Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a feasibility study for establishing a refined fuel storage reserve in the Western United States.
The study must be completed within 6 months of the legislation’s enactment.
Requires consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other stakeholders.
The study should focus on:
Identifying potential locations for the storage reserve, considering the geography of the West.
Assessing infrastructure needs for establishing and operating the reserve, particularly in light of limited pipeline connectivity.
Evaluating vulnerabilities in refined fuel supply chains due to natural or manmade disasters.
Analyzing the economic feasibility of the reserve’s establishment and maintenance.
Identifying existing salt cavern formations suitable for storage.
Reviewing current refined fuel storage reserves in the region.
The study should also identify potential benefits to U.S. energy security and emergency preparedness, including economic and emergency response advantages.
A report to Congress is required within 60 days after the study’s completion, recommending:
Regulatory requirements for establishing the reserve.
A specific location for the reserve.
Possible use of existing private sector facilities.
Operational guidelines for the reserve, including types and quantities of fuels to be stored.
Strategies for collaboration with federal, state, and local entities for emergency fuel storage.
The legislation includes definitions for key terms such as “petroleum product,” “refined fuel storage reserve,” and “storage facility.”
