for residential customers in ,states that voluntarily choose to participate in the ,state ,heating ,oil and ,propane ,program 7,,shopp7 of the ,energy ,information ,administration4 7b7 ,biannual working and net available storage capacity report ,the ,administrator shall publish data on-- 7#a7 storage at-- 7,a7 major market centers1 including the regions around ,conway1 ,kansas and ,mont ,belvieu1 ,texas2 and 7,b7 to the extent practicable based on existing surveys and consistent with confidentiality requirements1 the regions reported in the weekly and monthly inventory data under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 pipeline fill requirements and pipeline operational storage capacity4 7c7 ,wood pilot ,the ,administrator shall work with the ,states participating in ,,shopp to develop a program comparable to ,,shopp to collect data on wood pellets1 firewood1 and other biomass4 #d4 ,coordinated response to emergencies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall lead ,federal and ,state emergency response efforts with respect to propane supply emergencies in any ,state or region of the ,united ,states that are characterized1 as determined by the ,secretary1 by-- 7#a7 sudden increases in consumer prices for propane2 or 7#b7 propane supply shortages that threaten public safety or livestock safety4 7b7 ,duties ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 establish criteria to determine when an emergency response action would be triggered2 7#b7 establish a system for forecasting and tracking the availability of propane1 with an emphasis on predicting supply shortages2 7#c7 establish a system for alerting other ,federal agencies1 ,states1 industry groups1 and appropriate stakeholders of the crisis-- 7,a7 before an emergency2 and 7,b7 when the ,secretary determines that an emergency has occurred2 7#d7 establish a plan for coordinated response to an emergency by ,federal and ,state agencies2 and 7#e7 establish criteria to determine when the emergency has ended4 7c7 ,actions ,an emergency response carried out under this section may include-- 7#a7 actions to protect consumers from unfair pricing2 7#b7 actions to expedite the distribution of propane through available transportation modes1 including provisions-- 7,a7 to exempt motor carriers of propane from hours-of-service restrictions2 7,b7 to prioritize propane shipments by rail2 and 7,c7 to prioritize propane shipments over other shipments in batched pipelines2 7#c7 expedited release of energy assistance funds2 and 7#d7 other actions to relieve price spikes and supply shortages4 7d7 ,effect ,nothing in this section limits any existing authority of any ,federal agency4 #e4 ,definition of consumer propane prices 7a7 ,functions of ,propane ,education and ,research ,council ,section #e7;f7 of the ,propane ,education and ,research ,act of #aiif 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdjd7;f77 is amended in the first sentence by inserting to train propane distributors and consumers in strategies to mitigate negative effects of future propane price spikes1 after to enhance consumer and employee safety and training14 7b7 ,market survey and consumer protection price analysis ,section #i7;a7 of the ,propane ,education and ,research ,act of #aiif 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdjh7;a77 is amended in the first sentence by striking only data provided by the ,energy ,information ,administration and inserting the refiner price to end users of consumer grade propane1 as published by the ,energy ,information ,administration4 #f4 ,regional propane reserve 7a7 ,study ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall conduct a study to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of establishing #a or more propane storage facilities1 to be operated separately from the ,strategic ,petroleum ,reserve established under part ,b of title ,i of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbca et seq474 7b7 ,plan ,following completion of the study under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may submit to ,congress and the ,president a plan describing-- 7#a7 the proposed acquisition of storage and related facilities or storage services for1 including-- 7,a7 the potential use of storage facilities not currently in use2 and 7,b7 a determination of the combination of primary1 secondary1 and tertiary storage facilities that will be used2 7#b7 the proposed acquisition of propane for storage2 7#c7 the proposed methods of disposition of propane2 7#d7 the estimated costs of establishment1 maintenance1 and operation2 7#e7 the efforts the ,secretary will make-- 7,a7 to minimize any potential need for future drawdowns2 and 7,b7 to ensure that distributors and importers are not discouraged from maintaining and increasing supplies of propane2 7#f7 the proposed actions to ensure the quality of the propane2 and 7#g7 the proposed accounts and funding structures required for acquisition of propane and propane storage facilities4 #g4 ,storage facility loans for propane storage ,section #afad7;a7 of the ,food1 ,conservation1 and ,energy ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #hghi7;a77 is amended by inserting 1 including facilities for propane that is used for drying and heating before the period at the end4 #h4 ,study of jurisdiction ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall complete a study of facilities appurtenant to propane pipelines 7such as terminals and storage facilities7 that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the ,commission 7as of the date on which the study commences7 to determine-- 7#a7 whether the nonjurisdictional nature of the facilities is injurious to shippers or consumers2 and 7#b7 7,a7 whether the facilities can be placed under the jurisdiction of the ,commission2 or 7,b7 if not1 whether changes in law to place the facilities under the jurisdiction of the ,commission are in the public interest4