119-hr5301

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5301 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5301

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
 pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 11, 2025

 Mr. Graves (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Webster of 
 Florida, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was 
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

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide enhanced safety in 
 pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; DEFINITION.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting 
Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act of 2025'' or the 
``PIPES Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definition.

Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

Sec. 4. Workforce development.

Sec. 5. Regulatory updates.

Sec. 6. Incorporation by reference.

Sec. 7. Inspection activity reporting.

Sec. 8. Technical safety standards committees.

Sec. 9. Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement prior to rulemaking 
 activities.

Sec. 10. Office of Public Engagement.

Sec. 11. Class location changes.

Sec. 12. Pipeline operating status.

Sec. 13. Rights-of-way management.

Sec. 14. Study on composite materials for pipelines.

Sec. 15. Competitive Academic Agreement Program.

Sec. 16. Geohazard mitigation study.

Sec. 17. Special permit program.

Sec. 18. Excavation damage prevention.

Sec. 19. Integrity management study.

Sec. 20. Hydrogen study.

Sec. 21. Penalty for causing a defect in or disrupting operation of 
 pipeline infrastructure.

Sec. 22. Civil penalties.

Sec. 23. Liquefied natural gas regulatory coordination.

Sec. 24. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system.

Sec. 25. Carbon dioxide pipelines.

Sec. 26. Opportunity for formal hearing.

Sec. 27. State pipeline safety grants reporting.

Sec. 28. Disclosure of safety information assessment.

Sec. 29. Assessment of certain pipeline safety definitions.

Sec. 30. Report assessing the costs of pipeline failures.

Sec. 31. Study on localized emergency alert system for pipeline 
 facilities incidents.

Sec. 32. Maximum allowable operating pressure.
            (c) State Defined.--In this Act, the term ``State'' has the meaning 
given such term in 

section 60101

    (a) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid.--

Section 60125 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking subsection

    (a) and inserting the 
following:
 ``

    (a) Gas and Hazardous Liquid.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--From fees collected under 

section 60301, 
 there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to 
 carry out 

section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 
 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 107-355) and the 
 provisions of this chapter relating to gas and hazardous 
 liquid--
 ``
        (A) $181,400,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
 ``
            (i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
 Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
 107-355); and
 ``
            (ii) $73,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants;
 ``
        (B) $189,800,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
 ``
            (i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
 Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
 107-355); and
 ``
            (ii) $75,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants;
 ``
            (C) $198,200,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
 ``
            (i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
 Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
 107-355); and
 ``
            (ii) $77,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants; and
 ``
            (D) $206,600,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
 ``
            (i) $9,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of the Pipeline Safety Improvement 
 Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public Law 
 107-355); and
 ``
            (ii) $79,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants.
 ``

    (2) Trust fund amounts.--In addition to the amounts 
 authorized to be appropriated under paragraph

    (1) , there are 
 authorized to be appropriated from the Oil Spill Liability 
 Trust Fund established by 

section 9509

    (a) of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986 to carry out 

section 12 of the Pipeline 
 Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; Public 
 Law 107-355) and the provisions of this chapter relating to 
 hazardous liquid--
 ``
        (A) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
 ``
            (i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
 in 

section 12

    (f) of the Pipeline Safety 
 Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
 Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of such Act; and
 ``
            (ii) $11,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants;
 ``
        (B) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
 ``
            (i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
 in 

section 12

    (f) of the Pipeline Safety 
 Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
 Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of such Act; and
 ``
            (ii) $11,500,000 shall be used for making 
 grants;
 ``
            (C) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
 ``
            (i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
 in 

section 12

    (f) of the Pipeline Safety 
 Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
 Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of such Act; and
 ``
            (ii) $12,000,000 shall be used for making 
 grants; and
 ``
            (D) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
 ``
            (i) $2,000,000, pursuant to the authority 
 in 

section 12

    (f) of the Pipeline Safety 
 Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note; 
 Public Law 107-355), shall be used to carry out 
 

section 12 of such Act; and
 ``
            (ii) $12,500,000 shall be used for making 
 grants.
 ``

    (3) Underground natural gas storage facility safety 
 account.--From fees collected under 

section 60302, there is 
 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
 

section 60141 $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 
 2029.
 ``

    (4) Recruitment and retention.--From amounts made 
 available to the Secretary under paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) , the 
 Secretary shall use, to carry out 

section 104

    (a) of the PIPES 
 Act of 2025 and 

section 102
            (c) of the Protecting our 
 Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 
 (Public Law 116-260)--
 ``
        (A) $3,400,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
 ``
            (i) $2,890,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (1)
        (A) ; and
 ``
            (ii) $510,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (2)
        (A) ;
 ``
        (B) $5,100,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
 ``
            (i) $4,335,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (1)
        (B) ; and
 ``
            (ii) $765,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (2)
        (B) ;
 ``
            (C) $6,800,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
 ``
            (i) $5,780,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (1)
            (C) ; and
 ``
            (ii) $1,020,000 shall be from amounts 
 made available under paragraph

    (2)
            (C) ; and
 ``
            (D) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
 ``
            (i) $7,225,000 shall be from amounts made 
 available under paragraph

    (1)
            (D) ; and
 ``
            (ii) $1,275,000 shall be from amounts 
 made available under paragraph

    (2)
            (D) .''.

    (b) Operational Expenses.--

Section 2

    (b) of the PIPES Act of 2016 
(Public Law 114-183; 130 Stat. 515) is amended by striking paragraphs

    (1) through

    (3) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) $31,681,000 for fiscal year 2026.
 ``

    (2) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
 ``

    (3) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
 ``

    (4) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.
            (c) One-Call Notification Programs.--

Section 6107 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,058,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting ``$2,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2026 through 2029''.
            (d) Emergency Response Grants.--

Section 60125

    (b)

    (2) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2021 through 
2023'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2026 through 2029''.

    (e) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.--

Section 60130
            (c) (1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out 
this section.'' and inserting the following: ``, to carry out this 
section, the following:
 ``
        (A) $2,250,000 for fiscal year 2026.
 ``
        (B) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
 ``
            (C) $2,750,000 for fiscal year 2028.
 ``
            (D) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.

    (f) Improving Technical Assistance.--

Section 60130
            (c) (2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
 award $1,000,000'' and inserting ``, the Secretary shall 
 award''; and

    (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
 following: ``the following amounts:
 ``
        (A) $1,250,000 for fiscal year 2026.
 ``
        (B) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
 ``
            (C) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2028.
 ``
            (D) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.

    (g) Damage Prevention Programs.--

Section 60134
            (i) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by striking 
``$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023'' and inserting 
``$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029''.

    (h) Pipeline Integrity Program.--

Section 12

    (f) of the Pipeline 
Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and inserting 
 ``$2,000,000''; and

    (2) by striking ``2021 through 2023'' and inserting ``2026 
 through 2029''.
            (i) Securing Systems Grants.--

    (1) In general.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States 
 Code, is amended by adding at the end of the following:
``

Sec. 60144. Safe Energy for Communities Updating and Replacing 
 Infrastructure for Natural Gas Systems grants
 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary may provide grants to assist 
publicly owned natural gas distribution pipeline systems to--
 ``

    (1) advance the safe delivery of energy through reducing 
 the risk profile of existing municipal and community-owned 
 natural gas distribution infrastructure that contains high-risk 
 or leaking pipelines that may result in fatalities, injuries, 
 or significant damages to property resulting from unintentional 
 natural gas leaks; and
 ``

    (2) reduce monetary losses to the utility.
 ``

    (b) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible to receive a grant 
under this section is a natural gas distribution system utility owned 
and operated by a--
 ``

    (1) community;
 ``

    (2) municipality;
 ``

    (3) city or township;
 ``

    (4) county; or
 ``

    (5) Federally-recognized Tribal government.
 ``
            (c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require that directly relates to technical aspects of the grant 
application, including a description of the projects or activities 
proposed to be funded by the grant.
 ``
            (d) Uses.--A grant provided under this section may be used to 
repair, rehabilitate, or replace a natural gas distribution pipeline 
system or portions of a natural gas distribution pipeline system.
 ``

    (e) Considerations.--The Secretary shall establish procedures for 
awarding grants under this section that take into consideration--
 ``

    (1) the risk profile of the existing pipeline system 
 operated by the applicant, including the presence of pipe prone 
 to leakage, and how the project would improve the safe delivery 
 of energy;
 ``

    (2) the financial ability of the utility to fund the 
 project in the absence of Federal financial assistance;
 ``

    (3) the ability for the project to reduce monetary losses 
 to the utility by improving system reliability, reducing lost 
 natural gas from leaking pipe, or reducing costs associated 
 with maintenance and repair activities; and
 ``

    (4) the legal authority and capability of the applicant 
 to carry out the project.
 ``

    (f) Prioritization.--In making grants for projects eligible under 
this section, the Secretary shall prioritize grants for projects that--
 ``

    (1) serve a rural area, as defined in 

section 22907

    (g)

    (2) or an economically distressed community that meets the 
 eligibility criteria described in 

section 301 of the Public 
 Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161); or
 ``

    (2) address the highest safety concerns based on the risk 
 profile and condition of the existing pipeline system as 
 outlined in the operator's distribution integrity management 
 plan, factoring in relevant data, leak statistics, and risk 
 analysis.
 ``

    (g) Limitations.--
 ``

    (1) Awards to a single utility.--The Secretary may not 
 award more than 12.5 percent of the total amount made available 
 in any fiscal year to carry out this section to a single 
 eligible entity described in subsection

    (b) .
 ``

    (2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 2 percent of 
 the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection
            (i) (1) for a 
 fiscal year may be used by the Secretary for the administrative 
 costs of carrying out this section.
 ``

    (h) Cost Sharing.--The total amount awarded for a project under 
this section shall be not less than 90 percent of the total eligible 
project costs described in subsection
            (d) .
 ``
            (i) Funding.--
 ``

    (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
 to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
 $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029, to 
 remain available until expended.
 ``

    (2) Requirement.--Any amounts used to carry out this 
 section--
 ``
        (A) shall be derived from the General Fund of the 
 Treasury; and
 ``
        (B) shall not be derived from user fees collected 
 under 

section 60301.''.

