119-s2979

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2979 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2979

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
 Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary information-
 sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and 
information in a nonpunitive context in order to improve the safety of 
 pipeline facilities, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 October 7, 2025

 Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
 Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary information-
 sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and 
information in a nonpunitive context in order to improve the safety of 
 pipeline facilities, 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.

 This Act may be cited as the ``PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.

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

Sec. 60144. Voluntary information-sharing system
 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
 Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
 Administration.
 ``

    (2) Governing board.--The term `Governing Board' means 
 the governing board established under subsection
            (d) (1) .
 ``

    (3) Issue analysis team.--The term `Issue Analysis Team' 
 means an Issue Analysis Team established under subsection

    (g)

    (1) .
 ``

    (4) Program manager.--The term `Program Manager' means 
 the Program Manager described in subsection

    (e) .
 ``

    (5) Third-party data manager.--The term `Third-Party Data 
 Manager' means the Third-Party Data Manager appointed under 
 subsection

    (f)

    (1) .
 ``

    (6) VIS.--The term `VIS' means the voluntary information-
 sharing system established under subsection

    (b)

    (1) .
 ``

    (b) Establishment.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a 
 confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing 
 system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and 
 information in order to improve the safety of gas transmission 
 pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, liquefied natural gas 
 facilities, underground natural gas storage facilities, and 
 hazardous liquid pipelines.
 ``

    (2) Requirement.--The VIS shall be implemented and 
 managed in accordance with the report entitled `Pipeline Safety 
 Voluntary Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report' 
 prepared under 

section 10 of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 
 60108 note; Public Law 114-183) by the Voluntary Information 
 Sharing System Working Group convened under that section.
 ``

    (3) === Purpose ===
-The purpose of the VIS shall be to serve as 
 a comprehensive and integrated system--
 ``
        (A) to gather, evaluate, and quantify critical 
 pipeline safety data and information; and
 ``
        (B) to share recommended remediation measures and 
 lessons learned across the pipeline industry in an 
 efficient and confidential manner.
 ``
            (c) Governance.--The VIS shall be governed, in accordance with 
this section, by the Governing Board, with support from--
 ``

    (1) the Program Manager;
 ``

    (2) the Third-Party Data Manager; and
 ``

    (3) 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams.
 ``
            (d) Governing Board.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
 of enactment of this section, the Administrator, after 
 consulting with public and private pipeline safety 
 stakeholders, shall establish a governing board for the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Composition.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be 
 composed of 15 members who shall represent a balanced 
 cross-section of pipeline safety stakeholders, in 
 accordance with subparagraphs
        (B) and
            (C) .
 ``
        (B) Representation.--The Governing Board shall be 
 composed of the following members:
 ``
            (i) 5 individuals selected from relevant 
 pipeline safety departments, agencies, or 
 instrumentalities of the Federal Government or 
 State or territorial governments, 1 of whom 
 shall be the Administrator (or a designee of 
 the Administrator).
 ``
            (ii) 5 individuals selected from the gas 
 or hazardous liquid industries, such as 
 individuals representing or otherwise 
 associated with--
 ``
            (I) operators;
 ``
            (II) trade associations;
 ``
            (III) inspection technology, 
 coating, or cathodic protection 
 vendors;
 ``
            (IV) standards development 
 organizations;
 ``
            (V) research and development 
 consortia; or
 ``
            (VI) pipeline inspection 
 organizations.
 ``
            (iii) 5 individuals selected from general 
 public safety advocacy organizations with 
 relevant pipeline safety expertise, including--
 ``
            (I) pipeline safety and 
 environmental public interest groups;
 ``
            (II) public institutions of 
 higher education with pipeline safety 
 expertise; and
 ``
            (III) nonprofit employee labor 
 organizations.
 ``
            (C) Requirements.--
 ``
            (i) Pipeline industry.--At least 1 member 
 of the Governing Board appointed under 
 subparagraph
        (B)
            (ii) shall be a representative 
 of the pipeline industry.
 ``
            (ii) Pipeline safety public interest 
 groups.--At least 1 member of the Governing 
 Board appointed under subparagraph
        (B)
            (iii) shall be a representative of a pipeline safety 
 public interest group.
 ``

