PIPELINE INTEGRITY, PROTECTION, AND ENHANCEMENT FOR LEVERAGING INVESTMENTS IN THE NATION'S ENERGY TO ASSURE SAFETY ACT OF 2025

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Floor speeches
Chamber: Senate
Date: April 29, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

People mentioned: Ernst, Joni
Bills and resolutions: S. 2975 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on Energy and Commerce

Readable version of the official text

PIPELINE INTEGRITY, PROTECTION, AND ENHANCEMENT FOR LEVERAGING

INVESTMENTS IN THE NATION'S ENERGY TO ASSURE SAFETY ACT OF 2025

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 331, S. 2975.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (S. 2975) to amend title 49, United States Code, to

enhance the safety of pipeline transportation, and for other

purposes.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,

which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.—This Act may be cited as the “Pipeline

Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging

Investments in the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of

2025” or the “PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025”.

(b) Table of Contents.—The table of contents for this Act

is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATIONS

Sec. 101. Gas and hazardous liquid. Sec. 102. Operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials

Safety Administration.
Sec. 103. Other programs.

TITLE II—MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY

Sec. 201. Inspection of in-service breakout tanks. Sec. 202. Risk assessment obligations. Sec. 203. Timely incorporation by reference. Sec. 204. Report on updates to the National Pipeline Mapping System. Sec. 205. Pipeline safety enhancement programs. Sec. 206. Technical safety standards committees. Sec. 207. Enforcement procedures. Sec. 208. Civil penalties. Sec. 209. Improving whistleblower protections. Sec. 210. Assessment of composite materials. Sec. 211. Elements and evaluation of State damage prevention programs. Sec. 212. Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system. Sec. 213. Transporting gas. Sec. 214. Inspection and management of rights-of-way. Sec. 215. Geological hazards. Sec. 216. Alternative technologies. Sec. 217. Fire shutoff valves. Sec. 218. Exemption from post-accident testing. Sec. 219. Maximum allowable operating pressure records. Sec. 220. Pipeline operating status. Sec. 221. Potential impact radius. Sec. 222. Effects of weather on natural gas pipelines. Sec. 223. Aldyl-A pipelines. Sec. 224. Improvements to pipeline safety integrity management

programs.
Sec. 225. Nonemergency waivers by the Secretary.

TITLE III—STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES

Sec. 301. Regulatory updates. Sec. 302. State use of integrated inspections. Sec. 303. Optimizing pipeline safety inspections. Sec. 304. Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement prior to rulemaking

activities.

TITLE IV—IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES

Sec. 401. Studies of hydrogen pipeline transportation.
Sec. 402. Safety of carbon dioxide pipelines.
Sec. 403. Reporting of blended products.

TITLE V—IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND TRANSPARENCY

Sec. 501. Bitumen oil response plan review. Sec. 502. National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline

Leak Detection.
Sec. 503. Operator financial disclosure.
Sec. 504. Data and transparency.
Sec. 505. Office of Public Engagement.
Sec. 506. Clarification of confirmed discovery.
Sec. 507. Public alert notification system for pipeline facilities.

TITLE VI—OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 601. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or contracting

action with respect to covered unmanned aircraft systems. Sec. 602. Natural gas distribution pipeline infrastructure safety and

modernization grants.
Sec. 603. Issues affecting federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Sec. 604. Identification of and justification for redactions.
Sec. 605. Fees for loan guarantees.
Sec. 606. Improving pipeline cybersecurity.
Sec. 607. Technical corrections.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) Administration.—The term “Administration” means the

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

(2) Administrator.—The term “Administrator” means the

Administrator of the Administration.

(3) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

“appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of

the House of Representatives; and

Representatives.

(4) Document produced to another person.—The term

“document produced to another person” means a document

produced in response to a request under section 552 of title

5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of

Information Act), a submission to a Federal, State, or Tribal

court, information made available on a website, and a

document transmitted to Congress.

(5) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Transportation.

TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATIONS

SEC. 101. GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID.

Section 60125(a) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$156,400,000 for fiscal year 2021” and inserting

“$185,000,000 for fiscal year 2026”; and

(ii) in clause (ii), by striking “$63,000,000” and

inserting “$83,250,000”;

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$158,500,000 for fiscal year 2022” and inserting

“$190,365,000 for fiscal year 2027”; and

(ii) in clause (ii)—

(I) by striking “$66,000,000” and inserting

“$85,660,000”; and

(II) by striking “and” at the end;

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$162,700,000 for fiscal year 2023” and inserting

“$195,886,000 for fiscal year 2028”; and

(ii) in clause (ii)—

(I) by striking “$69,000,000” and inserting

“$88,150,000”; and

(II) by striking the period at the end and inserting a

semicolon; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) $201,556,000 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) $90,700,000 shall be used for making grants; and

“(E) $207,412,000 for fiscal year 2030, 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) $93,340,000 shall be used for making grants.”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$27,000,000 for fiscal year 2021” and inserting

“$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2026”; and

(ii) in clause (ii), by striking “$11,000,000” and

inserting “$13,500,000”;

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$27,650,000 for fiscal year 2022” and inserting

“$31,000,000 for fiscal year 2027”; and

(ii) in clause (ii)—

(I) by striking “$12,000,000” and inserting

“$13,950,000”; and

(II) by striking “and” at the end;

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“$28,700,000 for fiscal year 2023” and inserting

“$32,000,000 for fiscal year 2028”; and

(ii) in clause (ii)—

(I) by striking “$13,000,000” and inserting

“$14,400,000”; and

(II) by striking the period at the end and inserting a

semicolon; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which—

“(i) $3,000,000 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) $14,850,000 shall be used for making grants; and

“(E) 34,000,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which—

“(i) $3,000,000 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) $15,300,000 shall be used for making grants.”; and

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking “$8,000,000 for each of

fiscal years 2021 through 2023” and inserting “$7,000,000

for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030”.

SEC. 102. OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS

MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary

for the necessary operational expenses of the

Administration—

(1) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

(2) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

(3) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;

(4) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and

(5) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.

SEC. 103. OTHER PROGRAMS.

(a) Emergency Response Grants.—Section 60125(b)(2) of

title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking

“$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to

carry out this subsection” and inserting “to carry out this

subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through

2030”.

(b) Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities.—

Section 60130 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “section 2(b) of the

PIPES Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-183; 130 Stat. 515), the

Secretary shall use $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021

through 2023 to carry out this section.” and inserting the

following: “section 60125(a)(1), the Secretary shall use to

carry out this section—

“(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

“(B) $2,750,000 for fiscal year 2027;

“(C) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;

“(D) $3,250,000 for fiscal year 2029; and

“(E) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.”; and

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking “$1,000,000”; and

(ii) by striking “section.” and inserting the following:

“section—

“(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

“(B) $1,250,000 for fiscal year 2027;

“(C) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2028;

“(D) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2029; and

“(E) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.”;

(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and

(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

“(d) Deadlines.—

“(1) Notice of funding opportunity.—Not later than 60

days after the date on which funds are made available to

carry out this section, the Secretary shall publish a notice

of funding opportunity for the funds.

“(2) Applications.—To be eligible to receive a grant

under this section, an eligible applicant shall submit to the

Secretary an application—

“(A) in such form and containing such information as the

Secretary considers to be appropriate; and

“(B) by such date as the Secretary may establish, subject

to the condition that the date shall be not later than 60

days after the date on which the Secretary publishes the

notice of funding opportunity under paragraph (1).

“(3) Selection.—Not later than 120 days after the date on

which the Secretary publishes the notice of funding

opportunity under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall announce

the selection by the Secretary of eligible applicants to

receive grants in accordance with this section.”.

49, United States Code, is amended by striking “$1,500,000

for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Such funds shall

remain” and inserting “$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years

2026 through 2030, to remain”.

(d) Pipeline Integrity Program.—Section 12(f) of the

Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101

note; Public Law 107-355) is amended—

(1) by striking “$3,000,000” and inserting

“$2,500,000”; and

(2) by striking “the fiscal years 2021 through 2023” and

inserting “fiscal years 2026 through 2030”.

TITLE II—MODERNIZING PIPELINE SAFETY

SEC. 201. INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE BREAKOUT TANKS.

(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise part 195 of

title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to allow for risk-

based inspections of in-service breakout tanks if the

Secretary finds such revisions maintain or enhance safety.

(b) Considerations.—In revising the regulations under

subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the American

Petroleum Institute standard entitled “Tank Inspection,

Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction”, dated November

2014, and numbered API Standard 653 (Fifth Edition) (or a

successor standard).

subsection (a), for any in-service breakout tanks that would

be internally inspected less frequently under the revised

regulations than required under part 195 of title 49, Code of

Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2025), the

Secretary shall require operators—

(1) to visually monitor the external conditions of those

tanks on a routine basis; and

(2) to use a secondary containment system designed to

contain hazardous liquids in the event of a leak.