    (2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of 
 title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
 the following:

``60144. Safe Energy for Communities Updating and Replacing 
 Infrastructure for Natural Gas Systems 
 grants.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 

Section 60101

    (a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (8)
        (B) by inserting ``and carbon dioxide'' 
 after ``hazardous liquid'';

    (2) in paragraph

    (18) by inserting ``, a carbon dioxide 
 pipeline facility,'' after ``gas pipeline facility'';

    (3) in paragraph

    (19) by inserting ``, transporting carbon 
 dioxide,'' after ``transporting gas'';

    (4) in paragraph

    (24) by inserting ``, carbon dioxide,'' 
 after ``a gas'';

    (5) in paragraph

    (25) by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (6) by redesignating paragraphs

    (1) ,

    (2) ,

    (3) ,

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (9) ,

    (7) ,

    (10) ,

    (8) ,

    (11) ,

    (12) ,

    (13) ,

    (14) ,

    (15) ,

    (16) ,

    (17) ,

    (18) ,

    (19) ,

    (23) ,

    (24) ,

    (25) ,

    (20) ,

    (21) ,

    (22) , and

    (26) as paragraphs

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (7) ,

    (8) ,

    (11) ,

    (12) ,

    (13) ,

    (14) ,

    (15) ,

    (16) ,

    (17) ,

    (18) ,

    (19) ,

    (20) ,

    (21) ,

    (23) ,

    (24) ,

    (25) ,

    (27) ,

    (28) ,

    (29) ,

    (30) ,

    (32) ,

    (33) , and

    (35) , respectively, and 
 transferring the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;

    (7) by inserting before paragraph

    (4) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (1) `carbon dioxide' means a product stream consisting of 
 more than 50 percent carbon dioxide molecules in any state of 
 matter except solid;
 ``

    (2) `carbon dioxide pipeline facility'--
 ``
        (A) means a pipeline, a right of way, a facility, 
 a building, or equipment used, or intended to be used, 
 in transporting carbon dioxide or treating carbon 
 dioxide during the transportation of such carbon 
 dioxide; but
 ``
        (B) does not include any storage facility, 
 piping, or equipment covered by the exclusion in 
 

section 60102
            (i) (3)
        (B)
            (ii) ;
 ``

    (3) `de-identified' means the process by which all 
 information that is likely to establish the identity of the 
 specific persons, organizations, or entities submitting 
 reports, data, or other information is removed from reports, 
 data, or other information;'';

    (8) by inserting after paragraph

    (8) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (9) `interstate carbon dioxide pipeline facility' means a 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facility used to transport carbon 
 dioxide in interstate or foreign commerce;
 ``

    (10) `intrastate carbon dioxide pipeline facility' means 
 a carbon dioxide pipeline facility that is not an interstate 
 carbon dioxide facility;'';

    (9) by inserting after paragraph

    (21) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (22) `non-public pipeline safety data and information' 
 means any pipeline safety data or information, regardless of 
 form or format, that a company does not disclose, disseminate, 
 or make available to the public or that is not otherwise in the 
 public domain;'';

    (10) by inserting after paragraph

    (25) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (26) `public information' means any data or information, 
 regardless of form or format, that a company discloses, 
 disseminates, or makes available to the public or that is 
 otherwise in the public domain;'';

    (11) by inserting after paragraph

    (30) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (31) `transporting carbon dioxide' means the movement of 
 carbon dioxide or the storage of carbon dioxide incidental to 
 the movement of carbon dioxide by pipeline, in or affecting 
 interstate or foreign commerce;''; and

    (12) by inserting after paragraph

    (33) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (34) `Tribal' means relating to Indian Tribes, as such 
 term is defined in 

section 102 of the Federally Recognized 
 Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130); and''.

SEC. 4. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Additional Full-Time Equivalent Employees.--In addition to the 
personnel level authorized for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration as of the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of such Administration may increase the number of full-
time equivalent employees or directly supporting in the Office of 
Pipeline Safety by not more than 30 positions for employees who have 
advanced engineering, scientific, or other technical expertise (or 
equivalent experience) to--

    (1) develop and implement pipeline safety policies and 
 regulations; and

    (2) fulfill congressional rulemaking mandates.

    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to 
Congress a report on--

    (1) any progress made on implementation of subsection

    (a) ;

    (2) the implementation of the recruitment and retention 
 incentives authorized in 

section 102 of the PIPES Act of 2020 
 (Public Law 116-260);

    (3) barriers and challenges to hiring and retention at the 
 Administration;

    (4) staffing levels of inspection and enforcement personnel 
 of the Administration; and

    (5) any additional workforce needs of the Administration.
            (c) Effect on Existing Regulation.--

Section 102
            (c) of the PIPES Act 
of 2020 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note) is amended by striking paragraph

    (3) and 
inserting the following:
 ``

    (3) Effect on existing regulation.--In implementing the 
 incentives described in paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary, in 
 consultation with the Administrator of the Pipeline and 
 Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, may waive existing 
 regulations.''.

SEC. 5. REGULATORY UPDATES.

    (a) Definition of Outstanding Mandate.--In this section, the term 
``outstanding mandate'' means--

    (1) a final rule required to be issued under the Pipeline 
 Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 
 (Public Law 112-90) that has not been published in the Federal 
 Register;

    (2) a final rule required to be issued under the PIPES Act 
 of 2016 (Public Law 114-183) that has not been published in the 
 Federal Register;

    (3) a final rule required to be issued under the PIPES Act 
 of 2020 (Public Law 116-260) that has not been published in the 
 Federal Register; and

    (4) any other final rule regarding gas or hazardous liquid 
 pipeline facilities that--
        (A) has not been published in the Federal Register; 
 and
        (B) is required to be issued under this Act or any 
 other Act.

    (b) Requirements.--

    (1) Periodic updates.--Not later than 30 days after the 
 date of enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter 
 until each outstanding mandate is published in the Federal 
 Register, the Secretary of Transportation shall publish on a 
 publicly available website of the Department of Transportation 
 an update regarding the status of each such mandate in 
 accordance with subsection
            (c) .

    (2) Notification of congress.--On publication of a final 
 rule in the Federal Register for an outstanding mandate, the 
 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a notification of 
 such publication.
            (c) Contents.--An update published or a notification submitted 
under subsection

    (b)

    (1) shall contain, as applicable--

    (1) with respect to information relating to the 
 Administration--
        (A) a description of the work plan for each 
 outstanding mandate;
        (B) an updated rulemaking timeline for each 
 outstanding mandate;
            (C) the staff allocations with respect to each 
 outstanding mandate;
            (D) any resource constraints affecting the 
 rulemaking process for each outstanding mandate;
        (E) any other details associated with the 
 development of each outstanding mandate that affect the 
 progress of the rulemaking process with respect to that 
 outstanding mandate; and
        (F) a description of all rulemakings regarding gas 
 or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities published in 
 the Federal Register that are not identified under 
 subsection

    (b)

    (2) ; and

    (2) with respect to information relating to the Office of 
 the Secretary--
        (A) the date that the outstanding mandate was 
 submitted to the Office of the Secretary for review;
        (B) the reason that the outstanding mandate is 
 under review beyond 45 days;
            (C) the staff allocations within the Office of the 
 Secretary with respect to each outstanding mandate;
            (D) any resource constraints affecting review of 
 the outstanding mandate;
        (E) an estimated timeline of when review of the 
 outstanding mandate will be complete, as of the date of 
 the update;
        (F) if applicable, the date that the outstanding 
 mandate was returned to the Administration for revision 
 and the anticipated date for resubmission to the Office 
 of the Secretary;
        (G) the date that the outstanding mandate was 
 submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for 
 review; and
        (H) a statement of whether the outstanding mandate 
 remains under review by the Office of Management and 
 Budget.

SEC. 6. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

    (a) In General.--

Section 60102 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subsection
            (l) and inserting the following:
 ``
            (l) Updating Standards.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
 years, or if an interested person otherwise petitions in 
 accordance with 

section 190.331 of title 49, Code of Federal 
 Regulations (or successor regulation), the Secretary shall 
 review, and update as necessary, incorporated industry 
 standards that have been adopted, either partially or in full, 
 as part of the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program under 
 this chapter that are modified and published by a standards 
 development organization, as such term is defined in 

section 2

    (a) of the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 
 1993 (15 U.S.C. 4301

    (a) ).
 ``

    (2) Discretion in adopting industry standards.--The 
 Secretary may decline to adopt an industry standard that is 
 inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impracticable, 
 including in circumstances where the use of an industry 
 standard would not serve the needs of the Federal pipeline 
 safety regulatory program, would impose undue burdens, or if 
 the Secretary determines the standard was improperly influenced 
 by foreign entities.
 ``

    (3) List of industry standards.--The Secretary shall--
 ``
        (A) maintain a publicly available list of all 
 industry standards considered for adoption under this 
 chapter and the agency's adjudication of each 
 considered standard;
 ``
        (B) include the reasoning for not adopting an 
 industry standard, whether in full or in part, on the 
 list under subparagraph
        (A) ; and
 ``
            (C) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
 such list not later than--
 ``
            (i) 30 days after completion of such 
 list; and
 ``
            (ii) 30 days after the date of any 
 subsequent revisions to such list.
 ``

    (4) Public accessibility.--Any industry standards 
 incorporated by reference, or portions thereof, shall be made 
 available by the entity that developed such standards free of 
 charge for viewing on a publicly available website.''.

    (b) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--

    (1) conduct a review to determine compliance with 

section 60102
            (l) (4) of title 49, United States Code; and

    (2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
 review conducted under paragraph

    (1) .

SEC. 7. INSPECTION ACTIVITY REPORTING.

    (a) Inspection and Enforcement Priorities.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall establish, and make available to the public in an 
electronically accessible format, a report containing the inspection 
and enforcement priorities of the Office of Pipeline Safety of the 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for fiscal years 
2026 through 2029. Such report shall include a description of--

    (1) how the Administrator will use the priorities to guide 
 the inspection program of such Office;

    (2) how the inspection and enforcement priorities will 
 improve pipeline safety; and

    (3) how the Administrator communicates and coordinates the 
 implementation of inspection and enforcement priorities with 
 regional offices and State inspectors operating under delegated 
 authority.

    (b) Notice and Comment.--Prior to publication of the inspection and 
enforcement priorities under subsection

    (a) , the Administrator shall 
solicit through notice in the Federal Register public comment on such 
priorities.
            (c) Summary of Pipeline Inspections.--Not later than June 1 of each 
year beginning with the year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall make available to the public in an 
electronically accessible format a summary of Federal and State 
pipeline inspections conducted under direct or delegated authority of 
title 49, United States Code, during the previous calendar year, to 
include--

    (1) the date of the inspection;

    (2) the name of the pipeline owner or operator;

    (3) the pipeline system or segment inspected;

    (4) the region or regions of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
 Materials Safety Administration in which the inspected system 
 or segment operates;

    (5) the State or States in which the inspected system or 
 segment operates; and

    (6) any violations, or proposed violations, found as a 
 result of pipeline inspections.

SEC. 8. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.

    (a) Committee Reports on Proposed Standards.--

Section 60115
            (c) (1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A) by inserting ``, if applicable'' 
 after ``each proposed standard''; and

    (2) in subparagraph
        (B) by inserting ``, if applicable'' 
 after ``each proposed standard''.

    (b) Report.--

Section 60115
            (c) (2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ``and provide written notification of such 
reasons to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate at 
the time a final rulemaking relating to the standard is issued'' after 
``publish the reasons''.
            (c) Frequency of Meetings.--

Section 60115

    (e) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``up to 4'' and inserting ``2''.

SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PHMSA ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO RULEMAKING 
 ACTIVITIES.

