,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #baci ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #h1 #bjai,mrs4 ,trahan 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,moulton1 and ,mr4 ,kennedy7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve pipeline safety1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,leonel ,rondon ,pipeline ,safety ,act4 #b4 ,distribution integrity management plans 7a7 ,in general ,section #fjaji7;e7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,in general 7,a7 ,evaluation of risk ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations that ensure that each distribution integrity management plan developed by an operator of a distribution pipeline includes an evaluation of-- 7i7 the risks resulting from the presence of cast iron pipes and mains in the distribution system2 and 7ii7 the risks that could lead to or result from the operation of a distribution pipeline above the maximum allowable operating pressure 7as described in section #aib4fai of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations774 7,b7 ,consideration ,in the evaluations required in a plan under subparagraph 7,a71 the regulations promulgated by the ,secretary shall ensure that the distribution integrity management plan evaluates future potential threats in a manner that considers factors other than past observed abnormal operating conditions 7as defined in section #aib4hjc of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 in ranking risks and identifying measures to mitigate those risks under that subparagraph1 so that operators avoid using a risk rating of zero for low probability events unless otherwise supported by engineering analysis4 7,c7 ,deadlines 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 each operator of a distribution pipeline shall submit to the ,secretary or to the relevant certified ,state authority1 if applicable1 a copy of-- 7,i7 the distribution integrity management plan of the operator2 7,,ii7 the emergency response plan under section #aib4fae of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 and 7,,iii7 the procedural manual for operations1 maintenance1 and emergencies under section #aib4fje of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7ii7 ,updates ,each operator of a distribution pipeline shall submit to the ,secretary an updated plan or manual described in clause 7i7 by not later than #fj days after the date of the update4 4 7b7 ,monitoring ,section #fjaje7;e7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the second sentence1 by striking ,a ,state and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,cooperation ,a ,state 2 7#b7 by striking ,the ,secretary and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,audit program ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this paragraph1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to update the annual ,state ,program ,evaluations to-- 7,a7 ensure that a ,state authority has the capability to sufficiently review and evaluate the adequacy of the plans and manuals described in section #fjaji7;e77#g77;,c77i72 and 7,b7 require that a ,state authority has a sufficient number of inspectors to ensure safe operations1 as determined by a formula that takes into account factors including but not limited to-- 7i7 the number of miles of cast iron pipe in the ,state2 7ii7 the number of customers in the ,state2 7iii7 population density in areas with gas distribution pipeline2 7iv7 the age of the gas distribution system in the ,state2 and 7v7 environmental factors1 including relevant geological issues4 4 #c4 ,emergency response plans ,section #fjajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7q7 ,emergency response plans ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each emergency response plan under section #aib4fae of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 developed by an operator of a distribution pipeline includes written procedures for-- 7#a7 establishing communication with fire1 police1 and other relevant public officials as soon as practicable1 but not later than #cj minutes1 after a gas pipeline emergency that-- 7,a7 includes fires1 explosions1 or one or more fatalities2 or 7,b7 results in the shutdown of gas service to more than #ajj customers2 7#b7 establishing public communication as soon as practicable and in consultation with fire1 police1 and other public officials after a gas pipeline emergency that-- 7,a7 includes fires1 explosions1 or one or more fatalities2 or 7,b7 results in the shutdown of gas service to more than #ajj customers2 and 7#c7 the development and implementation of a voluntary1 opt-in system that would allow operators of distribution pipelines to rapidly communicate with customers in the event of an emergency4 4 #d4 ,operations and maintenance manuals ,section #fjajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as amended by section #c71 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,operations and maintenance manuals ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure that each procedural manual for operations1 maintenance1 and emergencies under section #aib4fje of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 developed by an operator of a distribution pipeline includes written procedures for-- 7#a7 responding to overpressurization alarms1 including a clear timeline and order of operations for shutting down portions of the gas distribution system1 if necessary2 and 7#b7 a detailed procedure for a management of change process1 which shall be applied to all changes to the distribution system1 and which shall ensure that relevant employees of an operator of a distribution pipeline1 as determined through the regulations1 review construction documents for accuracy1 completeness1 and correctness4 4 #e4 ,pipeline safety management systems ,section #fjajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as amended by section #d71 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7s7 ,pipeline safety management systems 