Pipeline Safety Act of 2016

Summary

Pipeline Safety Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to report to Congress on the status of required pipeline safety regulations for which no final rule has been issued. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) shall complete rulemaking for each such outstanding pipeline safety regulation before beginning any new rulemaking. The Government Accountability Office shall report on: (1) the natural gas integrity management and hazardous liquid integrity management programs, and (2) corrosion control for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities. After completion of any pipeline safety inspection, DOT, or the certified state authority, shall conduct a post-inspection briefing with the natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline operator outlining any concerns and provide written findings of the inspection. DOT shall study improving requirements for damage prevention programs for natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities. DOT shall issue minimum safety standards for the operation and integrity management, and environmental protection, of underground gas storage facilities. Each hazardous liquid pipeline operator shall ensure that: (1) pipeline integrity assessments using internal inspection technology are done once every 12 months; and (2) pipeline route surveys, pressure tests, external corrosion direct assessment, or other technology that determine the pipeline condition are completed on a schedule based on the risk that it poses to a high consequence area (i.e., urban area). The bill includes the Great Lakes as an area that is unusually sensitive to environmental damage if there is a hazardous liquid pipeline accident. DOT may issue an emergency order, without prior notice or hearing, for violations of pipeline regulations, or an unsafe condition or practice, or combination thereof, constituting or causing an imminent hazard. The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the DOT gas and hazardous liquid pipeline and related programs, including PHMSA operational expenses, one-call notification program grants, community pipeline safety information grants, and the pipeline integrity program.

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Documents

4 official files

• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 10 June 2016

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2016

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2016

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 26 April 2016

  Open at official source

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