(d) Notification.—If the regulations promulgated under

subsection (a) differ from the American Petroleum Institute

standard referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary shall

submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a

notification explaining the reasons for the differences not

later than 60 days after the date on which the regulations

are published in the Federal Register.

SEC. 202. RISK ASSESSMENT OBLIGATIONS.

Section 60102(b)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) require that an officer or employee of the

Department of Transportation with expertise in conducting

risk assessments or cost-benefit analyses for pipeline

facilities or other modes of transportation attend any

meeting in which a committee described in clause (i) is

serving as a peer review panel with respect to that risk

assessment information.”.

SEC. 203. TIMELY INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

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 5

years, the Secretary shall—

“(A) review each industry consensus standard—

“(i) that has been adopted or incorporated, partially or

in full, as part of the Federal pipeline safety regulatory

program under this chapter;

“(ii) that has been modified by a standards development

organization (as defined in section 2(a) of the National

Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993 (15 U.S.C.

4301(a))) since being adopted or incorporated; and

“(iii) the modification of which has been published by a

standards development organization (as defined in that

section); and

“(B) update, as determined necessary by the Secretary, the

adoption or incorporation of each industry consensus standard

reviewed under subparagraph (A).

“(2) List of industry standards.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall maintain a publicly

available list of all industry standards considered for

adoption or incorporation under this chapter, including—

“(i) the determination of the Secretary with respect to

each standard considered; and

“(ii) with respect to each standard not adopted or

incorporated in full, the reasoning for not adopting or

incorporating that standard in full.

“(B) Availability.—Not later than 30 days after initial

completion and each revision of the list under subparagraph

(A), the Secretary shall publish the list on the public

website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Administration.

“(3) Consideration of industry consensus standards.—In

prescribing new safety standards under this chapter, the

Secretary shall consider adopting or incorporating industry

consensus standards.

“(4) Public access.—

“(A) In general.—For all industry consensus standards

incorporated or partially incorporated under this chapter on

or after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of

2025, the Secretary shall publish on the public website of

the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

the full text of the standard or a direct link to an external

source where the full text is available to the public on a

website to view at no cost for the duration of time that the

Secretary has the incorporation by reference available for

public comment.

“(B) Exception.—If the full text of an industry consensus

standard is not published on the public website of the

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or

available from that website via a direct link to an external

source where the full text is available to the public on a

website to view at no cost for the duration of time that the

Secretary has the incorporation by reference available for

public comment, then the Secretary shall not incorporate or

partially incorporate under this chapter that industry

consensus standard by reference.

“(C) Previously incorporated standards.—For industry

consensus standards incorporated or partially incorporated

under this chapter before the date of enactment of the

PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 that are publicly available on a

public-facing website at no charge to the public, the

Secretary shall publish on the public website of the Pipeline

and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration the full text

of the standard or a direct link to an external source where

the full text is available to the public on a website.”.

SEC. 204. REPORT ON UPDATES TO THE NATIONAL PIPELINE MAPPING

SYSTEM.

(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress

a report on the management of the National Pipeline Mapping

System by the Administration.

(b) Contents.—The report submitted under subsection (a)

shall describe—

(1) how and when the Administration updates the high

consequence area data contained in the National Pipeline

Mapping System;

(2) what sources of scientific data are used for those

updates; and

(3) how those data are validated for accuracy.

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a

rulemaking to require that the information submitted under

section 60132(a) of title 49, United States Code, has a

spatial accuracy within a radius of 50 feet from the location

of the facility (+/- 50 feet).

SEC. 205. PIPELINE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS.

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

(1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking “3 years after the

date of enactment of this section” and inserting “5 years

after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of

2025”;

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting “or equal to” after

“greater than”; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) Determination.—

“(A) In general.—To accomplish the purpose of a testing

program, the Secretary may issue an order waiving compliance

with any part of an applicable standard prescribed under this

chapter if the condition described in paragraph (1) is met,

as determined by the Secretary.

“(B) Limitation.—The Secretary shall not require testing

program applicants to use the nonemergency waiver process, or

to otherwise meet the requirements of the nonemergency waiver

process, established under section 60118(c)(1).”;

(3) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:

“(h) Authority to Terminate Program.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall immediately

terminate a testing program under subsection (a) if

continuation of the testing program would not be consistent

with the goals and objectives of this chapter.

“(2) Notification.—Not later than 10 days after the

termination of a testing program under paragraph (1), the

Secretary shall notify the relevant pipeline operators of how

they can address any deficiencies identified by the

Secretary.

“(3) Reinstatement.—If the Secretary determines that the

deficiencies identified under paragraph (2) are addressed,

the Secretary shall reinstate the testing program.”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(m) Approval Process.—Establishment of a testing program

under subsection (a) shall not be considered a major Federal

action (as defined in section 111 of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e)) for

purposes of that Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).”.

SEC. 206. TECHNICAL SAFETY STANDARDS COMMITTEES.

(a) Notification to Congress.—Section 60115(c)(2) of title

49, United States Code, is amended, in the fifth sentence, by

inserting “and notify the appropriate committees of Congress

(as defined in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of

2025)” after “the Secretary shall publish the reasons”.

(b) Frequency of Meetings.—Section 60115(e) of title 49,

United States Code, is amended by striking “up to 4” and

inserting “2”.

SEC. 207. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

(a) In General.—Section 60117(b)(1) of title 49, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B)—

(A) in clause (i), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) in clause (ii), by adding “or” after the semicolon at

the end; and

“(iii) to allow a recipient of a warning under section

190.205 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a

successor regulation), to discuss claims made in the warning

with relevant staff;”;

(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking “and” at the end;

(3) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(K) for civil penalties over $1,000,000, adjusted each

year for inflation, allow the respondent to request a formal

hearing in accordance with section 554 of title 5, conducted

by an administrative law judge; and

“(L) provide a written response to a request for the

withdrawal or modification of a written warning issued under

this section.”.

(b) Hearings.—Section 60117(b) of title 49, United States

Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the

following:

“(2) Hearing requirements.—A hearing under this section

shall—

“(A) be noticed to the public on the website of the

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on its

own page titled `Upcoming Enforcement Hearings';

“(B) provide an orderly and timely process, as determined

by the Secretary;

“(C) in the case of a formal hearing, be open to the

public.”.

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update the

regulations prescribing protocols for all hearings under

section 60117 of title 49, United States Code.

(d) Application.—Section 60117(b)(1)(K) of title 49,

United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(4)) shall

apply only to civil penalties for violations that occur on or

after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 208. CIVIL PENALTIES.

Section 60122(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in the first sentence, by striking “$200,000” and

inserting “$400,000”; and

(2) in the third sentence, by striking “$2,000,000” and

inserting “$4,000,000”.

SEC. 209. IMPROVING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.

Section 60129 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking “such a person.” and

inserting “a person described in subparagraph (A); or”; and

“(C) an officer, employee, or agent of a person described

in subparagraph (A).”; and

(2) in subsection (b)(3)(B)—

(A) in clause (ii), by inserting “with interest” after

“back pay”; and

(B) in clause (iii), by inserting “, including

compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of

the discrimination” after “compensatory damages to the

complainant”.

SEC. 210. ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

(a) In General.—The Administrator shall gather and assess

any studies, data, standards, and approved applications

available as of the date of enactment of this Act that

address the safety of composite materials to support the safe

transportation of—

(1) natural gas;

(2) hazardous liquids;

(3) new fuels, such as hydrogen and hydrogen blended with

natural gas; and

(4) new fluids, such as carbon dioxide.

(b) Deadline.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall be

completed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment

of this Act.

assessment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall

submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report

describing the conclusions of the assessment.

(d) Rulemaking.—

(1) In general.—If the Administrator concludes, based on

the assessment under subsection (a), that composite materials

provide, at a minimum, an equivalent level of safety as other

pipelines under the jurisdiction of the Administration, the

Administrator shall promulgate regulations, not later than 1

year after the date on which the report under subsection (c)

is submitted, that allow for the use of composite materials

for the transportation of new fuels.

(2) Incorporation of existing standards.—The regulations

promulgated under paragraph (1) may include adoption or

incorporation by reference of existing industry consensus

standards.

SEC. 211. ELEMENTS AND EVALUATION OF STATE DAMAGE PREVENTION

PROGRAMS.

(a) In General.—Section 60134 of title 49, United States

Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting “State”

before “Damage”;

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as

subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively;

redesignated), by striking “An” and inserting the

following:

“(1) In general.—An”;

(D) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)—

(i) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (I)

appropriately; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

“(J) A State one-call program that includes, or is making

substantial progress toward including, the one-call leading

practices described in paragraph (2).”; and

(E) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) One-call leading practices.—The one-call leading

practices referred to in paragraph (1)(J) are the following:

“(A) Restricting the size or scope of a one-call ticket

for standard locate requests (which may include process

exceptions for special large project tickets).