 It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) the Secretary of Transportation should engage with 
 pipeline stakeholder groups, including State pipeline safety 
 programs with an approved certification under 

section 60105 of 
 title 49, United States Code, and Tribal, State, and local 
 governments and members of the public during predrafting stages 
 of rulemaking activities and use, to the greatest extent 
 practicable, properly docketed ex parte discussions during 
 rulemaking activities in order to--
        (A) inform the work of the Secretary;
        (B) assist the Administrator of the Pipeline and 
 Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in developing 
 the scope of a rule; and
            (C) reduce the timeline for issuance of proposed 
 and final rules; and

    (2) when it would reduce the time required for the 
 Secretary to adjudicate public comments, the Administrator 
 should publicly provide information describing the rationale 
 behind a regulatory decision included in proposed regulations 
 in order to better allow for the public to provide clear and 
 informed comments on such regulations.

SEC. 10. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall rename the Community 
Liaison Services within the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as the Office of Public 
Engagement (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ``Office'').

    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Office are to--

    (1) proactively engage with pipeline stakeholders, 
 including the public, pipeline operators, public safety 
 organizations, and State, local, and Tribal government 
 officials, to raise awareness of pipeline safety practices;

    (2) promote the adoption and increased use of safety 
 programs and activities;

    (3) inform the public of pipeline safety regulations and 
 best practices; and

    (4) assist the public with inquiries regarding pipeline 
 safety.
            (c) Public Access.--The Office shall ensure that activities carried 
out by the Office and information products developed by the Office are 
accessible to the public.
            (d) Community Liaisons.--The Office shall incorporate positions 
known as ``community liaisons'' under the Community Liaison Services.

    (e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
implementation of this section.

SEC. 11. CLASS LOCATION CHANGES.

 Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe a final rule amending the 
safety standards for class location changes in parts 191 and 192 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, based on the notice of proposed 
rulemaking published by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration on October 14, 2020, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Class 
Location Change Requirements'' (85 Fed. Reg. 65142), including 
consideration of all documents in Docket No. PHMSA-2017-0151.

SEC. 12. PIPELINE OPERATING STATUS.

 

Section 60143

    (b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking paragraph

    (1) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
 of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2025, the Secretary shall 
 issue a notice of proposed rulemaking prescribing the 
 applicability of the pipeline safety requirements to idled 
 natural gas or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid 
 pipelines.''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (E) Consideration.--In promulgating regulations 
 under this section, the Secretary shall consider the 
 adoption of industry consensus standards.''.

SEC. 13. RIGHTS-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT.

 

Section 60108

    (a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) Alternative Method of Maintaining Rights-of-way.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--As part of the review conducted under 
 paragraph

    (3) , the Secretary shall allow for an alternative 
 method of maintaining rights-of-way for pipelines and other 
 pipeline facilities under a voluntary program carried out by 
 the operator if such alternative method achieves a level of 
 safety at least equal to the level of safety required by 
 regulations issued under this chapter.
 ``
        (B) === Purpose ===
-An operator considering implementing an 
 alternative method described under subparagraph
        (A) may 
 consider incorporating into the plan for implementing such 
 method 1 or more conservation practices, including--
 ``
            (i) integrated vegetation management practices, 
 including reduced mowing;
 ``
            (ii) the development of habitat and forage for 
 pollinators and other wildlife through seeding or 
 planting of diverse native forbs and grasses;
 ``
            (iii) practices relating to maintenance 
 strategies that promote early successional vegetation 
 or limit disturbance during periods of highest use by 
 target pollinator species and other wildlife on 
 pipeline or facilities rights-of-way, including--
 ``
            (I) increasing mowing height;
 ``
            (II) reducing mowing frequency; and
 ``
            (III) refraining from mowing monarch and 
 other pollinator habitat during periods in 
 which monarchs or other pollinators are 
 present;
 ``
            (iv) an integrated vegetation management plan 
 that may include approaches such as mechanical tree and 
 brush removal and targeted and judicious use of 
 herbicides and mowing to address incompatible or 
 undesirable vegetation while promoting compatible and 
 beneficial vegetation on pipeline and facilities 
 rights-of-way;
 ``
            (v) planting or seeding of deeply rooted, 
 regionally appropriate perennial grasses and 
 wildflowers, including milkweed, to enhance habitat;
 ``
            (vi) removing shallow-rooted grasses from 
 planting and seeding mixes, except for use as nurse or 
 cover crops; or
 ``
            (vii) obtaining expert training or assistance on 
 wildlife and pollinator-friendly practices, including--
 ``
            (I) native plant identification;
 ``
            (II) establishment and management of 
 regionally appropriate native plants;
 ``
            (III) land management practices; and
 ``
            (IV) integrated vegetation management.
 ``
            (C) Savings clause.--Nothing in this section exempts an 
 operator from compliance with the applicable requirements under 
 this chapter or any applicable regulations promulgated under 
 this chapter.
 ``
            (D) Consultation.--
 ``
            (i) Available guidance.--In developing such 
 alternative methods, an operator shall consult any 
 available guidance issued by--
 ``
            (I) the Secretary; or
 ``
            (II) an applicable State agency carrying 
 out compliance activities on behalf of the 
 Secretary in accordance with 

section 60105.
 ``
            (ii) Leading industry practices.--In the absence 
 of the guidance described in clause
            (i) , an operator 
 may consult leading industry practices and guidance to 
 develop and implement such alternative methods.''.

SEC. 14. STUDY ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR PIPELINES.

    (a) Study on Use of Composite Materials.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall complete a study assessing the potential and 
existing use of pipelines constructed with composite materials to 
safely transport hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas.

    (b) Study Considerations.--In completing the study under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall consider--

    (1) any commercially available composite pipeline 
 materials;

    (2) any completed or ongoing tests and data regarding 
 composite pipeline materials available to the Secretary or 
 other Federal agencies; and

    (3) any recommended standards, including consensus 
 standards, and Federal agency authorizations relating to use of 
 composite pipeline materials.
            (c) Public Participation.--To ensure adequate public participation 
in completing the study under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall--

    (1) hold a public meeting with interested stakeholders, 
 including the affected industries, interest groups, and other 
 individuals with relevant expertise;

    (2) release a draft version of the study for public comment 
 for a period of not less than 60 days; and

    (3) address any substantive comments submitted by the 
 public during the public comment period under paragraph

    (2) in 
 preparing the final study.
            (d) Public Meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the closing of 
the public comment period under subsection
            (c) (2) , the Secretary shall 
hold a public meeting to present the findings of the study under this 
section and any responses to public comments received under such 
subsection.

    (e) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months after the meeting 
described in subsection
            (d) , the Secretary shall issue a rulemaking 
that includes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to allow for the use of 
composite materials for pipeline transportation of hydrogen and 
hydrogen blended with natural gas.

SEC. 15. COMPETITIVE ACADEMIC AGREEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Federal Share.--

    (1) In general.--In carrying out the Competitive Academic 
 Agreement Program pursuant to 

section 60117
            (l) of title 49, 
 United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation may allow 
 for a 100-percent Federal share of financial assistance for a 
 project carried out by small and mid-sized institutions.

    (2) Written request required.--The Secretary may only allow 
 the use of a 100-percent Federal share under paragraph

    (1) if 
 the applicable institution has provided a written request to 
 the Secretary prior to the award of Federal assistance under 
 such Program.

    (3) Small and mid-sized institutions defined.--In this 
 subsection, the term ``small and mid-sized institutions'' means 
 academic institutions eligible for a grant under the 
 Competitive Academic Agreement Program with a current total 
 enrollment of 17,500 students or less, including graduate and 
 undergraduate as well as full- and part-time students.

    (b) Report.--Following any award of grants under the Competitive 
Academic Agreement Program, the Secretary shall provide to Congress a 
written report detailing--

    (1) the recipients of such grants; and

    (2) any grantees that were provided a 100-percent Federal 
 share under this section.

SEC. 16. GEOHAZARD MITIGATION STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare 
a report containing--

    (1) the results of a study that--
        (A) evaluates Federal and State, as applicable, 
 requirements for gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon 
 dioxide pipeline facility design, siting, construction, 
 operation and maintenance, and integrity management 
 relating to geohazards, including seismicity, land 
 subsidence, landslides, slope instability, frost heave, 
 soil settlement, erosion, river scour, washouts, 
 floods, unstable soil, water currents, hurricanes, 
 dynamic geologic conditions, tsunamis, tornados, 
 wildfires, floods, ice storms, or other hazards that 
 may cause a pipeline to move or be affected by abnormal 
 external loads;
        (B) evaluates any industry consensus standards or 
 best practices related to the requirements described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) ;
            (C) evaluates the implementation by operators of 
 Federal and State regulations related to geohazards and 
 application of recommendations included in the Advisory 
 Bulletin of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
 Administration titled ``Pipeline Safety: Potential for 
 Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement 
 and Other Geological Hazards'', issued on May 2, 2019 
 (PHMSA-2019-0087);
            (D) identifies any discrepancies in the 
 requirements described in subparagraph
        (A) and 
 advisories, industry consensus standards, or best 
 practices for operators of gas, hazardous liquid, and 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facilities; and
        (E) identifies any areas relating to geohazards not 
 addressed under subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) ; and

    (2) any recommendations of the Government Accountability 
 Office based on the results of the study under paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the report under 
subsection

    (a) , the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary 
of Transportation, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate the report.

SEC. 17. SPECIAL PERMIT PROGRAM.

    (a) Compliance and Waivers.--

Section 60118
            (c) (1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) Limitation on terms.--The Secretary shall 
 impose no terms on a waiver under this paragraph that 
 do not apply to known pipeline safety risks applicable 
 to the standard being waived under subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (D) Publication.--Upon completion of the 
 application requirements under 

section 190.341 of title 
 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor 
 regulations, the Secretary shall publish notice of the 
 application in the Federal Register.
 ``
        (E) Review of application.--The Secretary shall 
 complete a review of each such application not later 
 than 18 months after publishing a notice in the Federal 
 Register described in subparagraph
            (D) with respect to 
 the application.''.

    (b) Report to Congress.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
 submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
 and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
 Transportation of the Senate a report on the implementation by 
 the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
 Safety Administration of the amendment made by subsection

    (a) .

    (2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph

    (1) shall include--
        (A) a listing of each special permit application 
 applied for under 

section 60118
            (c) (1) of title 49, 
 United States Code;
        (B) a brief summary of the purpose of each such 
 special permit;
            (C) the date on which each such application was 
 received;
            (D) the date on which each such application was 
 completed or, in the absence of completion, the status 
 of the application;
        (E) the date on which the Secretary issued a 
 determination on the application; and
        (F) the explanation of the Secretary for any 
 decision made outside the review period identified in 
 

section 60118
            (c) (1)
        (E) of title 49, United States Code, 
 if applicable.
            (c) GAO Report.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of the 
report under subsection

    (b) , the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report assessing the Secretary's 
implementation of, and compliance with, subparagraphs
            (C) through
        (E) of 

section 60118
            (c) (1) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 18. EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION.