    (3) Terms.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
 subparagraph
        (B) , each member of the Governing Board 
 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
 ``
        (B) Initial members.--In appointing the initial 
 members of the Governing Board, the Administrator shall 
 appoint members to terms of 1, 2, or 3 years to ensure 
 that each year thereafter--
 ``
            (i) the terms of 5 members will expire; 
 and
 ``
            (ii) the term of not less than 1 and not 
 more than 2 members described in each of 
 clauses
            (i) through
            (iii) of paragraph

    (2)
        (B) will expire.
 ``
            (C) Reappointment.--A member or former member of 
 the Governing Board appointed under clause
            (i) or
            (ii) of paragraph

    (2)
        (B) may be reappointed, but may only 
 serve for a total of 3 terms.
 ``

    (4) Co-chairs.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be co-
 chaired by--
 ``
            (i) the Administrator (or a designee of 
 the Administrator);
 ``
            (ii) a representative of the pipeline 
 industry appointed under paragraph

    (2)
        (B)
            (ii) , 
 who shall be appointed co-chair by the 
 Administrator, with the advice and consent of 
 the Governing Board; and
 ``
            (iii) a representative of a pipeline 
 safety public interest group, who shall be 
 appointed co-chair by the Administrator, with 
 the advice and consent of the Governing Board.
 ``
        (B) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The co-chairs 
 shall be jointly responsible for organizing and 
 conducting meetings of the Governing Board.
 ``

    (5) Authority.--The Governing Board shall have 
 authority--
 ``
        (A) to govern and provide strategic oversight of 
 the VIS;
 ``
        (B) to develop governance documents, including a 
 charter for the Governing Board that shall--
 ``
            (i) be made available to the public; and
 ``
            (ii) describe--
 ``
            (I) the scope of the authority of 
 the Governing Board; and
 ``
            (II) the objectives of the 
 Governing Board;
 ``
            (C) to select and appoint the Third-Party Data 
 Manager in accordance with subsection

    (f) ;
 ``
            (D) to approve the criteria and procedures 
 governing how the Third-Party Data Manager will receive 
 and accept pipeline safety data and information;
 ``
        (E) to establish, and appoint members of, Issue 
 Analysis Teams in accordance with subsection

    (g) ;
 ``
        (F) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to 
 identify issues and topics to be analyzed by the Issue 
 Analysis Teams;
 ``
        (G) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to 
 specify the type of pipeline safety data and 
 information necessary for the Issue Analysis Teams to 
 analyze the issues and topics identified under 
 subparagraph
        (F) ;
 ``
        (H) to determine the information to be 
 disseminated by the VIS;
 ``
            (I) to determine the reports to be disseminated 
 by the VIS;
 ``
        (J) to issue, not less frequently than annually, 
 publicly available reports on--
 ``
            (i) VIS processes;
 ``
            (ii) the membership of the Governing 
 Board;
 ``
            (iii) issues and topics being 
 investigated and analyzed by Issue Analysis 
 Teams or the Governing Board;
 ``
            (iv) pipeline safety data and information 
 that the VIS has requested for submission to 
 the VIS; and
 ``
            (v) safety trends identified by the 
 Administrator, Issue Analysis Teams, or the 
 Governing Board; and
 ``
        (K) to perform such other functions that the 
 Governing Board determines are--
 ``
            (i) necessary or appropriate; and
 ``
            (ii) consistent with the purpose of the 
 VIS described in subsection

    (b)

    (3) .
 ``

    (6) Decisionmaking.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Decisions and approvals of the 
 Governing Board shall be made by a super-majority of 
 the members, as described in subparagraph
        (B) .
 ``
        (B) Supermajority described.--A supermajority 
 referred to in subparagraph
        (A) shall consist of not 
 fewer than--
 ``
            (i) \2/3\ of the total members of the 
 Governing Board; and
 ``
            (ii) 1 additional member of the Governing 
 Board.
 ``

    (e) Program Manager.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator (or a designee of the 
 Administrator) shall serve as the Program Manager for the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Responsibilities.--The Program Manager shall provide 
 the day-to-day program management and administrative support 
 for the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party Data 
 Manager.
 ``

    (f) Third-Party Data Manager.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Governing Board shall appoint a 
 Third-Party Data Manager to provide data management and data 
 oversight services for the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Qualifications.--The Third-Party Data Manager shall 
 have expertise in data protection, aggregation, and analytics.
 ``

    (3) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the services 
 described in paragraph