“(B) Restricting the longevity of a one-call ticket for

standard locate requests (which may include process

exceptions for special large project tickets).

“(C) Specifying tolerance (soft-dig only) zone horizontal

dimensions.

“(D) Specifying tolerance zone requirements.

“(E) Specifying emergency excavation notification

requirements.

“(F) Specifying the responsibilities of excavators,

including the reporting of damages or suspected damages.

“(G) Defining who is an excavator and what is considered

excavation.

“(H) Requiring the use of white-lining.

“(I) Requiring a positive response before excavation

begins, such as a utility, municipality, or other entity that

places the relevant marks positively responding to the

notification center, and the excavator checking for that

positive response before beginning excavation.

“(J) Requiring that newly installed underground facilities

be locatable with commercially available technology.

“(K) Requiring the marking of sewer lines and laterals.

“(L) Specifying the qualifications of, and requirements

for, those excavators performing trenchless excavation

activities that are not subject to pipeline construction

requirements under part 192 or 195 of title 49, Code of

Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).”; and

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) by striking “In” and inserting the following:

“(1) In general.—In”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) Evaluation criteria.—The evaluation criteria used by

the Secretary for determining the effectiveness of a State

damage prevention program shall include consideration of

whether the State, at a minimum—

“(A) engages in effective, active, and meaningful

enforcement of State one-call laws, including the efficacy of

fines and penalties;

“(B) requires reporting to the local one-call center of

excavation damage events that affect pipelines and other

underground facilities that are not privately owned,

including (to the extent available at the time of the

reporting)—

“(i) information about the nature of the incident,

including its apparent cause;

“(ii) the organizations involved;

“(iii) the impact to public safety, utility operations,

and customer service; and

“(iv) the impact to the environment; and

“(C) limits exemptions to State damage prevention laws.”.

(b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 60114(f) of title 49,

United States Code, is amended by striking “section

60134(b)(7)” and inserting “section 60134(b)(1)(G)”.

SEC. 212. 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, government, 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 pipelines, gas

distribution pipelines, 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 2026 through 2030 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.”.

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)”.

SEC. 213. TRANSPORTING GAS.

Section 60101(a)(26) of title 49, United States Code (as

redesignated by section 212(b)(1)), is amended—

(1) 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”;

(2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking “; but” and

inserting a period; and

(3) 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.”.

SEC. 214. INSPECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

(a) Inspection of Rights-of-way.—Section 60108 of title

49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(f) Inspection of Rights-of-way.—

“(1) In general.—When requiring an operator to inspect

the surface conditions on or adjacent to a pipeline right-of-

way, the Secretary shall allow the use of unmanned aircraft

systems and satellites.

“(2) Savings provision.—Nothing in this subsection

affects any obligation to operate an unmanned aircraft system

in accordance with all relevant Federal laws relating to the

use of unmanned aircraft systems.”.

(b) Management of Rights-of-way.—Section 60108(a) of title

49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “(1) Each” and

inserting the following:

“(1) In general.—Each”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) by striking “(2) If” and inserting the following:

“(2) Revision.—If”;

(B) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (E)

appropriately; and

(iii) appropriately;

(3) in paragraph (3), by indenting the paragraph, and each

subparagraph within the paragraph, appropriately; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Alternative methods 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 the Secretary determines that the alternative

method—

“(i) achieves a level of safety at least equal to the

level of safety required by the regulations promulgated under

this chapter; and

“(ii) allows for timely emergency response.

“(B) Purpose.—An operator considering implementing an

alternative method described in subparagraph (A) may consider

incorporating into the plan for implementing that 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 facility 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 facility 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; and

“(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) Consultation.—

“(i) Available guidance.—In developing alternative

methods under this paragraph, 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

guidance described in clause (i), an operator may consult

leading industry practices and guidance to develop and

implement alternative methods under this paragraph.

“(D) Requirements.—An operator using an alternative

method under this paragraph shall ensure that the alternative

inspection plans of the operator continue to ensure that the

operator can identify risks to pipeline facilities.

“(E) Savings provision.—Nothing in this paragraph exempts

an operator from compliance with any applicable requirements

under this chapter (including any regulations promulgated

under this chapter).”.

enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the

Department of Transportation shall initiate a review of a

representative sample of the inspection and maintenance plans

of operators that have utilized alternative methods of

maintaining rights-of-way under section 60108(a)(4) of title

49, United States Code, to determine—

(1) whether reduced mowing has limited the ability of

pipeline operators to assess risks to pipeline facilities;

(2) with respect to any incidents that have occurred on the

relevant pipeline facilities, whether reduced mowing

hindered—

(A) the ability of operators to identify a risk that was

related to the incident; or

(B) the ability for operators and emergency responders to

respond to an incident; and

(3) whether the alternative methods of maintaining rights-

of-way have impacted pipeline safety.

(d) Technical Correction.—Section 60108(e) of title 49,

United States Code, is amended, in the subsection heading, by

striking “In General” and inserting “Post-inspection

Briefing and Preliminary Findings”.

SEC. 215. GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS.

(a) Inspection and Maintenance Plans.—Section

60108(a)(2)(D) of title 49, United States Code (as amended by

section 214(b)(2)), is amended—

(1) in clause (ii), by striking “and” at the end; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(iv) mitigation of threats posed by geological hazards;

and”.

(b) Geological Hazard Mitigation Report.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare a

report that—

(A) identifies geological hazards that may cause a pipeline

to move or be affected by abnormal external loads, including

landslides, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and scouring;

(B) evaluates any industry consensus standards or best

practices relating to hazards described in subparagraph (A);

facility design, construction, operations, maintenance, and

integrity that relate to mitigation of geological hazards;

and

(D) makes recommendations to improve geological hazard

mitigation based on the findings of the report.

(2) Submission.—On completion of the report under

paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit the report to

the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress.

completion of the report under subsection (b)(1), the

Secretary shall review, and may update, as appropriate,

existing regulations and policy guidance that addresses the

safety of gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipeline

facilities to include consideration of threats posed by

geological hazards.

SEC. 216. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

(a) Request for Proposals.—Not later than 2 years after

the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years

thereafter, the Administrator shall—

(1) issue a request for proposals to identify potential

alternative technologies that, if used by operators, will

meet the intent of an existing pipeline safety regulation and

provide an equal or greater level of pipeline safety; and

(2) allow the public the opportunity to comment on those

proposals.

(b) Regulations.—If the Secretary determines that a

technology that is commercially available would meet the

intent of an existing pipeline safety regulation and provide

an equal or greater level of pipeline safety, the

Administrator may issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to

update the relevant regulations to allow operators to adopt

the use of such technology.

SEC. 217. FIRE SHUTOFF VALVES.

Section 60110 of title 49, United States Code, is amended

by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Fire Shutoff Valves or Equivalent Technology.—

“(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Equivalent technology.—The term `equivalent

technology' means any technology that—

“(i) is not an excess flow valve; and

“(ii) meets the performance standard of shutting off gas

on a service line of a distribution system to a dwelling or

other building in the event of a fire.

“(B) Fire-first ignition.—The term `fire-first ignition'

means an occurrence in which a fire originating from a

foreign source causes a natural gas system to fail, release,

or ignite.

“(C) Fire safety valve.—The term `fire safety valve'

means—

“(i) a fire shutoff valve; and

“(ii) any equivalent technology.

“(D) Fire shutoff valve.—The term `fire shutoff valve'

means a spring-loaded plug that is held in place by a fusible

link that—

“(i) is made of a low-melting-point alloy;

“(ii) is attached to a gas source; and

“(iii) melts when exposed to fire, causing the spring-

loaded plug to close, shutting off the gas to a dwelling or

other building connected to a service line of a distribution

system.

“(2) Study.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall complete a

study on the effectiveness of fire safety valves in order to

determine the ability of fire safety valves to improve public

safety through mitigation of secondary ignitions, such as

fire-first ignitions.

“(B) Requirements.—The study under subparagraph (A) shall

evaluate—

“(i) various scenarios and applications for deploying fire

safety valves;

“(ii) the current incidence of fire-first ignition of

natural gas distribution pipelines;

“(iii) anticipated reduction of fire-first ignition risk

under various fire safety valve deployment scenarios,

including—

“(I) lowering the likelihood of gas ignition; and

“(II) lowering the impact and damage of fire-first

ignition incidents;

“(iv) the long-term durability, construction, and

effectiveness of fire safety valves; and

“(v) the commercial availability of fire safety valves for

the pipeline industry.

“(3) Rulemaking.—After completing the study described in

paragraph (2), the Secretary may prescribe risk-based

standards on the circumstances under which an operator of a

natural gas distribution system shall be required to install

fire shutoff valves or equivalent technologies in the

system.”.