    (a) Grants to States.--

Section 6106 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) by inserting ``adoption or progress 
 toward adoption of the leading practices listed in subsection

    (b) and'' before ``legislative and regulatory'';

    (2) by redesignating subsections

    (b) and
            (c) as subsections
            (d) and

    (e) , respectively;

    (3) by inserting after subsection

    (a) the following:
 ``

    (b) Leading Practices.--A State one-call program shall implement 
leading practices that--
 ``

    (1) identify the size and scope of a one-call ticket for 
 standard locate requests, including process exceptions for 
 special large project tickets;
 ``

    (2) restrict the longevity of a one-call ticket for 
 standard locate requests, which may include process exceptions 
 for special large project tickets;
 ``

    (3) examine and limit exemptions to one-call programs to 
 prevent common excavation damage incidents, including--
 ``
        (A) excavation or demolition performed by the 
 owner of a single-family residential property;
 ``
        (B) any excavation of 18 inches or less when 
 maintenance activities are performed;
 ``
            (C) repairing, connecting, adjusting, or 
 conducting routine maintenance of a private or public 
 underground utility facility; and
 ``
            (D) for municipalities, public works 
 organizations, and State departments of transportation 
 for road maintenance;
 ``

    (4) specify tolerance zone horizontal dimensions and 
 requirements for hand-dig, hydro, vacuum excavation, and other 
 nonintrusive methods;
 ``

    (5) specify emergency excavation notification 
 requirements, including defining emergency excavation and 
 identifying the notification requirements for an emergency 
 excavation;
 ``

    (6) specify the responsibilities of the excavator, 
 including the reporting of damages due to excavation 
 activities;
 ``

    (7) define who is an excavator and what is considered 
 excavation;
 ``

    (8) require the use of white lining or electronic white 
 lining, allowing for exceptions for special large-project 
 tickets;
 ``

    (9) require a positive response, such as the utility, 
 municipality, or other entity placing the marks positively 
 responds to the notification center and the excavator checks 
 for a positive response before beginning excavation;
 ``

    (10) require newly installed underground facilities to be 
 locatable;
 ``

    (11) require the marking of lines and laterals, including 
 sewer lines and laterals;
 ``

    (12) require training programs and requirements for 
 third-party excavators performing excavation activities that 
 are not subject to pipeline construction requirements under 
 part 192 or part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations;
 ``

    (13) require training for locate professionals; and
 ``

    (14) require the use of commercially available 
 technologies to locate underground facilities, such as 
 geographic information systems and enhanced positive response.
 ``
            (c) Report to Congress.--
 ``

    (1) Initial report.--Not later than 3 years after the 
 implementation of subsection

    (b) , the Secretary shall submit to 
 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
 Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
 Transportation of the Senate a report detailing--
 ``
        (A) the implementation of the leading practices 
 described in such subsection;
 ``
        (B) recommendations to increase the adoption of 
 such leading practices and recommendations for the 
 reduction of excavation damage incidents; and
 ``
            (C) the number of underground facility damages 
 per 1,000 one-call tickets in each State for the 
 reporting year.
 ``

    (2) Additional reports.--Not later than once every 2 
 years after the submittal of the report under paragraph

    (1) , 
 the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
 and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing--
 ``
        (A) the implementation of the leading practices 
 described in subsection

    (b) ;
 ``
        (B) recommendations to increase the adoption of 
 such leading practices and recommendations for the 
 reduction of excavation damage incidents; and
 ``
            (C) the number of underground facility damages 
 per 1,000 one-call tickets in each state for each year 
 covered by the report.''; and

    (4) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall make a grant 
award to a State by the Secretary pursuant to 

section 60107 or 

section 60134 for a State program certified under 

section 60105 or 

section 60106 contingent on compliance by the State with all leading practices 
described in subsection

    (b) .''.

    (b) State Damage Prevention Programs.--

Section 60134
            (c) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``In making grants'' and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (1) In general.--In making grants''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) Considerations.--In evaluating criteria for 
 determining the effectiveness of the damage prevention program 
 of a State, the Secretary shall consider whether the State has, 
 at a minimum--
 ``
        (A) effective, active, and consistent enforcement 
 of State one-call laws (including consistency in the 
 application of enforcement resources, fines, and 
 penalties to all relevant stakeholders, such as 
 operators, locators, and excavators);
 ``
        (B) data reporting requirements such as those--
 ``
            (i) to the local one-call center for 
 excavation damage events on pipelines and other 
 underground facilities, that are not privately 
 owned, including (if available at the time of 
 reporting)--
 ``
            (I) information about the nature 
 of the incident, including the facility 
 damaged and the apparent cause of such 
 damage (with supporting documentation);
 ``
            (II) the organizations or 
 entities involved;
 ``
            (III) the impact to public 
 safety, utility operations, and 
 customer service; and
 ``
            (IV) the impact to the 
 environment; and
 ``
            (ii) to a nationally focused nonprofit 
 organization specifically established for the 
 purpose of reducing construction-related 
 damages to underground facilities, of damages 
 and near-miss events to underground facilities 
 from excavation damages, including potential 
 contributing factors, facility damaged, type of 
 excavator, work performed, equipment type, and 
 State;
 ``
            (C) data reporting requirements, to a nonprofit 
 organization specifically established for the purpose 
 of reducing construction-related damage to underground 
 facilities, of damage and near-miss events to 
 underground facilities from excavation damage, 
 including root cause, facility damaged, type of 
 excavator, work performed, equipment type, and State; 
 and
 ``
            (D) performance measures to determine the 
 effectiveness of excavation damage prevention 
 efforts.''.

SEC. 19. INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academies under which the National 
Academies shall conduct a study of the effectiveness of integrity 
management regulations applicable to natural gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline facilities.

    (b) Data Sources.--In carrying out the study under subsection

    (a) , 
the National Academies shall--

    (1) use publicly available data from the Pipeline and 
 Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, State pipeline 
 regulatory agencies, and other public sources; and

    (2) consult with pipeline stakeholders in the development 
 of findings under the study, including State and Federal 
 regulators, pipeline operators, Tribal and local governments, 
 public safety organizations, and environmental organizations.
            (c) Elements.--The study described under subsection

    (a) shall 
include--

    (1) a review of previous assessments of integrity 
 management program implementation produced by or for the 
 Secretary or the National Transportation Safety Board;

    (2) a review of the implementation and enforcement by the 
 Secretary of integrity management regulations and any 
 modifications of the regulations issued by the Secretary 
 pursuant to 

section 60109 of title 49, United States Code;

    (3) a trend analysis and assessment of pipeline safety 
 incidents, accidents, and repairs for high consequence and non-
 high consequence areas, including comparing--
        (A) the frequency of such incidents, accidents, and 
 repairs before and after the implementation of the 
 Federal integrity management requirements described in 
 subsection

    (a) ; and
        (B) the frequency of such incidents, accidents, and 
 repairs during the period of time such integrity 
 management requirements have been in effect;

    (4) development of metrics to gauge the effectiveness of 
 the implementation and enforcement of such integrity management 
 regulations;

    (5) an assessment of how integrity management informs 
 operator activities, including planning and completion of 
 repairs, and whether the implementation of integrity management 
 regulations by operators of pipeline facilities has had a 
 demonstrable effect on improving gas and hazardous liquid 
 pipeline safety; and

    (6) identification of areas where pipeline safety has 
 improved and where it has not improved due to integrity 
 management.
            (d) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall--

    (1) require the National Academies to submit to the 
 Secretary a report on the results of the study under subsection

    (a) ; and

    (2) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
 this Act, submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate such report.

SEC. 20. HYDROGEN STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on existing natural gas pipeline systems that, as a 
result of hydrogen-natural gas blending, contain a percentage of 
hydrogen that is greater than 5 percent by volume to identify the 
changes that operators have implemented, including--

    (1) modifications or alternatives to--
        (A) odorants and leak-detection methods;
        (B) pipeline materials; and
            (C) operational standards; and

    (2) modifications to pipeline infrastructure.

    (b) Additional Contents.--The study under subsection

    (a) shall 
include--

    (1) an identification of any technical challenges with 
 repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure to allow such 
 infrastructure to be used for hydrogen-natural gas blended 
 service; and

    (2) an examination of hydrogen-natural gas blended pipeline 
 systems currently operating, including in the United States, 
 the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong.
            (c) Considerations.--In conducting the study under subsection

    (a) , 
the Comptroller General shall consider--

    (1) any changes that domestic and international operators 
 of natural gas pipeline systems have implemented to the 
 processes, pipeline materials, metering, and operational 
 standards used by such operators to account for the operation 
 and integrity of natural gas pipeline systems that use a 
 hydrogen content at variable percentages above 5 percent by 
 volume; and

    (2) how such operators have taken into account the effects 
 of hydrogen-natural gas blending on different types of--
        (A) natural gas pipeline systems materials, 
 including cast iron, steel, composite pipe, and plastic 
 pipe; and
        (B) components of such systems, including valves 
 and meters.
            (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of 
the study conducted under subsection

    (a) .

    (e) Rulemaking.--The results of the study under subsection

    (a) should inform the rulemaking efforts of the Secretary relating to 
hydrogen-natural gas blending. The Secretary may determine that 
rulemaking efforts related to hydrogen should be advanced before 
completion of the study under subsection

    (a) .

    (f) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit or otherwise limit the authority of the Secretary 
to issue regulations relating to hydrogen prior to the submission of 
the report under subsection
            (d) .

SEC. 21. PENALTY FOR CAUSING A DEFECT IN OR DISRUPTING OPERATION OF 
 PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE.

 

Section 60123 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
 ``

    (e) Penalty for Causing a Defect in or Disrupting Operation of 
Pipeline Infrastructure.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A person shall be fined under title 18, 
 imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, if the person 
 knowingly and willfully--
 ``
        (A) causes a defect in a pipe, pump, compressor, 
 or valve in the possession of a pipeline operator to be 
 used in construction of any pipeline facility described 
 in subsection

    (b) that would affect the integrity or 
 safe operation of any such facility; or
 ``
        (B) disrupts the operation of any pipeline 
 facility described in subsection

    (b) by causing or 
 undertaking the unauthorized or unplanned turning or 
 manipulation of a valve.
 ``

    (2) === Definition. ===
-In this subsection, the term `in the 
 possession of a pipeline operator' means, with respect to a 
 pipe, pump, compressor, or valve, that such pipe, pump, 
 compressor, or valve is--
 ``
        (A) in transit to a pipeline component staging 
 site or construction site;
 ``
        (B) at a pipeline component staging site; or
 ``
            (C) at a construction site.''.

SEC. 22. CIVIL PENALTIES.

 

Section 60122

    (a)

    (1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``$2,000,000'' and inserting ``$3,412,000''.

SEC. 23. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS REGULATORY COORDINATION.

    (a) Establishment and 

=== Purpose ===
-The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish and convene a Liquefied Natural Gas Regulatory Safety 
Working Group (in this section referred to as the ``Working Group'') 
through the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas 
Safety to clarify the authority of Federal agencies in the authorizing 
and oversight of LNG facilities, other than peak shaving facilities, 
and improve coordination of the authority of such agencies.

