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SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019

Introduced: November 15, 2019 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.
Dec 17, 2020
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Dec 17, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 116-661, Part I.
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.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Nov 18, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
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 15, 2019
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.
What's happening now December 17, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4