Sec. 4. Coordinated response to emergencies
228 words·~1 min read·
/bill/113/s/2762/is/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall lead Federal and State emergency response efforts with respect to propane supply emergencies in any State or region of the United States that are characterized, as determined by the Secretary, by— sudden increases in consumer prices for propane; or propane supply shortages that threaten public safety or livestock safety. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— establish criteria to determine when an emergency response action would be triggered; establish a system for forecasting and tracking the availability of propane, with an emphasis on predicting supply shortages; establish a system for alerting other Federal agencies, States, industry groups, and appropriate stakeholders of the crisis— before an emergency; and when the Secretary determines that an emergency has occurred; establish a plan for coordinated response to an emergency by Federal and State agencies; and establish criteria to determine when the emergency has ended.
An emergency response carried out under this section may include— actions to protect consumers from unfair pricing; actions to expedite the distribution of propane through available transportation modes, including provisions— to exempt motor carriers of propane from hours-of-service restrictions; to prioritize propane shipments by rail; and to prioritize propane shipments over other shipments in batched pipelines; expedited release of energy assistance funds; and other actions to relieve price spikes and supply shortages.
Nothing in this section limits any existing authority of any Federal agency.