SEC. 218. EXEMPTION FROM POST-ACCIDENT TESTING.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of

Health and Human Services, shall update the regulations of

the Administration to provide that a covered employee (as

defined in section 199.3 of title 49, Code of Federal

Regulations (or a successor regulation)) whose previous

performance of a covered function (as defined in that section

(or a successor regulation)) takes place outside of the time

frame during which the use of prohibited drugs or alcohol can

be detected by post-accident testing under section 199.105(b)

or 199.225(a), as applicable, of that title (or successor

regulations)) is exempt from such post-accident testing.

SEC. 219. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE RECORDS.

(a) Previously Tested Transmission Lines.—Until the report

required under subsection (b)(1) and the rulemaking required

under subsection (c) (if determined necessary by the

Secretary) are completed, 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 (or a successor regulation),

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.

(b) Working Group Report.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall direct the existing

maximum allowable operating pressure working group of the

Administration (referred to in this subsection as the

“working group”) to continue producing a report containing

recommendations on the contemporaneous records that are

sufficient to confirm the material strength of a natural gas

transmission pipeline through prior testing.

(2) Composition of working group.—For purposes of carrying

out paragraph (1), the working group shall be composed of the

members representing the same stakeholders of the working

group as of January 1, 2025.

(3) Considerations.—In preparing the report required under

paragraph (1), the working group—

(A) shall consider historical practices and all available

research conducted regarding minimum pressure and

contemporaneous records on transmission pipelines;

(B) may consider the need for any additional research or

analyses necessary to demonstrate the adequacy of any

strength testing performed; and

recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board

following the San Bruno pipeline explosion.

(4) Submission of report.—Not later than 180 days after

the date of enactment of this Act, the working group shall

submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of

Congress the report produced under paragraph (1), including

any minority views.

(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after receiving the

report described in subsection (b)(1), if the Secretary

determines necessary, the Secretary, after providing notice

and opportunity for comment, shall promulgate standards

revising the requirements addressing the records necessary to

confirm the maximum allowable operating pressure of a natural

gas transmission pipeline segment.

(2) Limitations.—The rulemaking under paragraph (1) shall

not delay the date by which pipeline operators must comply

with maximum allowable operating pressure reconfirmation

regulations with respect to their natural gas transmission

pipeline segments under section 192.624 of title 49, Code of

Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of

this Act).

SEC. 220. PIPELINE OPERATING STATUS.

Section 60143(b) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the

following:

“(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, the Secretary

shall promulgate regulations prescribing the applicability of

the pipeline safety requirements to—

“(A) idled natural gas transmission pipelines;

“(B) idled other gas transmission pipelines; and

“(C) idled hazardous liquid pipelines.”.

SEC. 221. POTENTIAL IMPACT RADIUS.

(a) Definition of Potential Impact Radius.—In this

section, the term “potential impact radius” means the area

within which the potential failure of a pipeline could have

significant impact on persons or property, including injury

or death.

(b) Review of Methodology.—

(1) Review.—Not later than 3 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review—

(A) the methodology, including any formulas, used by the

Administration to determine a potential impact radius for

onshore gas transmission pipelines; and

(B) any applicable recommendations, including any pipeline

safety recommendations submitted to the Secretary or Congress

by the National Transportation Safety Board or the Government

Accountability Office.

(2) Report.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after completion

of the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing

the findings of the review.

(B) Requirement.—The report under subparagraph (A) shall

evaluate whether the methodology reviewed under paragraph

(1)(A) accounts for—

(i) available human response data;

(ii) accident data relating to recent pipeline incidents

since January 1, 2000;

(iii) the risk of serious injury or death, or property

damage, from a pipeline incident; and

(iv) the unique characteristics of the types of gas being

transported.

after the date of enactment of this Act, any Pipeline Failure

Investigation reports prepared by the Accident Investigation

Division of the Administration for accidents involving

onshore gas transmission pipelines shall

identify the location and distance from the pipeline of

damage, including injuries and property damage, outside of

the potential impact radius determined for the pipeline.

SEC. 222. EFFECTS OF WEATHER ON NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Applicable weather event.—The term “applicable

weather event” means—

(A) a relevant weather-related event described in the

definition of the term “major disaster” in section 102 of

the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122) that has the potential to

impact the safety of a natural gas pipeline facility;

(B) the February 2021 winter storm known as “Winter Storm

Uri”; and

Elliott”.

(2) Natural gas pipeline facility.—The term “natural gas

pipeline facility” means—

(A) a natural gas pipeline; and

(B) any related pipeline facility, equipment, or

infrastructure.

(b) Review and Report.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) complete a review of the effects of applicable weather

events on natural gas pipeline facilities to determine

whether applicable weather events pose a risk to safety

during and after the applicable weather event; and

(2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a

report on the results of that review.

than 90 days after the date on which the report under

subsection (b)(2) is submitted, the Secretary shall review

the distribution integrity management plans relating to

pipelines that are at increased risk of applicable weather

events to ensure that the owners and operators of those

pipelines are mitigating the effects of applicable weather

events to ensure public safety.

SEC. 223. ALDYL-A PIPELINES.

(a) Assessment of Aldyl-A Polyethylene Piping.—Not later

than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each

owner or operator of a gas distribution pipeline facility

shall assess its system for the presence of Aldyl-A

polyethylene.

(b) Limitation.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall not require owners and

operators of gas distribution pipeline facilities to conduct

excavation activities for the purpose of the assessment

required under subsection (a).

(2) Savings provision.—Nothing in this subsection affects

the authority of the Secretary under—

(A) section 60112 of title 49, United States Code; or

(B) subsection (m) or (p) of section 60117 of that title.

enactment of this Act, each owner or operator of a pipeline

facility described in subsection (a) shall submit to the

Secretary the estimated total pipeline mileage identified by

the owner or operator as Aldyl-A polyethylene piping.

(d) State Pipeline Safety Program Certifications.—Section

60105(b)(9)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by

striking “of cast iron and bare steel pipelines” and

inserting the following: “of—

“(i) cast iron and bare steel pipelines; and

“(ii) pipelines constructed of historic plastics with

known safety issues”.

(e) Evaluation of Risk in Distribution Integrity Management

Programs.—Section 60109(e)(7)(A)(i) of title 49, United

States Code, is amended by striking “presence of cast iron

pipes and mains in the distribution system; and” and

inserting the following: “presence, in the distribution

system, of pipes and mains made of—

“(I) cast iron;

“(II) unprotected steel;

“(III) wrought iron; or

“(IV) historic plastics with known safety issues; and”.

SEC. 224. IMPROVEMENTS TO PIPELINE SAFETY INTEGRITY

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

The Secretary shall conduct research into the use of

quantitative data and modeling to assess whether the use of

such data or modeling in the integrity management programs of

operators would improve the estimation of costs and benefits

of risk reduction measures.

SEC. 225. NONEMERGENCY WAIVERS BY THE SECRETARY.

Section 60118(c) of title 49, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “not inconsistent”

and inserting “consistent”;

(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting “and comment” after

“only after notice”; and

“(C) Action on application.—Not later than 180 days after

receiving an application for a waiver under this paragraph,

the Secretary shall—

“(i) complete any applicable review relating to the

application and act on the application by—

“(I) issuing an order granting the waiver; or

“(II) denying the application; or

“(ii) inform the applicant that additional time is needed

to review the application, including by providing

notifications of the need for additional time at least once

every 180 days until the waiver is granted or the application

is denied.”; and

(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

“(3) Statement of reasons.—The Secretary shall state in

an order issued under this subsection that is publicly posted

on the website of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Administration the reasons for granting or denying the

waiver.”.

TITLE III—STREAMLINING OVERSIGHT OF PIPELINES

SEC. 301. REGULATORY UPDATES.

(a) In General.—Section 106 of the PIPES Act of 2020

(Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 2220) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) by striking “a final” and inserting “A final”; and

(ii) by striking “that has not been published in the

Federal Register;” and inserting a period;

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking “a final” and inserting “A final”; and

(ii) by striking “that has not been published in the

Federal Register; and” and inserting a period;

(i) by striking “any other” and inserting “Any other”;

and

(ii) by striking “that has not been published in the

Federal Register”;

(D) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as

subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and indenting

appropriately;

(E) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) A final rule required to be issued under the PIPELINE

Safety Act of 2025.”; and

(F) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so

redesignated), by striking “In this section, the term

`outstanding mandate' means—” and inserting the following:

“(1) In general.—In this section, the term `outstanding

mandate' means a final rule described in paragraph (2) that—

“(A) is required to be issued by the Secretary (including

any subordinate of the Secretary); and

“(B) has not been published in the Federal Register.

