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Week Ending December 8, 2006
H.R.5782 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for enhanced safety and environmental protection in pipeline transportation, to provide for enhanced reliability in the transportation of the Nation's energy products by pipeline, and for other purposes.
Those excavating without calling to determine if an underground pipeline is in the way or if the dig proceeds after ignoring markings identifying the pipeline or if the pipeline operator fails to provide location information then civil action may be taken against the digger including a penalty.
This bill also provides for grants to states to help improve the effectiveness of damage prevention efforts.
More specifically the Secretary of energy must prescribe minimum standards for pipeline management including installation of excess flow valves on single family residential service lines, standards to reduce human failure due to fatigue and other factors, standards for safe transportation of hazardous liquids in low-stress pipelines near areas sensitive to environmental damages and standards to implement National transportation Safety Board conclusions on control and acquisition of data in pipelines.
Leak detection systems would be analyzed for effectiveness and a report on the matter is to be submitted to Congress. The ability of systems to detect ruptures and small leaks that are ongoing or intermittent would be stressed.
The Department of transportation must assess the Nation’s available pipeline capacity, shortages of pipeline facilities and the amount of product that can be handled by the existing infrastructure.
Although petroleum and gas products are most obvious pipeline contents the bill addresses other contents as well: “The term `petroleum product' means oil of any kind or in any form, gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, any product obtained from refining or processing of crude oil, liquefied petroleum gases, natural gas liquids, petrochemical feedstocks, condensate, waste or refuse mixtures containing any of such oil products, and any other liquid hydrocarbon compounds.'.”
Sponsor: Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Vote: Passed House by voice vote December 6, 2006. Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent December 7, 2006. Clearing the way for the President.
Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5782 would cost $98 million over the 2007-2011 period.”
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MORE INFORMATION
(a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid- Section 60125(a) is amended to read as follows:
`(a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid- To carry out this chapter (except for section 60107) related to gas and hazardous liquid, the following amounts are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation:
`(1) For fiscal year 2007, $55,497,000, of which $39,872,000 is to be derived from user fees collected under section 60301 and $15,625,000 is to be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund established by section 9509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
`(2) For fiscal year 2008, $57,997,000, of which $42,651,000 is to be derived from such fees and $15,346,000 is to be derived from the Fund.
`(3) For fiscal year 2009, $60,482,000, of which $44,839,000 is to be derived from such fees and $16,003,000 is to be derived from the Fund.
`(4) For fiscal year 2010, $62,375,000, of which $46,444,000 is to be derived from such fees and $15,931,000 is to be derived from the Fund.'.
(b) State Grants- Section 60125(b)(1) is amended to read as follows: `(1) To carry out section 60107, the following amounts are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Transportation:
`(A) For fiscal year 2007, $20,238,000, of which $17,053,000 is to be derived from user fees collected under section 60301 and $3,185,000 is to be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
`(B) For fiscal year 2008, $23,221,000, of which $19,567,000 is to be derived from such fees and $3,654,000 is to be derived from the Fund. Of the amounts so appropriated, $1,500,000 shall be available for grants to States under section 60134.
`(C) For fiscal year 2009, $24,513,000, of which $20,656,000 is to be derived from such fees and $3,857,000 is to be derived from the Fund. Of the amount so appropriated, $1,750,000 shall be available for grants to States under section 60134.
`(D) For fiscal year 2010, $25,855,000, of which $21,786,000 is to be derived from such fees and $4,069,000 is to be derived from the Fund. Of the amount so appropriated, $2,000,000 shall be available for grants to States under section 60134.'.
(c) Conforming Amendments- Section 60125 is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (c); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
(d) Emergency Response Grants- Section 60125(c)(2) (as redesignated by subsection (c)(2) of this section) is amended by striking `2003 through 2006' and inserting `2007 through 2010'.
(e) One-Call Notification Programs- Section 6107 is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by striking `fiscal years 2003 through 2006' and inserting `fiscal years 2007 through 2010'; and
(2) in subsection (b) by striking `for fiscal years 2003 through 2006' and inserting `for fiscal years 2007 through 2010'.
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