    (b) Membership.--

    (1) In general.--The Working Group shall consist of certain 
 representatives of the Federal Government, as such term is 
 defined in clauses
            (i) through
            (v) of 

section 111

    (a)

    (3)
        (F) of 
 the PIPES Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-260), as designated by 
 the Secretary of Transportation or appropriate Federal agency 
 leadership.

    (2) Chair.--The Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
 Materials Safety Administration or a designee of the 
 Administrator shall serve as chair of the Working Group, unless 
 an alternate member of the working group is selected by 
 unanimous consent of the Working Group.

    (3) Responsibilities of chair.--The Chair of the Working 
 Group shall establish an agenda and schedule for the Working 
 Group to accomplish the objectives described in subsection
            (c) .
            (c) Evaluation.--

    (1) In general.--The Working Group shall evaluate 
 individual Federal agency authorities pertaining to the siting 
 and design, construction, operation and maintenance, and 
 operational and process safety regulations of LNG facilities.

    (2) Negotiation.--The Working Group shall negotiate Federal 
 agency agreements pursuant to subsection
            (d) to establish 
 procedures for--
        (A) the application of the respective authorities 
 of each Federal agency in ensuring safety in a manner 
 to ensure effective regulation of LNG facilities in the 
 public interest;
        (B) resolving conflicts concerning overlapping 
 jurisdiction among the Federal agencies; and
            (C) avoiding, to the extent possible and if 
 appropriate, conflicting or duplicative regulation, 
 inspection protocols, and reporting obligations.
            (d) Memorandum of Understanding and Interagency Agreements.--Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
agencies represented on the Working Group shall enter into interagency 
agreements or memorandums of understanding regarding best practices and 
individual agency safety oversight enforcement responsibilities 
regarding LNG facilities, other than peak shaving facilities.

    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after entering into 
interagency agency agreements or memorandum of understanding under 
subsection
            (d) , the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the memorandum of 
understanding or interagency agreements and how such memorandum or 
agreements have contributed to improved safety and enforcement 
oversight coordination of LNG facilities.

    (f) LNG Defined.--In this section, the term ``LNG'' means liquefied 
natural gas.

SEC. 24. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``

Sec. 60145. Voluntary information-sharing system
 ``

    (a) Establishment.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
 confidential voluntary information-sharing system (referred to 
 in this section as `VIS') to encourage the sharing of pipeline 
 safety data and information in a non-punitive context in order 
 to improve the safety of gas, carbon dioxide, and hazardous 
 liquid gathering, transmission, and distribution pipelines and 
 facilities, including storage facilities.
 ``

    (2) === Purpose ===
-The purpose of the VIS is to establish a 
 comprehensive, systematic, and integrated structure to gather, 
 evaluate, and quantify critical pipeline safety data and 
 information and to share recommended remediation measures and 
 lessons learned across the pipeline industry in an effort to 
 improve pipeline safety, including damage prevention efforts, 
 while protecting participant confidentiality.
 ``

    (3) Implementation and management.--In establishing the 
 VIS under this section, the Secretary shall implement and 
 manage such VIS based on the Pipeline Safety Voluntary 
 Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report prepared 
 pursuant to 

section 10 of the Protecting Our Infrastructure of 
 Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 60108 
 note).
 ``

    (4) Inapplicability of faca.--The VIS shall not be 
 considered a Federal advisory committee and shall not be 
 subject to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5.
 ``

    (b) Governance.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--A Governing Board, a Program Manager, a 
 Third-Party Information Manager, and Issue Analysis Teams shall 
 govern the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Governing board.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
 the date of enactment of this section, the 
 Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
 Safety Administration shall appoint a Governing Board 
 after consulting with public and private pipeline 
 safety stakeholders.
 ``
        (B) Composition of the board.--The Governing 
 Board shall be comprised of at least 9 members and 
 shall represent a balanced cross-section of pipeline 
 safety stakeholders with pipeline safety knowledge or 
 experience as follows:
 ``
            (i) At least 3 individuals shall be 
 selected from departments, agencies, 
 instrumentalities of the Federal Government, 
 Territories or Tribal governments, State 
 governments, or local governments, 1 of which 
 shall be the Administrator.
 ``
            (ii) At least 3 individuals shall be 
 selected from the gas, carbon dioxide, or 
 hazardous liquid industries, such as operators, 
 trade associations, inspection technology, 
 coating, and cathodic protection vendors, and 
 pipeline inspection organizations.
 ``
            (iii) At least 3 individuals shall be 
 selected from public safety advocate 
 organizations, such as pipeline safety and 
 environmental advocacy groups, public safety-
 focused research institutions, or labor and 
 worker safety representatives.
 ``
            (C) Board terms.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--Each member of the 
 Governing Board shall be appointed for a term 
 of 3 years, with the terms of 3 of the members 
 expiring each year.
 ``
            (ii) Term expiration.--The term of at 
 least 1 member of each of the 3 stakeholder 
 groups established in subparagraph
        (B) shall 
 expire each year.
 ``
            (iii) Initial appointment.--In the 
 initial appointment of members, terms of 1, 2, 
 and 3 years shall be established to allow the 
 terms of 3 members to expire thereafter each 
 year.
 ``
            (iv) Reappointment.--Each member may be 
 reappointed for consecutive 3-year terms.
 ``
            (D) Co-chairs.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--The Governing Board 
 shall be co-chaired by--
 ``
            (I) the Administrator;
 ``
            (II) a representative of the 
 stakeholder group described in 
 subparagraph
        (B)
            (ii) , who shall be 
 appointed with advice and consent of 
 the Governing Board; and
 ``
            (III) a representative of the 
 stakeholder group described in 
 subparagraph
        (B)
            (iii) , who shall be 
 appointed with advice and consent of 
 the Governing Board.
 ``
            (ii) Responsibilities.--The co-chairs of 
 the Governing Board shall be jointly 
 responsible for organizing and conducting 
 meetings of the Governing Board.
 ``
        (E) Authority.--The Governing Board shall make 
 decisions by a super-majority of two-thirds plus 1 of 
 the Governing Board members and shall have the 
 authority to--
 ``
            (i) govern and provide strategic 
 oversight to the VIS;
 ``
            (ii) develop governance documents, 
 including a Governing Board charter that is 
 made available to the public, and that 
 describes the scope of the authority and 
 objectives of the Board;
 ``
            (iii) select a Third-Party Data Manager 
 described in paragraph

    (4) with expertise in 
 data protection, aggregation, and analytics and 
 geographic information systems;
 ``
            (iv) approve the criteria and procedures 
 governing how the Third-Party Data Manager 
 described in paragraph

    (4) will receive and 
 accept pipeline safety data and information and 
 who will have the authority to view VIS data;
 ``
            (v) establish and appoint members to 
 Issue Analysis Teams described in paragraph

    (5) that consist of technical and subject matter 
 experts;
 ``
            (vi) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
 Teams described in paragraph

    (5) to identify 
 the issues and topics to be analyzed;
 ``
            (vii) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
 Teams described in paragraph

    (5) to specify the 
 type of de-identified pipeline safety data and 
 information that Issue Analysis Teams need in 
 order to analyze the issues identified under 
 clause
            (vi) and topics;
 ``
            (viii) determine the information to be 
 disseminated;
 ``
            (ix) determine the reports to be 
 disseminated;
 ``
            (x) at least once per year, issue a 
 report to the public on VIS processes, 
 membership of the Governing Board, issues or 
 topics being investigated and analyzed, 
 pipeline safety data and information that the 
 VIS has requested for submission to the VIS, 
 and safety trends identified; and
 ``
            (xi) perform other functions as the 
 Governing Board decides are necessary or 
 appropriate consistent with the purpose of the 
 VIS.
 ``

    (3) Program manager.--The Administrator shall provide the 
 day-to-day program management and administrative support for 
 the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party Data Manager 
 described in paragraph

    (4) .
 ``

    (4) Third-party data manager.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--A Third-Party Data Manager shall 
 provide data management and data oversight services for 
 the VIS.
 ``
        (B) Responsibilities.--In fulfilling the 
 responsibilities described in subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 Third-Party Data Manager shall--
 ``
            (i) accept pipeline safety data and 
 information submitted to the VIS that meets the 
 criteria and procedures established by the 
 Governing Board under paragraph

    (2)
        (E)
            (iv) ;
 ``
            (ii) de-identify, securely store, and 
 manage pipeline safety data and information 
 that is accepted by the VIS;
 ``
            (iii) collaborate with Issue Analysis 
 Teams described in paragraph

    (5) to aggregate 
 and analyze de-identified pipeline safety data 
 and information that is accepted by the VIS;
 ``
            (iv) prepare reports as requested by the 
 Governing Board regarding the type of pipeline 
 safety data and information that is managed by 
 the VIS; and
 ``
            (v) make recommendations regarding the 
 management of pipeline safety data and 
 information, as appropriate.
 ``

    (5) Issue analysis teams.--Issue Analysis Teams of the 
 VIS shall--
 ``
        (A) work with the Third-Party Data Manager 
 described in paragraph

    (4) to aggregate and analyze de-
 identified pipeline safety data and information 
 accepted by the VIS;
 ``
        (B) collaborate with the Governing Board to 
 identify issues and topics for analysis and submit 
 internal reports and recommendations to the Governing 
 Board; and
 ``
            (C) prepare reports as requested by the Governing 
 Board regarding issues and topics identified for 
 additional research by the Governing Board.
 ``

    (6) Participation.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The submission of pipeline 
 safety data and information to the VIS by any person 
 shall be voluntary, with no person compelled to 
 participate in or submit data or information for 
 inclusion in the VIS.
 ``
        (B) Acceptance of information.--The VIS shall 
 implement policies to ensure that all operator data or 
 information submitted has been authorized by the 
 operator for submission.
 ``
            (C) Sharing of information.--The Governing Board 
 shall encourage the voluntary sharing of pipeline 
 safety data and information among operators of gas, 
 carbon dioxide, and hazardous liquid gathering, 
 transmission, and distribution pipelines and 
 facilities, employees, labor unions, contractors, in-
 line inspection service providers, non-destructive 
 evaluation experts, the Pipeline and Hazardous 
 Materials Safety Administration, representatives of 
 State pipeline safety agencies, local and Tribal 
 governments, pipeline safety advocacy groups, 
 manufacturers, research and academic institutions, and 
 other pipeline stakeholders.
 ``
            (c) Information Sharing.--
 ``

    (1) Inclusions.--Pipeline safety data and information 
 accepted by the VIS may include--
 ``
        (A) pipeline integrity risk analysis information;
 ``
        (B) lessons learned from accidents and near 
 misses;
 ``
            (C) process improvements;
 ``
            (D) technology deployment practices;
 ``
        (E) information obtained through VIS pipeline 
 safety surveys of pipeline operator employees, as long 
 as such surveys are voluntarily agreed to by the 
 pipeline operator; and
 ``
        (F) pipeline safety data and information which 
 may lead to the identification of pipeline safety 
 risks.
 ``
            (d) Confidentiality.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--
 ``
        (A) Confidentiality.--To facilitate the sharing 
 of otherwise non-public pipeline safety data and 
 information (hereinafter known as `non-public 
 information') in the VIS, non-public information 
 accepted by the VIS and which may be analyzed, stored, 
 or managed by the VIS shall be kept confidential by the 
 VIS.
 ``
        (B) Rule of construction.--Subparagraph
        (A) shall 
 not be construed to apply to public information that 
 may be submitted to the VIS or to non-public 
 information that is required to be submitted to any 
 Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency under any other 
 provision of law.
 ``