“(2) Final rule described.—A final rule referred to in

paragraph (1) is any of the following:”;

(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking “referred to in

paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) is published in

the Federal Register” and inserting “described in

subsection (a)(2) is published in the Federal Register with

respect to the applicable outstanding mandate”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Required Briefing.—If the Secretary fails to update

the website as required under subsection (b)(1), an

appropriate employee of the Administration shall provide an

in-person briefing to the relevant committees of Congress

every 30 days until the requirements of that subsection are

met.

“(e) Optional Briefing.—Annually, the Administrator shall

offer to provide a briefing, by the Administrator or a

designee, to the relevant committees of Congress on the

status of outstanding mandates.

“(f) Restriction of Funds.—If a requirement of subsection

(b) is not met for over 90 days, no funds authorized or

appropriated may be used to support travel for the

Administrator or the Deputy Administrator of the

Administration, unless necessary for the response to or

investigation of a pipeline or hazardous materials

incident.”.

(b) Deadline Noncompliance.—

(1) Briefings.—If the Secretary does not complete a

requirement described in paragraph (2) by the deadline

established by statute for the completion of that

requirement, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate

committees of Congress in person on the status of the

requirement—

(A) not later than 7 days after the applicable deadline;

and

(B) every 90 days thereafter until the Secretary completes

the requirement.

(2) Requirements.—A requirement referred to in paragraph

(1) is any of the following:

(A) The rulemaking required under section 60143(b)(1) of

title 49, United States Code, relating to idled pipelines.

(B) The issuance of a final rule with respect to the

regulations required under section 60102(q)(1) of title 49,

United States Code, relating to gas pipeline leak detection

and repair programs.

SEC. 302. STATE USE OF INTEGRATED INSPECTIONS.

Section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, is amended

by adding at the end the following:

“(g) State Use of Integrated Inspections.—

“(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

`appropriate committees of Congress' has the meaning given

the term in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.

“(B) Inspector general.—The term `Inspector General'

means the Inspector General of the Department of

Transportation.

“(C) Risk-based integrated inspection program.—The term

`risk-based integrated inspection program' means an

inspection program that uses risk information and data to

focus inspection resources on pipeline facilities and

regulatory requirements that have the highest priority during

an inspection.

“(2) Authorization.—Subject to all other applicable

provisions of this section, with the written agreement of the

Secretary and a State authority certified under this section,

which may be in the form of a memorandum of understanding,

the Secretary may authorize, and the State authority may

carry out, a risk-based integrated inspection program.

“(3) Procedural and substantive requirements.—A State

authority that is authorized to carry out a risk-based

integrated inspection program—

“(A) shall be subject to the same procedural and

substantive requirements that would apply if the Secretary

were carrying out the program; and

“(B) shall ensure—

“(i) that no pipeline system goes without inspection for

more than 5 years; and

“(ii) that unsatisfactory conditions found in inspections

are addressed in a timely manner.

“(4) Application and criteria.—Not later than 1 year

after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary

shall establish procedures and criteria for State authorities

to apply to carry out a risk-based integrated inspection

program pursuant to this subsection.

“(5) Evaluation timeline.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 1 year after receiving an

application from a State authority to carry out a risk-based

integrated inspection program under this subsection, the

Secretary shall—

“(i) review the application; and

“(ii) approve or deny the application.

“(B) Explanation of denial.—If the Secretary denies an

application submitted by a State authority under this

subsection, the Secretary shall provide an explanation to the

State authority of—

“(i) why the Secretary denied the application; and

“(ii) changes that the State authority could make to the

application that would result in the Secretary approving the

application.

“(6) Review of programs.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall establish a process

to review the implementation of a risk-based integrated

inspection program by a State authority.

“(B) Review by inspector general.—

“(i) In general.—The Inspector General shall—

“(I) review each risk-based integrated inspection program

authorized by the Secretary under this subsection not later

than 3 years after the date on which the relevant application

is approved to determine whether the program meets the needs

of pipeline safety; and

“(II) submit to the Secretary and the appropriate

committees of Congress a report on that review.

“(ii) Requirement.—If the Inspector General determines

that a risk-based integrated inspection program is not

adequate and should be terminated, the Inspector General

shall notify the Secretary and the appropriate committees of

Congress.

“(7) Termination.—

“(A) Termination by the secretary.—The Secretary may

terminate an authorization for a State authority to carry out

a risk-based integrated inspection program if—

“(i) the Secretary determines that the State authority is

not adequately carrying out the program;

“(ii) the Secretary provides to the State authority—

“(I) a notification of the intent of the Secretary to

terminate the authorization for the State authority to carry

out a risk-based integrated inspection program;

“(II) a period of not less than 120 days to take such

corrective action as the Secretary determines to be necessary

to comply with the requirements of this section; and

“(III) on request of the State authority, a detailed

description of the aspects of the program that are

inadequate; and

“(iii) the State authority, after the notification

described in clause (ii)(I), fails to take satisfactory

corrective action in accordance with clause (ii)(II) before

the expiration of the period provided under that clause.

“(B) Termination by a state authority.—A State authority

may terminate its authority to carry out a risk-based

integrated inspection program at any time by providing to the

Secretary a notice not later than 90 days before the date of

termination.”.

SEC. 303. OPTIMIZING PIPELINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Office.—The term “office” means a regional office,

district office, and any other office of the Administration

serving a particular region.

(2) Region.—The term “region” means a region for which a

regional office of the Administration has been established.

(3) State partners.—The term “State partners” means the

State authorities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of

subsection (b)(1).

(b) Study.—

(1) In general.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct a study to evaluate enforcement actions

and the inspection scheduling and coordination practices and

procedures used by—

(A) the Administration;

(B) State authorities certified under section 60105 of

title 49, United States Code; and

agreement under section 60106(a) of that title.

(2) Requirements.—The study under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) identify ways in which the Administration and States

may coordinate with each other for more effective inspections

and enforcement;

(B) evaluate the extent of any—

(i) substantive overlap of inspections carried out by the

Administration and the State partners, such that the

Administration and the State partners are inspecting the same

operator programs and procedures multiple times in the same

annual or biennial period;

(ii) substantive overlap of inspections carried out by

offices in different regions, such that offices in multiple

regions are inspecting the same operator programs and

procedures multiple times in the same annual or biennial

period;

(iii) coordination among offices in different regions on

inspection findings relating to an operator before the

Administration decides to take any enforcement or other

action against that operator;

(iv) coordination among offices in different regions and

between the Administration and State partners on the

scheduling and scoping of inspections of operators to avoid

substantive overlaps;

(v) resolution processes for operators in cases in which

offices in different regions, or the Administration and State

partners, take different interpretive positions on the same

compliance issue or operator program; and

(vi) opportunities—

(I) to reduce substantive unnecessary overlaps (in the

process of which the Comptroller General of the United States

shall identify and describe any overlaps that the Comptroller

the believes are necessary);

(II) to avoid inconsistent interpretations—

(aa) by offices in different regions; and

(bb) between the Administration and State partners;

(III) to optimize inspection scheduling and coordination;

and

(IV) to improve compliance with Federal pipeline safety

laws; and

to fairly ensure compliance with Federal pipeline safety

laws.

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress

a report that describes the results of the study conducted

under subsection (b), which shall include recommendations

that the Administrator could adopt to better coordinate

inspection practices and procedures with State partners, and

between State partners, to address deficiencies identified

under subsection (b)(2)—

(1) without compromising pipeline safety; and

(2) while improving the enforcement process.

(d) Summary of Pipeline Inspections.—Not later than June 1

of each year beginning 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 under title 49, United States Code,

during the previous calendar year, including—

(1) the date of the inspection;

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

(3) the pipeline system or segment inspected;

(4) the 1 or more regions of the Administration in which

the inspected system or segment operates;

(5) the 1 or more States in which the inspected system or

segment operates;

(6) any violations or proposed violations alleged as a

result of the inspection; and

(7) any enforcement actions taken.

SEC. 304. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PHMSA ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO

RULEMAKING ACTIVITIES.

It is the sense of Congress that, if the Secretary

determines it to be appropriate, the Secretary should engage

with a broad range of pipeline stakeholder groups, including

State pipeline safety programs with an approved certification

under section 60105 of title 49, United States Code, during

predrafting stages of rulemaking activities—

(1) to inform the work of the Secretary in carrying out the

goals of chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code; and

(2) to reduce the timeline for issuance of proposed and

final rules.

TITLE IV—IMPROVING SAFETY OF EMERGING GASES

SEC. 401. STUDIES OF HYDROGEN PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION.

(a) Study.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall enter into an

agreement with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2

of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801))—

(A) to conduct a study of the safety, technical, and

practical considerations relating to the blending of hydrogen

into existing natural gas systems;

(B) to issue a report on the results of that study, in

accordance with paragraph (2); and

avoid or minimize any risks identified under paragraph

(2)(C).

