[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2975 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2975
To amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety of
pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 6, 2025
Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Young, and Mr. Peters)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to enhance the safety of
pipeline transportation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
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.
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
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of 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;
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(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;
(C) in subparagraph (C)--
(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.''.
(c) Damage Prevention Programs.--Section 60134(i) of title 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).
(c) Requirements.--In revising the regulations under 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