    (2) Disclosure of de-identified, non-public 
 information.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections

    (e) and

    (f) , the Governing Board may approve the disclosure 
 of de-identified, non-public information by the VIS or 
 by the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
 Materials Safety Administration based on analysis of 
 the de-identified information and any safety findings 
 or recommendations that the Governing Board in the sole 
 discretion of the Board determines to publish or 
 authorizes the Administrator to publish to improve 
 pipeline safety.
 ``
        (B) Public reports.--In issuing public reports 
 under subsection

    (b)

    (2)
        (E)
            (x) , the Governing Board 
 shall approve the disclosure of de-identified, non-
 public information by the VIS that the Governing Board 
 determines is necessary to adequately describe and 
 illustrate the issues and topics being investigated and 
 analyzed by the VIS.
 ``

    (3) Limitation.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , no 
 person, including any VIS Governing Board member, the Program 
 Manager, the Third-Party Data Manager described in subsection

    (b)

    (4) , an Issue Analysis Team member described in subsection

    (b)

    (5) , or any Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency, having 
 or obtaining access to non-public information by virtue of the 
 acceptance of such information to the VIS, shall release or 
 communicate VIS held non-public information, in either an 
 identified or de-identified form, to any person that does not 
 have the authority to view VIS data.
 ``

    (e) Applicability of FOIA.--Any non-public information that is 
accepted by the VIS and which may be analyzed, stored, or managed by 
the VIS and subsequently obtained by the Secretary or the Administrator 
by virtue of the acceptance of such information to the VIS shall be 
exempt from the requirements of 

section 552 of title 5 and specifically 
exempt from release under subsection

    (b)

    (3) of such section.
 ``

    (f) Exclusions.--
 ``

    (1) Excluded evidence.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (3) , non-public information accepted by the VIS and which may 
 be analyzed, stored, or managed by the VIS shall not be 
 obtained from the VIS--
 ``
        (A) for use as evidence for any purpose in any 
 Federal, State, local, Tribal, or private litigation, 
 including any action or proceeding; or
 ``
        (B) to initiate any enforcement action or civil 
 litigation against a pipeline operator or employees or 
 contractors of such operator relating to a probable 
 violation under this chapter (including any regulation 
 promulgated or order issued under this chapter).
 ``

    (2) Exclusion from discovery.--Except as provided in 
 paragraph

    (3) , non-public information accepted by the VIS and 
 which may be analyzed, stored, or managed by the VIS shall not 
 be subject to discovery from the VIS in any Federal, State, 
 local, Tribal, or private litigation or other proceeding.
 ``

    (3) Limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions described 
 in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) shall not apply to non-public 
 information accepted by the VIS that is--
 ``
        (A) evidence of a criminal violation;
 ``
        (B) not related to the established purpose of the 
 VIS described in subsection

    (a)

    (2) ;
 ``
            (C) otherwise required to be reported to the 
 Secretary under part 191 (including information about 
 an incident or accident), part 192, part 194, part 195, 
 or part 199 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
 (or successor regulations), or required to be reported 
 under the requirements of a State authority; or
 ``
            (D) developed or obtained from a source other 
 than the VIS, including through discovery from a person 
 or an entity other than the VIS in an enforcement 
 action or private litigation.
 ``

    (4) Additional limitations on exclusions.--The exclusions 
 described in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) shall not apply to non-
 public information that is submitted to but not accepted by the 
 VIS.
 ``

    (g) Effect on State Law.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect Federal, State, Tribal, or local pipeline safety 
law.
 ``

    (h) No Effect on Discovery.--
 ``

    (1) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section or any 
 rule, regulation, or amendment issued pursuant to this section 
 shall be construed to create a defense to a discovery request 
 or otherwise limit or affect the discovery of pipeline safety 
 data and information arising from a cause of action authorized 
 under any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law.
 ``

    (2) Exception.--Paragraph

    (1) shall not apply to 
 exclusions from discovery from the VIS as described in 
 subsection

    (f)

    (2) .
 ``
            (i) Expenses.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Members of the VIS Governing Board and 
 Issue Analysis Teams may be paid expenses under 

section 5703 of 
 title 5.
 ``

    (2) Rule of construction.--A payment under this 
 subsection shall not be construed to make a member of the VIS 
 Governing Board an officer or employee of the Federal 
 Government.
 ``

    (3) Federal employees.--Paragraph

    (1) shall not apply to 
 members of the VIS Governing Board that are employees of the 
 Federal Government.
 ``

    (j) Report on VIS.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available, 
a report that includes--
 ``

    (1) a detailed accounting of the allocation and uses of 
 expenditures authorized under this section;
 ``

    (2) an estimate of the annual cost to maintain the VIS 
 program, including an assessment and projection of costs 
 associated with the Third-Party Data Manager, data sourcing and 
 storage, data governance, data architecture, data consumption, 
 and the VIS operations and administration by the Pipeline and 
 Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
 ``

    (3) the methodology for determining the estimate under 
 paragraph

    (2) ;
 ``

    (4) the number of expected participants in the VIS 
 program;
 ``

    (5) the number of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
 Administration positions needed to maintain the VIS program;
 ``

    (6) the projected timeline for the implementation of the 
 VIS program to meet the purposes under subsection

    (a)

    (2) ; and
 ``

    (7) recommendations to ensure sufficient funding for the 
 ongoing activities of the VIS program, including a reasonable 
 fee assessed on authorized participants in the VIS program.
 ``

    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the establishment of a voluntary information-sharing 
program under this section--
 ``

    (1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
 ``

    (2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
 ``

    (3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
 ``

    (4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''.

    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of title 49, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``60145. Voluntary information-sharing system.''.

SEC. 25. CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINES.

    (a) Purpose and General Authority.--

Section 60102 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in subparagraph

    (1)
        (B)
            (i) by inserting ``or 
 carbon dioxide'' after ``hazardous liquids''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2)
        (A) --
            (i) by redesignating clause
            (ii) and
            (iii) as clause
            (iii) and
            (iv) , respectively; and
            (ii) by inserting after clause
            (i) the 
 following:
 ``
            (ii) carbon dioxide pipeline safety 
 information;'';

    (2) in subsection
            (c) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide 
 pipeline facility'' after ``hazardous liquid pipeline 
 facility'';

    (3) in subsection
            (d) (2) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) in subparagraph
        (B) by striking the semicolon 
 and inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) major carbon dioxide pipeline facilities of 
 the operator;'';

    (4) in subsection

    (e) by striking ``transportation of gas 
 or hazardous liquid'' and inserting ``transportation of gas, 
 hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide'';

    (5) in subsection

    (f)

    (1) by striking ``natural gas 
 transmission pipeline or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
 and inserting ``natural gas transmission pipeline, hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
 facilities'' each place it appears; and

    (6) in subsection
            (i) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``regulate carbon 
 dioxide'' and all that follows through ``by such a 
 facility'' and inserting ``prescribe standards related 
 to pipeline facilities to ensure the safe 
 transportation of carbon dioxide in a liquid or 
 supercritical state by such facilities'';
        (B) by striking paragraph

    (2)
        (B) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) Inclusion of applicable standards.--The 
 Secretary shall establish the minimum safety standards 
 in part 195 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
 as applicable.'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (3) by inserting ``prescribe the 
 location of a carbon dioxide storage facility or to'' 
 before ``regulate piping'';
            (D) by redesignating paragraph

    (3) as paragraph

    (4) ;
        (E) by inserting after paragraph

    (2) the following:
 ``

    (3) Storage of carbon dioxide.--
 ``
        (A) Minimum safety standards.--The Secretary 
 shall prescribe minimum safety standards for the 
 injection, withdrawal, and storage of carbon dioxide 
 incidental to pipeline transportation.
 ``
        (B) Storage of carbon dioxide incidental to 
 pipeline transportation.--In this paragraph, the term 
 `storage of carbon dioxide incidental to pipeline 
 transportation'--
 ``
            (i) means the temporary receipt and 
 storage of carbon dioxide transported by 
 pipeline for continued transport; but
 ``
            (ii) does not include--
 ``
            (I) with respect to each State, 
 the long-term containment of carbon 
 dioxide in subsurface geologic 
 formations or other activity subject to 
 the requirements of a State underground 
 injection control program prescribed by 
 the Administrator of the Environmental 
 Protection Agency and applicable to the 
 State, or adopted by the State and 
 approved by the Administrator, under 
 part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 300h et seq.); or
 ``
            (II) the temporary storage of 
 carbon dioxide in any excepted 
 pipelines listed in paragraph

    (b) of 
 

section 195.1 of title 49, Code of 
 Federal Regulations, as of the date of 
 enactment of the PIPES Act of 2025.''; 
 and
        (F) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (5) Dispersion modeling.--
 ``
        (A) Safety standards.--The Secretary shall 
 prescribe minimum safety standards to require each 
 operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline facility to 
 employ vapor dispersion modeling to identify high 
 consequence areas, as defined at 

section 195.450 of 
 title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and paragraph

    (7)
            (I) (A) of Appendix C to part 195 of such title, that 
 could be affected by a release from such a pipeline.
 ``
        (B) Considerations.--In performing the vapor 
 dispersion modeling under subparagraph
        (A) , operators 
 of a carbon dioxide pipeline facility shall consider--
 ``
            (i) the topography surrounding the 
 pipeline;
 ``
            (ii) atmospheric conditions that could 
 affect vapor dispersion;
 ``
            (iii) pipeline operating characteristics; 
 and
 ``
            (iv) additional substances present in the 
 pipeline that could affect vapor dispersion.
 ``
            (C) Maintenance of files.--The Secretary shall 
 require each operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline 
 facility to maintain records documenting the areas that 
 could affect high consequence areas, as determined 
 using the vapor dispersion modeling required pursuant 
 to subparagraph
        (A) , in the manual of written 
 procedures for operating, maintaining, and handling 
 emergencies for such pipeline.
 ``
            (D) Protection of sensitive information.--In 
 responding to a public request for information 
 regarding carbon dioxide dispersion modeling, the 
 Secretary may, taking into account public safety, 
 security, and the need for public access, exclude from 
 disclosure (as the Secretary determines appropriate)--
 ``
            (i) security sensitive information 
 related to strategies for responding to worst-
 case carbon dioxide release scenarios;
 ``
            (ii) security sensitive information 
 related to carbon dioxide release plumes; and
 ``
            (iii) security sensitive information 
 related to plans for responding to a carbon 
 dioxide release.
 ``
        (E) Statutory construction.--Nothing in this 
 section may be construed to require disclosure of 
 information or records that are exempt from disclosure 
 under 

section 552 of title 5.''.