    (1) , the Third-Party Data Manager 
 shall--
 ``
        (A) receive and secure pipeline safety data and 
 information submitted to the VIS;
 ``
        (B) accept pipeline safety data and information 
 submitted to the VIS that meets the criteria and 
 procedures approved by the Governing Board under 
 subsection
            (d) (5)
            (D) ;
 ``
            (C) de-identify, store, and manage pipeline 
 safety data and information that is accepted by the 
 VIS;
 ``
            (D) collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to 
 analyze and aggregate pipeline safety data and 
 information that is accepted by the VIS;
 ``
        (E) prepare reports as requested by the Governing 
 Board regarding the type of pipeline safety data and 
 information that is managed by the VIS; and
 ``
        (F) make recommendations to the Governing Board 
 regarding the management of pipeline safety data and 
 information by the VIS, as appropriate.
 ``

    (g) Issue Analysis Teams.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Governing Board shall establish, and 
 appoint the members of, 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams as the 
 Governing Board determines to be appropriate and relevant to 
 the pipeline safety work of the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Qualifications.--An Issue Analysis Team established 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall--
 ``
        (A) subject to subparagraph
        (B) , consist of 
 pipeline safety technical and subject matter experts; 
 and
 ``
        (B) may include, as appropriate, representatives 
 from public safety advocacy organizations described in 
 subsection
            (d) (2)
        (B)
            (iii) .
 ``

    (3) Responsibilities.--An Issue Analysis Team shall--
 ``
        (A) work with the Third-Party Data Manager to 
 aggregate and analyze pipeline safety data and 
 information submitted to the VIS relating to the issues 
 and topics analyzed by the Issue Analysis Team; and
 ``
        (B) submit internal reports and recommendations 
 to the Governing Board on those issues and topics.
 ``

    (h) Application of FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5 (commonly 
referred to as the `Federal Advisory Committee Act') shall not apply 
to--
 ``

    (1) the VIS;
 ``

    (2) the Governing Board; or
 ``

    (3) any Issue Analysis Team.
 ``
            (i) Participation in the VIS.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The submission of data and information 
 to the VIS by any person shall be voluntary, with no person 
 compelled to participate in, or to submit data or information 
 to any person for inclusion in, the VIS.
 ``

    (2) Requirement.--The VIS shall not accept data or 
 information relating to an operator if the operator has not 
 authorized the submission of that data or information for 
 inclusion in the VIS.
 ``

    (3) Encouraging information sharing.--The Governing Board 
 shall encourage the voluntary sharing of pipeline safety data 
 and information among--
 ``
        (A) operators of gas transmission, gas 
 distribution, and hazardous liquid pipelines;
 ``
        (B) employees of those operators;
 ``
            (C) labor unions representing those employees;
 ``
            (D) contractors of the operators described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) ;
 ``
        (E) in-line inspection service providers;
 ``
        (F) non-destructive evaluation experts;
 ``
        (G) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
 Administration; and
 ``
        (H) representatives of--
 ``
            (i) State pipeline safety agencies;
 ``
            (ii) relevant Tribal agencies;
 ``
            (iii) pipeline safety public interest 
 groups;
 ``
            (iv) manufacturers of gas transmission, 
 gas distribution, and hazardous liquid pipeline 
 infrastructure and equipment; and
 ``
            (v) relevant research and academic 
 institutions.
 ``

    (4) Limitation on inclusion of data and information in 
 the vis.--Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the 
 Third-Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under 
 subsection

    (f)

    (3)
        (B) shall be related to the issues and topics 
 identified by the Governing Board for analysis by an Issue 
 Analysis Team under subsection
            (d) (5)
        (F) .
 ``

    (5) Types of data and information included in the vis.--
 Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the Third-
 Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under subsection

    (f)

    (3)
        (B) 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, subject 
 to the condition that such surveys are voluntarily 
 agreed to by the pipeline operator;
 ``
        (F) pipeline safety data and information which 
 may lead to the identification of pipeline safety 
 risks, as specified by the Governing Board; and
 ``
        (G) any other relevant data or information, as 
 determined by the Governing Board.
 ``

    (j) Confidentiality.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--To facilitate the sharing of otherwise 
 nonpublic pipeline safety data and information with the VIS, 
 the data and information accepted, stored, managed, analyzed, 
 or produced by the VIS--
 ``
        (A) shall be kept confidential by the VIS; and
 ``
        (B) except as otherwise provided in this section, 
 is not subject to disclosure by the VIS under any other 
 law.
 ``

