Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, seeks to improve the safety of pipeline transportation across the United States. It amends title 49, United States Code, by refining regulatory definitions, particularly excluding certain rural gathering gas and in-plant or short transfer piping systems from specific regulatory oversight. The legislation also mandates that minimum safety standards explicitly consider safety and economic benefits and costs within the United States . Key provisions include strengthening enforcement procedures by providing an opportunity for a formal hearing for probable violations involving high compliance costs or significant civil penalties. The bill also streamlines the special permit program by limiting waiver terms to known safety risks, requiring Federal Register publication of applications, and setting an 18-month review deadline. It further mandates reports to Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the implementation of these special permit provisions. A significant component of the bill is the establishment of a confidential voluntary information-sharing system (VIS) . This system is designed to gather, evaluate, and share critical pipeline safety data, recommended remediation measures, and lessons learned across the industry. The VIS will be governed by a 15-member board representing federal/state agencies, industry, and public safety advocates, and will utilize a third-party data manager and issue analysis teams. The VIS emphasizes confidentiality, ensuring that nonpublic information shared within the system is generally excluded from enforcement actions and discovery in litigation, with specific exceptions for criminal violations or data otherwise required to be reported. Furthermore, the bill strengthens penalties for pipeline safety violations by increasing the maximum civil penalties and expanding the scope of prohibited acts to include impairing operations or damaging facilities under construction. To prevent excavation damage, the bill encourages states to adopt leading practices for their one-call notification programs, such as defining ticket scope, limiting exemptions, specifying tolerance zones, and requiring positive responses and training. It also authorizes specific appropriations for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety, and underground natural gas storage facility safety for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, ensuring user fees remain available until expended.