Legis Daily

SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

USA116th CongressHR-5120| House 
| Updated: 12/17/2020
Peter A. DeFazio

Peter A. DeFazio

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (2)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Energy Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

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

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Nov 15, 2019
Introduced in House
Nov 15, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Nov 20, 2019
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 26.
Nov 20, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 20, 2019
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.
Dec 17, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.
Dec 17, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.
Dec 17, 2020
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
  • November 15, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • November 15, 2019
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 18, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.


  • November 18, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.


  • November 20, 2019
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 26.


  • November 20, 2019
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 20, 2019
    Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.


  • December 17, 2020
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.


  • December 17, 2020
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.


  • December 17, 2020
    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

Transportation and Public Works

Related Bills

  • HR 116-3432: Safer Pipelines Act of 2019
  • HR 116-4700: Pipeline Safety Act of 2019
AccidentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvanced technology and technological innovationsAir qualityBuilding constructionBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of TransportationEarth sciencesEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationEmployee hiringEnergy researchEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresFirst responders and emergency personnelGeography and mappingGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIntergovernmental relationsMembers of CongressMinority employmentNatural disastersOil and gasPipelinesPollution liabilityResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTransportation costsTransportation employeesTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and securityUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWages and earningsWomen's employment

SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

USA116th CongressHR-5120| House 
| Updated: 12/17/2020
Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible Pipelines Act of 2019 or the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 This bill addresses natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines safety. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes pipeline safety activities through FY2023; prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing; makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves; directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders; increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from knowingly and willfully to knowingly or recklessly ; requires advanced leak-detection that can identify leak locations and amounts released on gas pipelines; directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to finalize a rule on gas gathering lines; and authorizes DOT to establish a confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing system to improve natural gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline safety.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Nov 15, 2019
Introduced in House
Nov 15, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Nov 20, 2019
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 26.
Nov 20, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 20, 2019
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.
Dec 17, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.
Dec 17, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.
Dec 17, 2020
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
  • November 15, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • November 15, 2019
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 18, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.


  • November 18, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.


  • November 20, 2019
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 26.


  • November 20, 2019
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 20, 2019
    Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Discharged.


  • December 17, 2020
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.


  • December 17, 2020
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.


  • December 17, 2020
    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Peter A. DeFazio

Peter A. DeFazio

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (2)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)

Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Energy Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Transportation and Public Works

Related Bills

  • HR 116-3432: Safer Pipelines Act of 2019
  • HR 116-4700: Pipeline Safety Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AccidentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvanced technology and technological innovationsAir qualityBuilding constructionBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of TransportationEarth sciencesEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationEmployee hiringEnergy researchEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresFirst responders and emergency personnelGeography and mappingGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesIntergovernmental relationsMembers of CongressMinority employmentNatural disastersOil and gasPipelinesPollution liabilityResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTransportation costsTransportation employeesTransportation programs fundingTransportation safety and securityUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWages and earningsWomen's employment