(2) Considerations.—In conducting the study under

paragraph (1), the following factors shall be taken into

consideration:

(A) Systems that utilize a hydrogen content above 5 percent

to determine if there are additional restrictions or

requirements for the processes, materials, and standards that

the operators of those systems have implemented to operate

those systems safely.

(B) Remaining knowledge gaps, if any, relating to safely

moving hydrogen-methane blends through existing natural gas

distribution systems.

composed of over 5 percent hydrogen in existing natural gas

distribution systems, including—

(i) leak rates of hydrogen-methane blends;

(ii) the performance of hydrogen-methane blends in existing

residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure; and

(iii) underground migration of leaked hydrogen-methane

blends.

(D) Any relevant findings or recommendations of—

(i) the HyBlend research and development initiative

commenced by the Department of Energy in 2021 for the purpose

of addressing opportunities for hydrogen blending in natural

gas pipelines; and

(ii) the study on hydrogen blending commissioned by the

California Public Utilities Commission and carried out by the

University of California, Riverside, entitled “Hydrogen

Blending Impacts Study”.

(3) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress the report prepared under paragraph

(1)(B).

(b) GAO Report.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct a study on existing natural gas

distribution systems that utilize hydrogen-natural gas

blending applications, or utilize gas with a higher hydrogen

content, to identify processes, materials, and standards that

operators have implemented to operate those systems safely.

(2) Requirement.—The study conducted under paragraph (1)

shall include an examination of natural gas distribution

systems currently operating in—

(A) the United States;

(B) Canada;

(D) Australia;

(E) Hong Kong; and

(F) any other appropriate location, as determined by the

Comptroller General of the United States.

(3) Considerations.—In conducting the study under

paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States

shall consider systems that utilize a hydrogen content above

5 percent to determine if there are additional restrictions

or requirements for the processes, materials, and standards

that the operators of those systems have implemented to

operate those systems safely.

(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after completion of

the studies under subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary

shall determine whether any updates to regulations are

necessary to ensure the safety of natural gas distribution

systems intentionally blending hydrogen at levels exceeding 5

percent.

(2) Requirement.—If the Secretary determines that updates

to regulations are not necessary, the Secretary shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that

describes the reasons for that determination.

(d) Savings Provision.—Nothing in this section—

(1) authorizes the removal of the exemption for certain

hydrogen pipelines described in section 192.625(b)(4) of

title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on

October 1, 2023); or

(2) affects—

(A) the authority of the Secretary under—

(i) section 60112 of title 49, United States Code; or

(ii) subsection (m) or (p) of section 60117 of that title;

(B) the authority of the Secretary to prescribe standards

otherwise affecting the transportation of hydrogen by

pipelines.

SEC. 402. SAFETY OF CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINES.

(a) Minimum Safety Standards.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the

Federal Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking

proceeding with Regulation Identifier Number 2137-AF60 after

providing an opportunity for comment to ensure the safety of

all phases of carbon dioxide transported in pipelines,

including carbon dioxide in gaseous, liquid, and

supercritical states.

(2) Requirements.—

(A) In general.—Any standard adopted by the final rule

required under paragraph (1) shall—

(i) include appropriate requirements addressing updates to

emergency response plans to address any risks unique to

carbon dioxide pipeline accidents or incidents;

(ii) include minimum safety standards applicable to each

operator of a pipeline facility by which carbon dioxide is

transported, including performing vapor dispersion modeling

to identify high consequence areas that could be affected by

a release from such a pipeline facility;

(iii) clarify that carbon dioxide shall not be used as a

testing medium for spike hydrostatic pressure testing; and

(iv) require carbon dioxide pipeline operators to provide

information to State, local, and Tribal emergency response

organizations (in each jurisdiction in which a carbon dioxide

pipeline facility of the operator is located) on any risks

unique to carbon dioxide pipeline accidents or incidents,

including by making relevant portions of emergency response

plans available to first responders on request.

(B) Vapor dispersion modeling.—Vapor dispersion modeling

under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall consider—

(i) the topography surrounding the pipeline facility;

(ii) atmospheric conditions that could affect vapor

dispersion; and

(iii) pipeline facility operating characteristics.

required under paragraph (1) shall consider—

(i) conversion of service standards; and

(ii) safety-related condition reporting and leak reporting

appropriate to any unique safety risks associated with carbon

dioxide.

(b) Effect.—Completion of the rulemaking required under

subsection (a) shall satisfy the rulemaking requirement under

section 60102(i)(2) of title 49, United States Code.

(1) Study.—The Secretary shall enter into an agreement

with a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) to study the

feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide pipelines.

(2) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the

feasibility of adding odorant to carbon dioxide pipelines.

(d) Additional Resources.—The Secretary shall make

available, on request, to relevant emergency responders

information that is tailored specifically to carbon dioxide

pipeline releases, including information on the potential

impact area and any relevant odorants.

SEC. 403. REPORTING OF BLENDED PRODUCTS.

(a) In General.—All operators of natural gas pipelines

shall report to the Secretary non-predominant products

intentionally blended and intended to exceed, at any point in

time, 2 percent by volume of the product transported by the

pipeline.

(b) Frequency.—Reports under subsection (a) shall be

required not more frequently than annually.

TITLE V—IMPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND TRANSPARENCY

SEC. 501. BITUMEN OIL RESPONSE PLAN REVIEW.

(a) Inspector General Review.—Not later than 1 year after

the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of

the Department of Transportation shall review—

(1) the findings of the study required under section 16 of

the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation

Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-90; 125 Stat. 1915); and

(2) the oil spill response plans required under part 194 of

title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor

regulations), for operators transporting diluted bitumen oil.

(b) Purpose.—The review under subsection (a) shall

determine the extent to which the response plans required

under part 194 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or

successor regulations)—

(1) identify, using industry-standard names, all of the

crude oils transported by the operator, including diluted

bitumen;

(2) include safety data sheets for each of the crude oils

identified in the response plan;

(3) describe the geographic areas most sensitive to the

effects of a diluted bitumen spill, including the water

bodies potentially at risk;

(4) describe the response activities planned and resources

available to mitigate the impacts of spills of diluted

bitumen, if applicable, including the capabilities of the

operator for detection, containment, and recovery of

submerged and sunken oil;

(5) specify the procedures by which the operator shall

provide to the applicable On-Scene Coordinator (as defined in

section 194.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or

successor regulations)) or an equivalent State official

relevant response information; and

(6) include all spill-relevant properties and

considerations with respect to each crude oil transported by

the operator and identified in the response plan in

accordance with paragraph (1).

review under subsection (a), the Inspector General of the

Department of Transportation shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress a report that summarizes the findings

of that review and contains any recommendations of the

Inspector General.

SEC. 502. NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR HAZARDOUS LIQUID

PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION.

(a) Establishment.—After submitting the report under

subsection (c) to the committees of Congress described in

that subsection, and subject to the availability of funds

appropriated by Congress for the applicable purpose, the

Secretary, in consultation with hazardous liquid pipeline

sector stakeholders, may establish a center, to be known as

the “National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid

Pipeline Leak Detection” (referred to in this section as the

“Center of Excellence”).

(b) Location.—The Center of Excellence shall be located—

(1) within the Great Lakes Basin;

(2) in a State that hosts an international mixed-use

pipeline that transports crude oil and natural gas liquids

where the pipeline crosses through the Great Lakes; and

(3) in close proximity to an institution of higher

education with adequate capabilities, experience, and

expertise in researching and evaluating pipeline safety,

including pipeline risk analyses.

(1) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and

Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on

Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and

Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that

describes—

(A) the resources necessary to establish the Center of

Excellence; and

(B) the manner in which the Center of Excellence will carry

out the functions described in subsection (d).

(2) Requirement.—The report under paragraph (1) shall

include an estimate of all potential costs and appropriations

necessary to carry out the functions described in subsection

(d).

(d) Functions.—The Center of Excellence shall—

(1) review the availability of leak detection technology

for hazardous liquid pipelines that can detect leaks at very

low volumes;

(2) conduct research into the operational, economic, and

technical feasibility of incorporating technologies reviewed

under paragraph (1) into pipeline systems;

(3) be a repository of information on best practices

relating to, and expertise on, hazardous liquid leak

detection; and

(4) perform other duties, as determined by the Secretary,

to improve leak detection for hazardous liquid pipelines.

(e) Joint Operation With Educational Institution.—The

Secretary shall enter into an agreement with an institution

of higher education described in subsection (b)(3)—

(1) to provide for joint operation of the Center of

Excellence; and

(2) to provide necessary administrative services for the

Center of Excellence.

(f) Report.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which

the Center of Excellence is established under subsection (a),

the Center of Excellence shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress a report on the findings of the Center

of Excellence with respect to leak detection technologies

that can detect leaks at very low volumes.