    (b) Regulations Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking titled ``Pipeline Safety: 
Safety of Carbon Dioxide and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines'' (or any other 
notice of proposed rulemaking covering substantially similar regulatory 
requirements), the Secretary shall issue a final rule based on such 
proposed rulemaking. The final rule shall include updates to such 
regulations as are necessary to implement 

section 60102
            (i) of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection

    (a) , and other carbon 
dioxide safety issues identified by the Secretary.
            (c) State Pipeline Safety Program Certifications.--

Section 60105

    (b)

    (9)
        (A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
``natural gas and hazardous liquid'' and inserting ``natural gas, 
hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide''.
            (d) State Pipeline Safety Grants.--

Section 60107

    (a)

    (2) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``or interstate carbon 
dioxide'' after ``interstate hazardous liquid''.

    (e) Inspection and Maintenance.--

Section 60108 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (1) by striking ``gas pipeline 
 facility or hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting 
 ``gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facility''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (e)

    (1) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline 
 facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or carbon dioxide 
 pipeline facility''.

    (f) High-Density Population Areas and Environmentally Sensitive 
Areas.--

Section 60109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (B) --
        (A) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide'' after ``by 
 operators of hazardous liquid'';
        (B) by inserting ``and carbon dioxide'' after 
 ``each hazardous liquid'' each place it appears; and
            (C) in clause
            (ii) by inserting ``or carbon 
 dioxide'' after ``there is a hazardous liquid'';

    (2) in subsection

    (b) by inserting ``or carbon dioxide'' 
 after ``there is a hazardous liquid''; and

    (3) in subsection

    (g) --
        (A) in the heading by inserting ``and Carbon 
 Dioxide'' after ``Liquid''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) by inserting ``or carbon 
 dioxide'' after ``underwater hazardous liquid''.

    (g) Technical Safety Standards Committees.--

Section 60115 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b)

    (2) --
        (A) by striking ``transporting hazardous liquid or 
 operating a hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and 
 inserting ``transporting hazardous liquid, transporting 
 carbon dioxide, operating a hazardous liquid pipeline 
 facility, or operating a carbon dioxide pipeline 
 facility'' each place it appears; and
        (B) by striking ``transporting hazardous liquid and 
 of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
 ``transporting hazardous liquid or transporting carbon 
 dioxide and of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities or 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facilities'';

    (2) in subsection

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) by striking ``the natural gas 
 or hazardous liquid industry'' and inserting ``the natural gas 
 industry, the hazardous liquid industry, or the carbon dioxide 
 industry'';

    (3) in subsection

    (b)

    (4)
        (B) by striking ``natural gas 
 pipelines or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and 
 inserting ``natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipeline 
 facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities'';

    (4) in subsection
            (c) (1)
        (B) by striking ``transporting 
 hazardous liquid and for hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
 and inserting ``transporting carbon dioxide, hazardous liquid 
 pipeline facilities and carbon dioxide facilities''; and

    (5) in subsection
            (d) (1) by striking ``transporting 
 hazardous liquid and for hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' 
 and inserting ``transporting hazardous liquid, transporting 
 carbon dioxide, hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, and 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facilities''.

    (h) Public Education Programs.--

Section 60116 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid pipeline 
facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility'' each place 
that it appears.
            (i) Administrative Provisions.--

Section 60117 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (o)

    (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) by striking ``liquid 
 pipeline facility or liquefied natural gas pipeline 
 facility'' and inserting ``liquid pipeline facility, a 
 liquefied natural gas pipeline facility, or a carbon 
 dioxide pipeline facility''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (II) by inserting ``or 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facility'' after ``hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facility''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (p) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting ``gas 
 pipeline facilities, hazardous liquid pipeline 
 facilities, or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities''; 
 and
        (B) in paragraph

    (8) by striking ``gas or hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas pipeline 
 facility, hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or carbon 
 dioxide pipeline facility''.

    (j) Criminal Penalties.--

Section 60123

    (b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``an interstate hazardous liquid 
pipeline facility, or either an intrastate gas pipeline facility or 
intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``an 
interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facility, an interstate carbon 
dioxide pipeline facility, or either an intrastate gas pipeline 
facility, an intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or an 
intrastate carbon dioxide facility''.

    (k) Emergency Response Grants.--

Section 60125

    (b)

    (1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
pipelines'' and inserting ``gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, 
or carbon dioxide pipelines''.
            (l) Dumping Within Pipeline Rights-of-Way.--

Section 60128

    (a) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``interstate gas 
pipeline facility or interstate hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' 
and inserting ``interstate gas pipeline facility, interstate hazardous 
liquid pipeline facility, or interstate carbon dioxide pipeline 
facility''.
            (m) Verification of Pipeline Qualification Programs.--

Section 60131

    (g) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) by striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) with respect to a carbon dioxide pipeline facility, 
 activities equivalent to the activities described with respect 
 to a hazardous liquid pipeline facility under 

section 195.501 
 of such title.''.

    (n) Enforcement Transparency.--

Section 60135

    (a)

    (1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide 
pipeline''.

    (o) Pipeline Control Room Management.--

Section 60137 and title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
 pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
 dioxide pipeline'';

    (2) in subsection
            (d) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
 pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
 dioxide pipeline''; and

    (3) in subsection

    (e) by striking ``gas or hazardous liquid 
 pipeline'' and inserting ``gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon 
 dioxide pipeline''.

    (p) Pipeline Safety Enhancement Programs.--

Section 60142 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) by striking ``or'' at the end;
        (B) by redesignating paragraph

    (2) as paragraph

    (3) ; and
            (C) by inserting after paragraph

    (1) the following:
 ``

    (2) a carbon dioxide pipeline facility; or'';

    (2) in subsection

    (k)

    (2)
        (A) by striking ``interstate gas or 
 hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
 ``interstate gas pipeline facilities, interstate hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facilities, or interstate carbon dioxide 
 pipeline facilities''; and

    (3) in subsection
            (l) (1) by striking ``interstate gas or 
 hazardous liquid pipeline facilities'' and inserting 
 ``interstate gas pipeline facilities, interstate hazardous 
 liquid pipeline facilities, or interstate carbon dioxide 
 pipeline facilities''.

    (q) Idled Pipelines.--

Section 60143 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (2) by inserting ``carbon dioxide,'' 
 after ``hazardous liquid,''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (b) by striking ``gas transmission and 
 hazardous liquid pipelines'' and inserting ``gas transmission, 
 hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines'' each place it 
 appears.

    (r) User Fees.--

Section 60301 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) by striking ``natural gas and 
 hazardous liquids'' and inserting ``natural gas, hazardous 
 liquids, and carbon dioxide'';

    (2) in subsection

    (b) by striking ``gas pipeline facility, 
 or a hazardous liquid pipeline facility'' and inserting ``gas 
 pipeline facility, a hazardous liquid pipeline facility, or a 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facility''; and

    (3) in subsection
            (d) (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) by striking ``and'' at the 
 end; and
        (B) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) related to a carbon dioxide pipeline facility may be 
 used only for an activity related to carbon dioxide under 
 chapter 601 of this title; and''.

SEC. 26. OPPORTUNITY FOR FORMAL HEARING.

    (a) Enforcement Procedures.--

Section 60117

    (b)

    (1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
            (I) by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in subparagraph
        (J) by striking the period and 
 inserting ``; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (K) allow the respondent an opportunity for a 
 hearing on the record conducted by an administrative 
 law judge, in accordance with 

section 554 of title 5, 
 for a notice of probable violation enforcement matter--
 ``
            (i) with a proposed civil penalty of at 
 least $125,000; or
 ``
            (ii) where the respondent can reasonably 
 show the cost of the proposed compliance action 
 will exceed $125,000.''.

    (b) Protocols for Public Hearings.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
publish protocols for hearings open to the public pursuant to 

section 60117

    (b)

    (2) of title 49, United States Code, that ensure an orderly 
process and protection of confidential information.
            (c) Report on Use of Formal Hearing Process.--Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report detailing--

    (1) the number of hearings held pursuant to subparagraph
        (K) of 

section 60117

    (b)

    (1) of title 49, United States Code;

    (2) the status of each such hearing;

    (3) an analysis comparing the informal hearing process and 
 the formal hearing process that describes--
        (A) the length of time to resolve an enforcement 
 action under 

section 60117 of title 49, United States 
 Code;
        (B) the cost of the enforcement action process to--
            (i) the respondent; and
            (ii) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
 Safety Administration; and
            (C) the number of cases that reach settlement and 
 the outcome of such cases;

    (4) any additional resources that are needed by the 
 Secretary in response to implementing this provision for each 
 fiscal year to carry out the amendment made by subsection

    (a) ; 
 and

    (5) any safety improvements identified as a result of the 
 implementation of subparagraph
        (K) of 

section 60117

    (b)

    (1) of 
 title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 27. STATE PIPELINE SAFETY GRANTS REPORTING.

 

Section 60107

    (b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

    (1) by striking ``After notifying'' and inserting ``

    (1) Withholding of payment.--After notifying''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (2) Budget estimate.--The budget estimates of the Secretary for 
each fiscal year shall include--
 ``
        (A) a summary of amounts claimed, amounts 
 reimbursed, and the percentages reimbursed in the 
 preceding 3 fiscal years for the program under this 
 section; and
 ``
        (B) the estimated funding necessary to fund 80 
 percent of the cost of the personnel, equipment, and 
 activities under this section for the subsequent 
 calendar year.''.

SEC. 28. DISCLOSURE OF SAFETY INFORMATION ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct an 
assessment on how gas pipeline facility, hazardous liquid pipeline 
facility, and carbon dioxide pipeline facility owners and operators 
engage with, and provide safety information to, the public and State, 
Tribal, or local emergency response organizations.

    (b) Safety Information.--In conducting the assessment required 
under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall consider--

    (1) pipeline safety materials that the owners and operators 
 of pipelines described in subsection

    (a) voluntarily provide to 
 the public;

    (2) methods of interaction between pipeline facility owners 
 and operators and the public and State, Tribal, and local 
 emergency response entities;

    (3) Federal, State, Tribal, and local government 
 regulations governing information that pipeline facility owners 
 and operators are required to share with the public;

    (4) industry consensus standards regarding the sharing of 
 pipeline safety and emergency response information;

    (5) specific data that could be shared with local, Tribal, 
 and State emergency response and planning agencies, local 
 public and Tribal officials, and governing councils to enhance 
 information sharing and pipeline safety, specifically--
        (A) the identification of general pipeline 
 location, or information including location, the 
 products transported by pipeline or stored at an 
 underground natural gas facility, data on breakout 
 tanks or production facilities that includes pipeline 
 classification and impact areas, and owner or operator 
 emergency response planning materials; and
        (B) information emergency response organizations 
 ask pipeline owners and operators to voluntarily share 
 with the public;

    (6) emergency response materials that pipeline facility 
 owners and operators voluntarily provide to emergency response 
 organizations;

    (7) how pipeline facility owners and operators communicate 
 with emergency response organizations, including--
        (A) the functional quality and use of data shared 
 through the National Pipeline Mapping System; and
        (B) the measures taken by emergency response 
 organizations to secure any sensitive information 
 shared;

    (8) emergency response planning guidance and requirements 
 issued by emergency response organizations for pipeline 
 facility owners and operators; and

    (9) changes emergency response organizations recommend to 
 improve communication with the public and emergency response 
 coordination organizations.
            (c) Consultation.--In conducting the assessment under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall consult with both large and small pipeline 
facility owners and operators, urban and rural State, local, and Tribal 
governments, emergency response organizations, and pipeline safety 
organizations.
            (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after completion 
of the assessment in subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 
containing the findings of the assessment under subsection

    (a) and any 
legislative recommendations of the Secretary.

