Legis Daily

Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

USA117th CongressHR-2643| House 
| Updated: 12/14/2022
Julia Brownley

Julia Brownley

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (11)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Offshore Pipeline Safety Act This bill establishes requirements to address the environmental risks of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines on the seafloor. Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to finalize regulations proposed in 2007 related to offshore pipelines. The regulations must require owners of oil and gas pipelines to provide for biannual, third-party inspections of pipelines and to equip pipelines with leak detection systems or devices. Further, the BSEE must issue regulations to charge an annual fee on such owners for the purpose of providing the BSEE with funds to decommission or remove offshore pipelines in the event the owner files for bankruptcy. When determining whether to permit an owner to decommission such pipelines, the BSEE must consider the navigational hazards, any interferences with other uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the environmental impacts of the pipelines. In addition, the BSEE must continually monitor the condition and location of all oil and gas pipelines that have been decommissioned and remain in place. If the BSEE identifies an exposed segment of any active or decommissioned pipeline, then it must either remove the pipeline from the ocean or ensure it is properly decommissioned and does not pose a threat. If a segment of any active pipeline is exposed or shifts, then the BSEE must resecure the segment to the sea floor.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Apr 19, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 19, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 10, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
May 13, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Oct 13, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 13, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
Oct 13, 2021
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Dec 14, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.
Dec 14, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.
  • April 19, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 19, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • May 10, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • May 13, 2021
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • October 13, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • October 13, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.


  • October 13, 2021
    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.


  • December 14, 2022
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.


  • December 14, 2022
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.

Energy

Congressional oversightEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLand use and conservationPipelinesPollution liabilityUser charges and fees

Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

USA117th CongressHR-2643| House 
| Updated: 12/14/2022
Offshore Pipeline Safety Act This bill establishes requirements to address the environmental risks of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines on the seafloor. Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to finalize regulations proposed in 2007 related to offshore pipelines. The regulations must require owners of oil and gas pipelines to provide for biannual, third-party inspections of pipelines and to equip pipelines with leak detection systems or devices. Further, the BSEE must issue regulations to charge an annual fee on such owners for the purpose of providing the BSEE with funds to decommission or remove offshore pipelines in the event the owner files for bankruptcy. When determining whether to permit an owner to decommission such pipelines, the BSEE must consider the navigational hazards, any interferences with other uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the environmental impacts of the pipelines. In addition, the BSEE must continually monitor the condition and location of all oil and gas pipelines that have been decommissioned and remain in place. If the BSEE identifies an exposed segment of any active or decommissioned pipeline, then it must either remove the pipeline from the ocean or ensure it is properly decommissioned and does not pose a threat. If a segment of any active pipeline is exposed or shifts, then the BSEE must resecure the segment to the sea floor.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Apr 19, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 19, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 10, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
May 13, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Oct 13, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 13, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.
Oct 13, 2021
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Dec 14, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.
Dec 14, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.
  • April 19, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 19, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • May 10, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


  • May 13, 2021
    Subcommittee Hearings Held.


  • October 13, 2021
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • October 13, 2021
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 18.


  • October 13, 2021
    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.


  • December 14, 2022
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.


  • December 14, 2022
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-633.
Julia Brownley

Julia Brownley

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (11)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

Energy

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLand use and conservationPipelinesPollution liabilityUser charges and fees