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United States · Law · S

S. 1505 (104th)

Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

22 December 1995

Last action

12 October 1996 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-304.

Sponsors

Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Heflin, Howell [D-AL], Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA], Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY]

Subjects

Environment, Transport, Education

Source updated

7 April 2025

Environment · Transport · Education

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1995 - Amends Federal natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety transportation law to revise the exclusion from the meaning of the term "transporting gas" (thus from coverage by such law) of the gathering of gas in a rural area outside a populated, non-rural area to specified locations outside the limits of any incorporated or unincorporated city, town, or village. Extends coverage, however, to the movement of gas through regulated lines, regardless of location. (Sec. 4) Repeals the mandate that Federal minimum safety standards for pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities to include a requirement that all individuals responsible for the operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities be tested for their qualifications. Requires only that they be qualified. Requires such qualifications to address the ability to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions that may indicate a dangerous situation or a condition exceeding design limits. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in prescribing minimum safety standards for pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities, to: (1) consider compliance costs and any comments and recommendations received; (2) prepare a risk assessment document assessing costs and benefits under such standards; and (3) submit each such document to either the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee or the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, as appropriate. Requires such committees, serving as peer review panels, to evaluate and report to the Secretary on such documents. Directs the Secretary to review such evaluations and certify that the incremental benefits of a standard will likely justify its incremental costs. Authorizes the Secretary to suspend the application of a standard during an emergency. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress on the implementation of the risk assessment requirements of this section. Directs the Secretary, to the extent appropriate and practicable, to update incorporated industry standards that have been adopted as part of the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to establish risk management demonstration projects under which owners and operators of gas pipeline and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities voluntarily demonstrate applications of risk management. Authorizes the Secretary, during a demonstration project, to waive the applicability of all or a portion of safety standards that would otherwise apply. Outlines demonstration project requirements. (Sec. 6) Eliminates the application of certain inspection and maintenance requirements to persons who transport gas or hazardous liquids. Repeals the requirement of biennial pipeline facility inspections (leaving their frequency to the Secretary's discretion). (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations that establish criteria by which operators of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and gathering lines shall identify each such facility or line that crosses waters where a substantial likelihood of commercial navigation exists. (Currently, such requirement applies to all navigable waters, regardless of such likelihood.) Requires the Secretary, when identifying an area as unusually sensitive to environmental damage if there is a hazardous liquid pipeline accident, to consider including locations that are critical to drinking water, as well as critical wetlands, national parks, wilderness and wildlife preservation areas, wild and scenic rivers, and critical habitat areas for threatened or endangered species. Repeals the mandate to consider earthquake and landslide zones, freshwater lakes, rivers and waterways, and river deltas and other areas subject to soil erosion or subsidence from flooding. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary to adopt industry accepted performance standards for the performance of excess flow valves used to protect lines in a natural gas distribution system. (Sec. 9) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary promote the adoption of measures to improve the safety of customer-owned natural gas service lines. (Sec. 10) Redesignates the one-call notification system as the underground facility damage prevention program. Repeals the requirement for criminal penalties in regulations establishing a one-call notification system with respect to the safety of pipeline facilities. (Sec. 11) Requires the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee to serve as peer review committees. Deems such service to be in compliance with the requirements of other applicable Federal statutes. Requires committee members to be experienced in risk management. Requires at least one of the individuals selected for each committee from the natural gas or hazardous liquid industry and from the general public to have education, background, or experience in risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Requires the Secretary, when presenting each committee each standard proposed for transporting gas and hazardous liquid and for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, to include a risk assessment document and other supporting analyses. Requires each committee to meet with the Secretary at least four times (currently, twice) annually. (Sec. 12) Requires each owner or operator of a natural gas pipeline facility to provide a program for educating the public on the use of an underground facility damage prevention program prior to excavation. Repeals the requirement that persons transporting gas conduct public education programs. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants and other cooperative agreements with any State, local government, or private entity to carry out pipeline safety programs, including the development, improvement, and promotion of "one-call" damage prevention programs, research, risk assessment, and mapping. (Sec. 14) Deems owners and operators of pipeline facilities who participate in risk management demonstration projects to be in compliance with safety standards or regulatory requirements prescribed under such project. (Sec. 15) Subjects to civil and criminal penalties any person who knowingly and willfully excavates and subsequently damages a pipeline facility and does not report such damage promptly to the operator of the pipeline facility and other appropriate authorities. (Sec. 16) Changes from annual to biennial certain required reports from the Secretary to the Congress concerning gas and hazardous liquid transportation safety requirements. (Sec. 17) Directs the Secretary to make available to the appropriate official of each State the land use recommendations contained in the special report entitled "Pipelines and Public Safety." Requires the evaluation and implementation of recommendations contained in such report. (Sec. 18) Directs the Secretary to analyze and report to the Congress on the assessment of pipeline safety user fees based solely on mileage and the Secretary's determinations with respect to such assessment. (Sec. 19) Prohibits any person from excavating for unauthorized disposal (dumping) of solid waste within the right-of-way of an interstate gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility. (Sec. 20) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct promotional activities relating to prevention of damage to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. (Sec. 22) Extends and increases annually through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety programs and activities carried out through the Department of Transportation.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 22 December 1995

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S19254-19255)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 22 December 1995

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 22 December 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 6 June 1996

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  5. 26 July 1996

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 540.

    Source: Calendars

  6. 26 July 1996

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-334.

    Source: Committee

  7. 26 July 1996

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-334.

    Source: Committee

  8. 19 September 1996

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S10936-10941, S10947-10950)

    Source: Floor

  9. 26 September 1996

    Passed

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  10. 26 September 1996

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  11. 27 September 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  12. 27 September 1996

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 276 - 125 (Roll no. 450).

    Source: Floor

  13. 27 September 1996

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 276 - 125 (Roll no. 450).

    Source: Floor

  14. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11530-11540)

    Source: Floor

  15. 27 September 1996

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  16. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  17. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    Mr. Shuster moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  18. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  19. 27 September 1996

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  20. 2 October 1996

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  21. 2 October 1996

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  22. 12 October 1996

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 104-304.

    Source: President

  23. 12 October 1996

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  24. 12 October 1996

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

13 official files

Public Law (text)

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 13 October 1996

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 13 October 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 27 September 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 27 September 1996

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 September 1996

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 September 1996

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 26 September 1996

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 26 July 1996

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 26 July 1996

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 26 July 1996

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 December 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 22 December 1995

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 22 December 1995

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