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HR 4478 101th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Administrative procedure Environmental Protection Government paperwork Marine pollution Marine safety Ocean engineering Petroleum pipelines Pipelines Standards Transportation of hazardous substances Transportation safety

Underwater Pipeline Leak Prevention Act of 1990

Introduced: April 4, 1990 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 1990
See H.R.3520.
Jun 4, 1990
See H.R.4888.
May 4, 1990
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Apr 16, 1990
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
Apr 16, 1990
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, EPA, DOT, OMB.
Apr 4, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 4, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Apr 4, 1990
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Underwater Pipeline Leak Prevention Act of 1990 - Amends the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations that require operators of underwater pipelines to report on: (1) the condition and safety of such pipelines; and (2) the identification of sections of the pipeline facility which are most likely to cause environmental damage to a sensitive aquatic area. Requires the Secretary to develop model laws (including regulations) for the mapping and survey of underwater pipelines and encourage States to adopt them. Requires States as a condition to receiving Federal grants for pipeline safety programs to have such laws in effect and enforce them.

Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations relating to the safe operation of underwater pipelines and pipeline facilities operating in sensitive aquatic environments. Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations requiring all underwater pipelines to accommodate instrumented internal inspection devices (smart pigs).

Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to prevent collisions between ships and pipeline facilities located under water of a depth of 50 feet or less.

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study the effects of hydrostatic testing of pipeline facilities.

Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations establishing standards for the operation and inspection of pipeline facilities that operate at a stress level of 20 percent or less of the specified minimum yield strength of the line pipe.

What's happening now August 2, 1990

See H.R.3520.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 3520 Procedurally related Hazardous Materials Transportation Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 1990
  • HR 4888 Procedurally related To improve navigational safety and to reduce the hazards to navigation resulting from vessel collisions with pipelines …
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 24, 1990
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Apr 4, 1990
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Apr 4, 1990
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4478: Underwater Pipeline Leak Prevention Act of 1990. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-4478/
MLA
"H.R. 4478: Underwater Pipeline Leak Prevention Act of 1990." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-4478/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4478, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-4478/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4478: Underwater Pipeline Leak Prevention Act of 1990](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-4478/)
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