SEC. 503. OPERATOR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

Not later than 7 calendar days after the date on which an

operator of a pipeline facility (as defined in section

60101(a) of title 49, United States Code) files a petition

for relief under chapter 7 or 11 of title 11, United States

Code, the operator shall notify the Secretary of that filing.

SEC. 504. DATA AND TRANSPARENCY.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this

Act, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the

Secretary shall publish, on a publicly accessible website,

summary data pertaining to pipeline leaks required to be

reported by operators in the annual reports submitted to the

Administration by the operators.

SEC. 505. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

Section 108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting “(referred to in this

section as the `Administration')” after “Safety

Administration”;

(2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by inserting

“(referred to in this section as the `Administrator'),”

after “shall be the Administrator”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(h) Office of Public Engagement.—

“(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

`appropriate committees of Congress' has the meaning given

the term in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025.

“(B) Director.—The term `Director' means the Director of

the Office.

“(C) Office.—The term `Office' means the Office of Public

Engagement of the Administration established under paragraph

(2).

“(2) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date

of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall

establish within the Administration an office, to be known as

the `Office of Public Engagement'.

“(3) Director.—The Office shall be headed by a Director,

who shall—

“(A) report to the Associate Administrator for Pipeline

Safety; and

“(B) be responsible for the discharge of the functions and

duties of the Office.

“(4) Employees.—The Director shall—

“(A) appoint and assign the duties of employees of the

Office; and

“(B) prioritize the hiring of individuals who have

experience in community engagement, including working with

the public, State, local and Tribal governments, and pipeline

safety public interest groups.

“(5) Community liaisons.—The Director shall appoint

agency community liaison personnel employed as of the date on

which the Office is established as employees of the Office.

“(6) Duties and functions of the office.—

“(A) Coordination of assistance.—The Director shall

coordinate the provision of technical assistance and

educational assistance to the public with respect to the

authorities exercised by the Administration.

“(B) Public engagement.—The Director shall coordinate

active and ongoing engagement with the public with respect to

the authority and activities of the Administration, including

by—

“(i) conducting—

“(I) outreach, which may include public postings, signage

at relevant physical locations, newspaper publications,

mailings, phone calls, canvassing, and door hangers, to

communities using varied media; and

“(II) when appropriate, meetings;

“(ii) assisting individuals in resolving pipeline safety

inquiries;

“(iii) making publicly available, and disseminating,

information on the manner in which members of the public may

file inquiries relating to pipeline safety;

“(iv) assisting individuals in contacting, as necessary,

the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, State agencies, and

other agencies, in order to appropriately direct public

inquiries that are not within the jurisdiction of the

Administration to the relevant agency; and

“(v) preparing, and making publicly available in

accessible formats, educational materials about the

Administration, the responsibilities of the Administration,

and how those responsibilities interact with entities under

the jurisdiction of the Administration and other Federal,

State, local, or Tribal government agencies.”.

SEC. 506. CLARIFICATION OF CONFIRMED DISCOVERY.

(a) In General.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) review—

(A) the definition of confirmed discovery used by the

Administration for purposes of the reporting of accidents and

incidents to the National Response Center and the Secretary

(including any regulations promulgated under section 9 of the

Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act

of 2011 (49 U.S.C. 60117 note; Public Law 112-90)),

establishing communication with first responders and other

relevant public officials, providing immediate notice to the

National Response Center as described in section 191.5 and

195.52 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any

successor regulations), and any other relevant purposes; and

(B) for each initial notice of an accident or incident

submitted to the National Response Center telephonically or

electronically under section 191.5 or 195.52 of title 49,

Code of Federal Regulations, during the 5-year period ending

on the date of enactment of this Act—

(i) the time between the first signs of an accident or

incident and the time at which operators determined that the

accident or incident met the definition of confirmed

discovery;

(ii) the methods that operators used to confirm that an

accident or incident met that definition; and

(iii) the time that it took for operators to report an

accident or incident after confirming that the accident or

incident met that definition; and

(2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a

report that provides the findings of the review under

paragraph (1), including the details described in

subparagraph (B) of that paragraph for each accident or

incident.

(b) Civil Penalty Considerations.—Section 60122(b)(1) of

title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” at the end;

and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) the timeliness of emergency response notification,

including by reducing penalties for cases in which incidents

are reported within 10 minutes of a suspected release; and

“(F) advanced coordination with State, local, Tribal, and

territorial governmental entities resulting in the relevant

and timely use of existing public alert notification systems;

and”.

SEC. 507. PUBLIC ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PIPELINE

FACILITIES.

(a) Public Alert Notification System.—The Secretary, in

consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency, shall develop voluntary guidance to assist

owners and operators of pipeline facilities with coordinating

with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governmental

entities to make use of existing public alert notification

systems, such as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning

System of the Federal Emergency Management Agency described

in section 526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.

321o) to issue emergency alerts and appropriate guidance via

mobile phones, radio, or television in a locally targeted

area in the event of a pipeline emergency..

(b) Emergency Response Plans.—Any procedures established

by an operator under subsection (a) shall be incorporated

into the response plans maintained by the operator under

sections 60102(d)(5) and 60138 of title 49, United States

Code.

TITLE VI—OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON PHMSA OPERATION, PROCUREMENT, OR

CONTRACTING ACTION WITH RESPECT TO COVERED

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

(a) In General.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“Sec. 44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or

contracting action with respect to covered unmanned

aircraft systems

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Administration.—The term `Administration' means the

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

“(2) Administrator.—The term `Administrator' means the

Administrator of the Administration.

“(3) Covered foreign country.—The term `covered foreign

country' means any of the following:

“(A) The People's Republic of China.

“(B) The Russian Federation.

“(C) The Islamic Republic of Iran.

“(D) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

“(E) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

“(F) The Republic of Cuba.

“(4) Covered unmanned aircraft system.—The term `covered

unmanned aircraft system' means an unmanned aircraft system

that is, or is owned by an entity that is—

“(A) included on the Consolidated Screening List or Entity

List as designated by the Secretary of Commerce;

“(B) domiciled in a covered foreign country; or

“(C) subject to influence or control by the government of

a covered foreign country.

“(b) Restrictions.—Subject to subsection (c), the

Administrator shall not—

“(1) operate a covered unmanned aircraft system; or

“(2) enter into, extend, or renew a contract—

“(A) for the procurement of a covered unmanned aircraft

system; or

“(B) with an entity that operates (as determined by the

Secretary of Transportation) a covered unmanned aircraft

system in the performance of any Administration contract.

“(c) Exemption.—The restrictions under subsection (b)

shall not apply if the operation, procurement, or contracting

action is for the purpose of intelligence, electronic

warfare, and information warfare operations, testing,

analysis, and training.

“(d) Waiver.—The Administrator may waive the restrictions

under subsection (b) on a case by case basis by certifying,

in writing, to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the

appropriate committees of Congress that the operation,

procurement, or contracting action is required in the public

interest of the United States.

“(e) Replacement of Covered Unmanned Aircraft Systems.—

Subject to available appropriations, not later than 1 year

after the date of enactment of this section, the

Administrator shall replace any covered unmanned aircraft

system that is owned or operated by the Administration as of

that date of enactment with an unmanned aircraft system

manufactured in the United States or an allied country (as

defined in section 2350f(d) of title 10).

“(f) Report to Congress.—Not later than 180 days after

the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator

shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a

report that includes—

“(1) a description of the changes the Administration has

made to its operation, procurement, and contracting processes

to ensure that the Administration does not acquire any

covered unmanned aircraft system;

“(2) the number of covered unmanned aircraft systems that

needed to be replaced in accordance with subsection (e),

including—

“(A) an explanation of the purposes for which such covered

unmanned aircraft systems were used;

“(B) a description of the unmanned aircraft systems that

the Administrator will purchase to replace such covered

unmanned aircraft systems; and

“(C) the cost to purchase the unmanned aircraft systems

described in subparagraph (B); and

“(3) any other information determined appropriate by the

Administrator.”.

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The analysis for chapter 448 of

title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after

the item relating to section 44814 the following:

“44815. Prohibition on PHMSA operation, procurement, or contracting

action with respect to covered unmanned aircraft

systems.”.

SEC. 602. NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE

SAFETY AND MODERNIZATION GRANTS.

(a) In General.—The Secretary may provide grants to assist

publicly owned natural gas distribution pipeline systems in

repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing pipeline systems to

improve pipeline safety.

(b) Eligible Entities.—An entity eligible to receive a

grant under this section is a utility that—

(1) is owned by a community or municipality; and

(2) is not a for-profit entity.

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, 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—

(1) to repair, rehabilitate, or replace a natural gas

distribution pipeline system or portions of a natural gas

distribution pipeline system; or

(2) to acquire equipment for use in a repair,

rehabilitation, or replacement project under paragraph (1).