    (2) Prohibition.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (3) , no 
 person, including the Program Manager, the Third-Party Data 
 Manager, any member of the Governing Board, and any member of 
 an Issue Analysis Team, and no Federal, State, local, or Tribal 
 agency having or obtaining access to nonpublic information 
 accepted, analyzed, stored, managed, or produced by the VIS may 
 release or communicate that nonpublic information from the VIS, 
 either in an identified or de-identified form, to any person 
 who does not have the authority to view VIS data.
 ``

    (3) Exception.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) and subsections

    (k) and
            (l) , on approval by the 
 Governing Board under subparagraph
        (B) , the Governing 
 Board or the Administrator may disclose de-identified 
 nonpublic information obtained by the VIS.
 ``
        (B) Approval.--Approval to disclose de-identified 
 nonpublic information under subparagraph
        (A) --
 ``
            (i) shall be based on an analysis of the 
 de-identified nonpublic information; and
 ``
            (ii) may, in the sole discretion of the 
 Governing Board, consist of any safety findings 
 or recommendations that the Governing Board 
 determines to publish or authorizes the 
 Administrator to publish to improve pipeline 
 safety.
 ``
            (C) Public reports.--In issuing public reports 
 under subsection
            (d) (5)
        (J) , the Governing Board shall 
 approve the disclosure of de-identified nonpublic 
 information obtained by the VIS that the Governing 
 Board determines is necessary to adequately describe 
 and illustrate the issues and topics being investigated 
 and analyzed by Issue Analysis Teams or the Governing 
 Board.
 ``

    (4) Savings provision.--This subsection does not apply to 
 public information that may be submitted to the VIS.
 ``

    (k) Applicability of FOIA.--
 ``

    (1) Exemption.--Any nonpublic information that is 
 accepted, stored, managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS and 
 subsequently obtained by the Secretary or the Administrator 
 from the VIS is exempt from the requirements of 

section 552 of 
 title 5.
 ``

    (2) Applicability.--For purposes of paragraph

    (1) , this 
 section shall be considered to be a statute described in 
 

section 552

    (b)

    (3)
        (B) of title 5.
 ``
            (l) Exclusion of VIS Information in Litigation and Other 
Proceedings.--
 ``

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

    (3) , any nonpublic information that is accepted, stored, 
 managed, analyzed, or produced by the VIS may 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 the employees 
 or contractors of a pipeline 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) , any nonpublic information that is accepted, 
 stored, managed, analyzed, or produced 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 data or 
 information that--
 ``
        (A) is evidence of a criminal violation;
 ``
        (B) is not related to the purpose of the VIS 
 described in subsection

    (b)

    (3) ;
 ``
            (C) is otherwise required to be reported to the 
 Secretary under part 190, 191 (including information 
 about an incident or accident), 192, 194, 195, or 199 
 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
 regulations);
 ``
            (D) is required to be reported to a State 
 authority under State pipeline safety laws; or
 ``
        (E) is 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.
 ``
            (m) Effect on Discovery.--Except as provided in subsection
            (l) (2) , nothing in this section or any rule or regulation promulgated 
under this section--
 ``

    (1) creates a defense to a discovery request; or
 ``

    (2) otherwise limits or affects the discovery of pipeline 
 safety data and information arising from a cause of action 
 authorized under any other Federal, State, or local law.
 ``

    (n) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects any 
Federal, State, or local pipeline safety law.
 ``

    (o) Annual Reports.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress, by the end of that fiscal year, a report on the status of 
the VIS.
 ``

    (p) Funding.--
 ``

    (1) Sustainable funding.--The Secretary shall--
 ``
        (A) explore sustainable funding sources for the 
 VIS, including public-private partnerships; and
 ``
        (B) to the maximum extent practicable, 
 sustainably fund the VIS through the use of those 
 sustainable funding sources.
 ``

    (2) Limited additional funding.--In addition to the fees 
 collected under 

section 60301, the Secretary may collect an 
 additional $5,000,000 under that section for each of fiscal 
 years 2024 through 2027 to establish, implement, and manage the 
 VIS.''.

