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Bill116th CongressFiled Nov 15, 2019Transportation and Public Works
H.R. 5120

SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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Law

What it doesSummary reported to house, part i (Dec 17, 2020)

Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible Pipelines Act of 2019 or the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

This bill addresses natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines safety.

Among other things, the bill

  • reauthorizes pipeline safety activities through FY2023;
  • prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing;
  • makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves;
  • directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders;
  • increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from knowingly and willfully to knowingly or recklessly;
  • requires advanced leak-detection that can identify leak locations and amounts released on gas pipelines;
  • directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to finalize a rule on gas gathering lines; and
  • authorizes DOT to establish a confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing system to improve natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline safety.

What just happenedDec 17, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.

Who’s behind it

Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4](D-OR)Sponsor
2 cosponsors2 D
Read on Congress.gov
2cosponsors2committees14actions2related bills46subjects
  1. Dec 17, 2020CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.

  2. Dec 17, 2020DischargeH12300

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  3. Dec 17, 2020Committee5500

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  4. Dec 17, 2020CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  5. Dec 17, 2020Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  6. Nov 20, 2019Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 26.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  7. Nov 20, 2019Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  8. Nov 20, 2019Committee

    Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  9. Nov 18, 2019Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.

    Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee
  10. Nov 18, 2019Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

    Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
  11. Nov 15, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  12. Nov 15, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  13. Nov 15, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  14. Nov 15, 2019IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Reported to House, Part IDec 17, 20208

Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible Pipelines Act of 2019 or the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

This bill addresses natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines safety.

Among other things, the bill

  • reauthorizes pipeline safety activities through FY2023;
  • prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing;
  • makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves;
  • directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders;
  • increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from knowingly and willfully to knowingly or recklessly;
  • requires advanced leak-detection that can identify leak locations and amounts released on gas pipelines;
  • directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to finalize a rule on gas gathering lines; and
  • authorizes DOT to establish a confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing system to improve natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline safety.
Introduced in HouseNov 15, 2019

Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible Pipelines Act of 2019 or the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.

Among other things, the bill

  • reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities;
  • prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing;
  • makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves;
  • directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders;
  • increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from knowingly and willfully to knowingly or recklessly;
  • requires advanced leak-detection that can identify leak locations and amounts released on gas pipelines; and
  • directs the Department of Transportation to finalize a rule on gas gathering lines.
SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 — Informed