(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,

including pipe material, operated by the applicant; and

(2) supporting communities that have limited ability to

invest in the infrastructure of the community through

increased utility rates due to economic conditions, including

high poverty rates, high unemployment, or low median wages.

(f) Limitations.—

(1) Awards to a single utility.—The Secretary may not

award more than 12.5 percent of the total amount made

available to carry out this section in a single fiscal year

to a single eligible entity described in subsection (b).

(2) Administrative expenses.—Not more than 2 percent of

the amounts appropriated under subsection (h)(1) for a fiscal

year may be used by the Secretary for the administrative

costs of carrying out this section.

(3) Cost sharing.—

(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B),

any grant provided by the Secretary under this section shall

not represent more than 50 percent of the actual total cost

of the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement project for

which the grant is provided.

(B) Exception.—In the case of a grant under this section

for a project in an area with a population of less than

50,000 residents, based on the most recent decennial census,

the Secretary may increase the grant share of the cost of the

project under subparagraph (A) to not more than 80 percent.

(g) Congressional Notification.—Not later than 3 days

before the date on which the Secretary publishes the

selection of projects and activities for which a grant will

be provided under this section, the Secretary shall submit to

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the

Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

of the House of Representatives a written notice that

includes—

(1) a list of all applications reviewed by the Secretary as

part of the selection process; and

(2) a report that describes each project or activity for

which a grant will be provided under this section for that

round of selection.

(h) Funding.—

(1) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section

$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030, to

remain available until expended.

(2) Requirement.—Any amounts used to carry out this

section—

(A) shall be derived from general revenues; and

(B) shall not be derived from user fees collected under

section 60301.

SEC. 603. ISSUES AFFECTING FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN

TRIBES.

(a) Indian and Tribal Definitions.—Section 60101 of title

49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(c) Indian and Tribal Definitions.—In this chapter:

“(1) Indian land.—The term `Indian land' has the meaning

given the term `Indian lands' in section 4 of the Indian

Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).

“(2) Indian Tribe.—The term `Indian Tribe' has the

meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.

5304).”.

(b) Safety Standards and Reports.—Section 60102 of title

49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking “located,” and

inserting “located and any affected Indian Tribe”;

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first

sentence, by striking “and an appropriate State official as

determined by the Secretary” and inserting “, an

appropriate State official (as determined by the Secretary),

and an appropriate Tribal official (as determined by the

Secretary) from any affected Indian Tribe”;

(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph

(A), by inserting “or, with respect to an affected Indian

Tribe, on affected Indian land,” after “location in the

State”;

(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting “and Tribal

officials from any affected Indian Tribe” after “State and

local authorities”; and

(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting “and Tribal

officials from any affected Indian Tribe” after “State and

local officials”; and

(D) in paragraph (6)—

(i) by inserting “or an affected Indian Tribe” after

“inform a State”; and

(ii) by inserting “or on affected Indian land” before the

period at the end;

(3) in subsection (h)—

(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking “the appropriate

Tribe” and inserting “any affected Indian Tribe with

respect to the location”; and

(B) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting “or Tribal official

if no such commission or committee exists” before the

semicolon at the end; and

(4) in subsection (r)(1), in the matter preceding

subparagraph (A), by inserting “, including Tribal

officials” after “public officials”.

title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the first

sentence, by inserting “and Tribal officials from any

affected Indian Tribe” after “to the Secretary”.

(d) High-density Population Areas and Environmentally

Sensitive Areas.—Section 60109(e)(7) of title 49, United

States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and

inserting the following:

“(C) Deadlines.—

“(i) Emergency response plan.—Not later than 2 years

after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of

2025, each operator of a distribution system shall make

available to the Secretary or the relevant State authority

with a certification in effect under section 60105, as

applicable, and to any affected Indian Tribe, a copy of the

emergency response plan under section 60102(d)(5).

“(ii) Other documents.—Not later than 2 years after the

date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, each

operator of a distribution system shall make available to the

Secretary or the relevant State authority with a

certification in effect under section 60105, as applicable, a

copy of—

“(I) the distribution integrity management plan of the

operator; and

“(II) the procedural manual for operations, maintenance,

and emergencies under section 60102(d)(4).

“(iii) Updates.—Not later than 60 days after the date of

a significant update, as determined by the Secretary, to a

plan or manual described in clause (i) or (ii), the operator

of the applicable distribution system shall—

“(I) in the case of an emergency response plan described

in clause (i), make available to the Secretary or make

available for inspection to the relevant State authority

described in that clause (if applicable), and make available

for inspection to any affected Indian Tribe, an updated copy

of the emergency response plan; and

“(II) in the case of a plan or manual described in clause

(ii), make available to the Secretary or make available for

inspection to the relevant State authority described in that

clause (if applicable) an updated copy of the applicable plan

or manual.

“(iv) Applicability of foia.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to authorize the disclosure of any

information that is exempt from disclosure under section

552(b) of title 5.”.

(e) Pipeline Facilities Hazardous to Life and Property.—

Section 60112(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended,

in the second sentence, by inserting “and a Tribal official

from any affected Indian Tribe” after “affected local

officials”.

(f) Technical Safety Standards Committees.—Section

60115(b)(3)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by

striking “and of” and inserting “, Indian Tribes, and”.

(g) Public Education Programs.—Section 60116(b) of title

49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the first sentence, by striking “Not later than 12

months after the date of enactment of the Pipeline Safety

Improvement Act of 2002” and inserting “Not later than 1

year after the date of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act

of 2025”; and

(2) in the second sentence, by inserting “affected Indian

Tribes,” after “advise”.

(h) Administrative.—Section 60117 of title 49, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting “and an appropriate

Tribal official from any affected Indian Tribe” after “is

located”;

(2) in subsection (i)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting “Indian Tribes,” after

“States,”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting “Indian Tribes,” after

“local governments,”;

(3) in subsection (l), in the first sentence, by inserting

“Indian Tribes,” after “local government,”;

(4) in subsection (n)(1), by inserting “Indian Tribes,”

after “the States,”; and

(5) in subsection (p)(2)(B), by inserting “Indian

Tribes,” after “State agencies,”.

(i) Judicial Review.—Section 60119(a)(1) of title 49,

United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by

inserting “, including an Indian Tribe,” before “adversely

affected”.

(j) Emergency Response Grants.—Section 60125(b)(1) of

title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the first

sentence, by inserting “, and affected Indian Tribes,”

after “local governments”.

(k) National Pipeline Mapping System.—Section 60132 of

title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c), by striking “State and local” and

inserting “State, local, and Tribal”; and

(2) in subsection (e), in the first sentence, by striking

“State and local” and inserting “State, local, and

Tribal”.

(l) Coordination of Environmental Reviews.—Section 60133

of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking “and local” and

inserting “, local, and Tribal”; and

(2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting “Tribal,” after

“State,”.

SEC. 604. IDENTIFICATION OF AND JUSTIFICATION FOR REDACTIONS.

If the Administration redacts any portion of a document

produced to another person, the Administration shall cite a

specific statute authorizing the withholding of the

information redacted.

SEC. 605. FEES FOR LOAN GUARANTEES.

Section 116(d) of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (15

U.S.C. 720n(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking “(1) The Secretary” and inserting the

following:

“(1) Loan terms.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary”; and

(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), in the second

sentence, by striking “The term” and inserting the

following:

“(B) Duration.—The term”; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking “(2) An eligible” and

inserting the following:

“(2) Fees.—

“(A) Administrative expenses.—

“(i) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, the Secretary shall charge, and collect on or after the

date of the financial close of an obligation, a fee for a

guarantee in an amount that the Secretary determines is

sufficient to cover applicable administrative expenses

(including any costs associated with third-party consultants

engaged by the Secretary).

“(ii) Availability.—Fees collected under this paragraph

shall—

“(I) be deposited by the Secretary into the Treasury; and

“(II) remain available to the Secretary, without further

appropriation, until expended to cover applicable

administrative expenses described in clause (i).

“(iii) Reduction in fee amount.—Notwithstanding clause

(i), and subject to the availability of appropriations, the

Secretary may reduce the amount of a fee for a guarantee

under this subparagraph.

“(B) Debt obligations.—An eligible”.

SEC. 606. IMPROVING PIPELINE CYBERSECURITY.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish in the

Federal Register a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking

proceeding entitled “Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk

Management” (Docket Number TSA-2022-0001; Regulation

Identifier Number 1652-AA74) relating to the cybersecurity of

pipelines.

SEC. 607. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

(a) Definitions.—Section 60101(a) of title 49, United

States Code (as amended by section 212(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

(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

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 (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

inserting the following:

“(B) Exclusions.—The term `transporting hazardous liquid'

does not”; and

(7) 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.

(b) Report.—Section 60102(b) of title 49, United States

Code, is amended by striking paragraph (7).

Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was

agreed to.

The bill (S. 2975), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,

The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was

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