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-

Section 60101

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

    (1) by redesignating paragraphs

    (17) through

    (26) as 
 paragraphs

    (18) ,

    (19) ,

    (20) ,

    (25) ,

    (26) ,

    (27) ,

    (22) ,

    (23) ,

    (24) , and

    (28) , respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as 
 to appear in numerical order;

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (16) the following:
 ``

    (17) Nonpublic information.--The term `nonpublic 
 information' means any pipeline safety data or information, 
 regardless of form or format, that--
 ``
        (A) a company does not disclose, disseminate, or 
 make available to the public; or
 ``
        (B) is not otherwise in the public domain.''; and

    (3) by inserting after paragraph

    (20) (as so redesignated) 
 the following:
 ``

    (21) Public information.--The term `public information' 
 means any data or information, regardless of form or format, 
 that--
 ``
        (A) a company discloses, disseminates, or makes 
 available to the public; or
 ``
        (B) is otherwise in the public domain.''.
            (c) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 601 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``60144. Voluntary information-sharing system.''.
            (d) Conforming Amendments.--

    (1) Section 70012
            (c) of title 46, United States Code, is 
 amended by striking ``

section 60101

    (a)

    (18) '' and inserting 
 ``

section 60101

    (a) ''.

    (2) Section 60102

    (q)

    (1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
 amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``subsection

    (a)

    (21) '' and inserting ``subsection

    (a)

    (26) ''.

    (e) Technical Corrections.--

Section 60101

    (a) of title 49, United 
States Code (as amended by subsection

    (b) ), is amended--

    (1) in the matter preceding paragraph

    (1) , by striking 
 ``chapter--'' and inserting ``chapter:'';

    (2) in each of paragraphs

    (1) through

    (16) ,

    (18) ,

    (19) ,

    (20) ,

    (22) 

    (23) ,

    (25) , and

    (27) , by striking the semicolon at 
 the end of the paragraph and inserting a period;

    (3) in paragraph

    (1) --
        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all 
 that follows through ``
        (A) means'' in subparagraph
        (A) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) Existing liquefied natural gas facility.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The term `existing liquefied 
 natural gas facility' means'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) , by striking ``; but'' 
 and inserting a period; and
            (C) in subparagraph
        (B) --
            (i) by striking ``
        (B) does not'' and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
        (B) Exclusions.--The term `existing liquefied 
 natural gas facility' does not''; and
            (ii) by inserting ``described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) '' after ``approval'';

    (4) in paragraph

    (14) --
        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all 
 that follows through ``
        (A) means'' in subparagraph
        (A) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (14) Liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The term `liquefied natural gas 
 pipeline facility' means'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``; but'' and 
 inserting a period; and
            (C) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``
        (B) does 
 not'' and inserting the following:
 ``
        (B) Exclusions.--The term `liquefied natural gas 
 pipeline facility' does not'';

    (5) in paragraph

    (24) (relating to the term ``Secretary''), 
 by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;

    (6) in paragraph

    (26) --
        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all 
 that follows through ``
        (A) means'' in subparagraph
        (A) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (26) Transporting gas.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The term `transporting gas' 
 means'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) , by striking ``; but'' 
 and inserting a period; and
            (C) by striking subparagraph
        (B) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting gas' does 
 not include--
 ``
            (i) gathering gas (except through 
 regulated gathering lines) in a rural area 
 outside a populated area designated by the 
 Secretary as a nonrural area; or
 ``
            (ii) the movement of gas by the owner or 
 operator of a plant for use as a fuel, a 
 feedstock, or for any other purpose that 
 directly supports plant operations through--
 ``
            (I) in-plant piping systems that 
 are located entirely on the grounds of 
 the plant; or
 ``
            (II) transfer piping systems that 
 extend less than 1 mile in length 
 outside the grounds of the plant.'';

    (7) in paragraph

    (27) --
        (A) by striking the paragraph designation and all 
 that follows through ``
        (A) means'' in subparagraph
        (A) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (27) Transporting hazardous liquid.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The term `transporting hazardous 
 liquid' means'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) , by striking ``; but'' 
 and inserting a period; and
            (C) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking ``
        (B) does 
 not'' and inserting the following:
 ``
        (B) Exclusions.--The term `transporting hazardous 
 liquid' does not''; and

    (8) in each of paragraphs

    (2) through

    (13) ,

    (15) ,

    (16) ,

    (18) ,

    (19) ,

    (20) ,

    (22) through

    (25) , and

    (28) --
        (A) by inserting ``The term'' after the paragraph 
 designation; and
        (B) by inserting a paragraph heading, the text of 
 which comprises the term defined in the paragraph.
 <all>