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations directing each operator of a distribution pipeline to develop and implement a pipeline safety management systems framework in accordance with ,recommended ,practice #aagc of the ,american ,petroleum ,institute 7,,api ,,rp #aagc74 7#b7 ,updates ,the ,secretary may periodically revise such regulations to adopt new best industry practices for promoting safety management systems1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,submission ,each operator of a distribution pipeline shall submit to the ,secretary or the relevant ,state authority1 as certified under section #fjaje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code-- 7,a7 a copy of the pipeline safety management systems framework developed under paragraph 7#a7 by not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this subsection2 and 7,b7 any updates to the framework described in subparagraph 7,a7 by not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this subsection after the update4 7#d7 ,evaluation and certification ,under a timeline established by the ,secretary through regulation1 the ,secretary or the relevant ,state authority1 as certified under section #fjaje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall-- 7,a7 evaluate pipeline safety management systems frameworks developed under paragraph 7#a71 including by using independent third-party evaluators if necessary2 and 7,b7 certify that-- 7i7 those frameworks are effective and complete2 and 7ii7 operators of distribution pipelines are in compliance with those frameworks4 4 #f4 ,pipeline safety practices ,section #fjajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as amended by section #e71 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7t7 ,other pipeline safety practices 7#a7 ,records ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to require an operator of a distribution pipeline-- 7,a7 to develop and maintain traceable1 reliable1 complete1 and up-to-date records of the gas distribution system in each region of operation that depict high-1 medium-1 and low-gas pressure systems1 including maps and other drawings2 and 7,b7 to ensure that the records described in subparagraph 7,a7 are accessible to all employees of the operator and provided to the ,secretary or the relevant ,state authority4 7#b7 ,approval of certain activities 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to require that1 before carrying out any covered task 7as defined in section #aib4hja7;b7 of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations771 the covered task is approved by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the ,state in which it is to be carried out4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,in promulgating regulations under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that professional engineers are provided access to all relevant records and prior work plans needed to certify the safety of the covered task4 7,c7 ,application ,the following provisions shall not apply to a standard promulgated under subparagraph 7,a73 7i7 ,subsections 7c7 and 7d7 of section #fjaah4 7ii7 ,section #fjaca7;e77#e74 7#c7 ,presence of qualified employees 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to require that not less than #a employee of an operator of a distribution pipeline who is qualified to perform relevant covered tasks 7as defined in section #aib4hja7;b7 of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations771 shall monitor gas pressure and have the capability to shut down the flow of gas at a district regulator station during any construction project that has the potential to cause a hazardous over-pressurization at that station1 including tie-ins and abandonment of distribution lines and mains1 based on an evaluation of threats that could result in unsafe operation conducted by the operator4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,in promulgating regulations under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall ensure that those regulations do not apply to a district regulating station that has a monitoring system and the capability for remote or automatic shutoff4 7#d7 ,district regulator stations 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to require that each operator of a distribution pipeline assesses and upgrades1 as appropriate1 each district regulator station of the operator to ensure that-- 7i7 there is no possibility for a common mode of failure in the regulator technology of the station that could lead to an operating pressure that is greater than the maximum allowable operating pressure 7as described in section #aib4fai of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations772 7ii7 the station has monitoring technology that provides constant awareness of gas pressure at the station2 and 7iii7 the station has additional pressure-relieving safety technology1 such as a relief valve or automatic shutoff valve1 as appropriate for the configuration and siting of the station4 7#e7 ,minimum staffing requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations to promote sufficient staffing for monitoring and regulating gas pressure levels by each operator of a distribution pipeline4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,regulations promulgated under subparagraph 7,a7 shall consider-- 7i7 the total miles of gas main and service pipeline within the service area of the operator of the distribution pipeline2 7ii7 the age and material of the pipes within the service area of the operator of the distribution pipeline2 and 7iii7 the number and density of customers within the service area of the operator of the distribution pipeline4 4 #g4 ,civil penalties ,section #fjabb7;a77#a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the first sentence1 by striking #bjj1jjj and inserting #bj1jjj1jjj2 7#b7 in the third sentence1 by striking #b1jjj1jjj and inserting #bjj1jjj1jjj2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 ,the ,secretary shall annually adjust the penalties under this paragraph for inflation44