    (e) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the submission of the 
report under subsection
            (d) , the Secretary may issue guidance to 
improve pipeline safety information sharing with the public and other 
interested parties to advance pipeline safety.

    (f) 

=== Definitions. ===
-The definitions contained in 

section 60101

    (a) of 
title 49, United States Code, shall apply to this section.

SEC. 29. ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN PIPELINE SAFETY DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Evaluation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall evaluate the 
definition in 

section 192.5

    (b)

    (3)
            (ii) of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and the definition of identified site in 

section 192.903 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to determine the adequacy for 
protecting buildings and occupied outdoor facilities from pipeline 
safety incidents.

    (b) Considerations.--In carrying out the evaluation under 
subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall consider--

    (1) whether to revise the definition of the occupancy 
 counts of these areas;

    (2) whether consistency in minimum occupancy thresholds 
 throughout part 192 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
 would improve safety; and

    (3) whether defining the occupancy counts in these areas as 
 20 or more persons on at least a total of 50 days within any 
 12-month period would improve--
        (A) safety; and
        (B) the efficiency of carrying out class 
 determinations.
            (c) Modification of 

=== Definitions. ===
-The Secretary shall issue such 
regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to modify the 
definitions in subsection

    (a) to increase safety for the protection of 
buildings and occupied outdoor facilities from pipeline safety 
incidents.

SEC. 30. REPORT ASSESSING THE COSTS OF PIPELINE FAILURES.

    (a) Report Assessing the Costs of Pipeline Failures.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies under which the National Academies shall, not later than 3 
years after such date of enactment, conduct a study of the direct and 
indirect costs related to the failure or shutdown of a gas, hazardous 
liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility.

    (b) Elements.--The study described under subsection

    (a) may include 
an analysis of--

    (1) the direct and indirect costs related to a failure or 
 shutdown of a gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
 facility, including local, State, and Tribal community 
 emergency response costs, local, State, and Tribal planning for 
 emergency response, and local, State, and Tribal community 
 impact costs of loss of product;

    (2) the costs to an operator of such a facility of 
 complying with enforcement actions related to a pipeline 
 facility failure or shutdown, such as corrective action or 
 consent orders, safety orders, and emergency orders;

    (3) the direct and indirect costs related to failure or 
 shutdown of a gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline 
 facility resulting from a cyber attack or intrusion, including 
 any economic and supply chain impacts;

    (4) the impact to emergency response planning and resources 
 of local communities, operators of gas, hazardous liquid, or 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facilities, and the State, Federal, 
 local, and Tribal governments in responding to and mitigating 
 the impacts of a failure or shutdown of a gas, hazardous 
 liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility;

    (5) the costs of environmental remediation resulting from a 
 gas, hazardous liquid, or carbon dioxide pipeline facility 
 failure or shutdown;

    (6) the economic impact of a gas, hazardous liquid, or 
 carbon dioxide pipeline facility failure or shutdown, 
 including--
        (A) increases in product costs;
        (B) damage to public and private property; and
            (C) the potential costs of moving gas, hazardous 
 liquid, or carbon dioxide by other means of 
 transportation, including by rail, truck, and barge; 
 and

    (7) increased energy costs to households and businesses 
 reliant on the movement of the gas, hazardous liquid or carbon 
 dioxide due to the shutdown or failure of a pipeline facility.
            (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection

    (a) , 
the National Academies shall consult with economists, State, Federal, 
local, and Tribal governments, emergency management officials, and 
pipeline stakeholders, including pipeline facility operators and public 
safety and environmental groups.
            (d) Report to Congress.--Upon completion of the study conducted 
under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall--

    (1) require the National Academies to submit to the 
 Secretary a report on such study; and

    (2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
 House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing 
 the results of such study.

SEC. 31. STUDY ON LOCALIZED EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE 
 FACILITIES INCIDENTS.

    (a) GAO Review.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a study assessing--

    (1) the need and feasibility of requiring owners and 
 operators of covered facilities to establish and maintain a 
 localized emergency alert system; and

    (2) whether such an alert system would be best maintained 
 by State, Tribal, or local emergency management officials or 
 owners and operators of such facilities.

    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study under subsection

    (a) , 
the Comptroller General shall--

    (1) consider the feasibility, benefits, costs, and safety 
 impacts to affected stakeholders, including owners and 
 operators of covered facilities, the public, and State and 
 local emergency management officials, of requiring a localized 
 emergency alert system;

    (2) consider whether a localized emergency alert system can 
 be established by such owners and operators or incorporated 
 into existing public alert, broadcast, and electronic emergency 
 alert systems, including by assessing--
        (A) whether a localized emergency alert system 
 established and maintained by an owner or operator of a 
 covered facility would conflict with, or impede the 
 operation of, existing emergency alert systems;
        (B) the feasibility, benefits, costs, and 
 technological needs of incorporating facility system 
 data into existing emergency alert systems;
            (C) whether local emergency management 
 organizations may need additional hardware, software, 
 personnel, or communications support to incorporate a 
 localized emergency alert system into an existing 
 emergency alert system;
            (D) whether other systems could support 
 notification to the public of an incident or accident 
 at a covered facility, such as the National Response 
 Center, the Reverse-911 telecommunication system, or 
 severe weather warning systems; and
        (E) whether localized emergency alert systems have 
 been considered, studied, or implemented in other high 
 hazard industries, such as industrial gases, chemicals, 
 petrochemicals, and petroleum refining, and the results 
 of any study or implementation of such systems in such 
 industries;

    (3) consult with owners and operators of large and small 
 covered facilities, public safety advocacy groups, and urban 
 and rural State, Tribal, and local emergency management 
 officials;

    (4) assess the adequacy of existing practices of owners and 
 operators of covered facilities in providing timely and 
 pertinent safety communication about an incident or accident at 
 such facility to local communities, including individuals with 
 disabilities and other at-risk populations with access and 
 functional needs, affected by such incident or accident;

    (5) assess whether there are legal hurdles to establishing 
 a localized emergency alert system that uses voluntarily 
 collected data or opt-in procedures, including any data 
 security considerations;

    (6) consider the feasibility, benefits, costs, and other 
 impacts to State and Federal safety regulators who would 
 oversee any requirement of owners and operators of covered 
 facilities;

    (7) assess the types of incidents and accidents at covered 
 facilities, by commodities transported and the unique 
 characteristics of such incident or accident, that should be 
 reported through a localized emergency alert system and the 
 content of the information that should be provided;

    (8) assess which members of the public should receive 
 communications from localized emergency alert systems, 
 including individuals, persons, or organizations located in the 
 vicinity of high consequence areas, unusually sensitive areas, 
 and any other defining characteristics as determined by the 
 Comptroller General; and

    (9) consider whether any Federal requirements or mandates 
 are needed in order to establish an effective localized 
 emergency alert system for incidents or accidents at covered 
 facilities.
            (c) Recommendations.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
study conducted under subsection

    (a) any policy recommendations 
developed as a result of the information studied and assessed under 
subsection

    (b) .
            (d) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Covered facility.--The term ``covered facility'' means 
 a gas pipeline facility, a hazardous liquid pipeline facility, 
 or a carbon dioxide pipeline facility, including a liquefied 
 natural gas storage facility or an underground natural gas 
 storage facility, as defined in 

section 60101 of title 49, 
 United States Code.

    (2) Localized emergency alert system.--The term ``localized 
 emergency alert system'' means a system that provides to 
 individuals in the immediate vicinity of a covered facility an 
 electronic notification of an incident or accident at such 
 facility that presents an immediate risk to life or property.

SEC. 32. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE.

    (a) In General.--

Section 60139 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended--

    (1) in subsection
            (c) (1)
        (A) by inserting ``except as 
 provided in subsection

    (e) ,'' before ``require'';

    (2) by redesignating subsection

    (e) as subsection

    (f) ; and

    (3) by inserting after subsection
            (d) the following:
 ``

    (e) Testing Records Working Group.--
 ``

    (1) Previously tested transmission lines.--Until the 
 completion of the report of the Working Group required under 
 paragraph

    (2) and the rulemaking proceeding required under 
 paragraph

    (3) , the Secretary shall not require an owner or 
 operator of a pipeline facility to reconfirm the maximum 
 allowable operating pressure of a natural gas transmission 
 pipeline pursuant to 

section 192.624 of title 49, Code of 
 Federal Regulations, if the owner or operator confirms the 
 material strength of the pipeline through prior testing 
 conducted to a sufficient minimum pressure in accordance with 
 prevailing safety standards and practices, including any 
 applicable class location factors, and documented in 
 contemporaneous records.
 ``

    (2) Working group report.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--No later than 30 days after the 
 date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2025, the 
 Secretary of Transportation shall create a fairly 
 balanced working group (hereinafter referred to as the 
 `Working Group') to produce a report containing 
 recommendations on the minimum pressure and 
 contemporaneous records that are sufficient to confirm 
 the material strength of a pipeline through prior 
 testing.
 ``
        (B) Composition of working group.--The Working 
 Group--
 ``
            (i) shall be comprised of the 
 Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
 Materials Safety Administration, State pipeline 
 regulators, the public, and industry 
 stakeholders active in the operation of natural 
 gas pipelines; and
 ``
            (ii) may include members of the Technical 
 Pipeline Safety Standards Committee or be 
 conducted in a manner that otherwise ensures 
 input from the public, as determined 
 appropriate by the Secretary.
 ``
            (C) Consideration.--In preparing the report 
 required under paragraph

    (1) , the Working Group--
 ``
            (i) shall consider historical practices 
 and all available research conducted regarding 
 minimum pressure and contemporaneous records on 
 transmission pipelines; and
 ``
            (ii) may consider the need for any 
 additional research or analyses needed to 
 demonstrate the adequacy of any strength 
 testing performed.
 ``
            (D) Applicability of faca.--Chapter 10 of title 5 
 shall not apply to the Working Group.
 ``
        (E) Submission of report.--Not later than 180 
 days after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 
 2025, the Working Group shall submit to the Secretary 
 the report produced under paragraph

    (2) , including any 
 minority views.
 ``

    (3) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after receiving 
 the report described in paragraph

    (2) , the Secretary shall 
 initiate a rulemaking proceeding under 

section 60102 to revise, 
 or make a technical correction to, the maximum allowable 
 operating pressure reconfirmation regulations issued pursuant 
 to this section.''.
 <all>