Sec. 29. Component verification
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/bill/116/hr/5120/rh/section-29A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 60102(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking and at the end; and in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; by redesignating paragraphs
(1)and
(2)as subparagraphs
(A)and (B), respectively (and by adjusting the margins accordingly); by striking The Secretary shall and inserting the following: The Secretary shall ; and by adding at the end the following: for facilities identified under subparagraphs
(A)and (B), shall include, for all pipes and related components for which the regulations of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration require compliance with a standard incorporated by reference for such pipe or related component, documentation of verification that such pipe or related component meets such standard. The verification described in paragraph (1)(C) shall be conducted by— an independent third party on behalf of the operator; the operator, so long as such operator does not pay, or receive payment from, a manufacturer, distributor, or supplier of a pipe or related component described in paragraph (1)(C) for such verification; or a United States manufacturer of a pipe or related component described in paragraph (1)(C) that is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization. In this subsection: The term verification means sufficient testing and auditing to confirm that a standard has been met in the production of a pipe or related component. The term independent third party means an entity that— does not have a commercial relationship with the manufacturer or supplier of a pipe or related component; and is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization. . The amendments made by this subsection shall only apply to pipes and components that are— covered by the amendments made by such subsection; and purchased on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a review of the compliance of flanges and fittings of a pipeline facility (as such term is defined in section 60101 of title 49, United States Code) with Federal requirements. The review required under paragraph
(1)shall include— a compilation of the existing standards that are incorporated by reference in regulations of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and apply to the manufacturing, operation, and maintenance of such flanges and fittings; a review of the existing oversight authority of the Secretary of Transportation over manufacturers and distributors of such flanges and fittings and any lack of oversight authority that could lead to incidents or accidents; an analysis of the degree of compliance by such manufacturers and distributors with the standards described in subparagraph (A), the identification of any instances of non-compliance with such standards, and the form, degree, and scope of such non-compliance; a review of the extent to which verification (as such term is defined in section 60102(e) of title 49, United States Code, as added by this section) by operators of pipeline facilities of whether such flanges and fittings of pipeline facilities meet the applicable standards described in subparagraph
(A)is occurring; a review of the safety benefits of requiring pipeline incident reports to include the identification of the manufacturer of the flanges and fittings involved in those incidents; and an identification and recommendation of any additional authorities or responsibilities for the Secretary of Transportation, or additional standards, necessary to improve the safety and integrity of flanges and fittings through manufacturing and distribution. Not later than 210 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of Transportation a report containing the results of the review completed under paragraph
(1)and any recommendations for legislation or changes to existing regulations. Not later than 30 days after submission of the report required under paragraph
(3)to the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide a period of not fewer than 60 days for public comment regarding such report. Not later than 180 days after the end of the public comment period described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a report responding to the public comments submitted. In the report described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall indicate any anticipated actions the Secretary will take with respect to flanges and fittings of a pipeline facility based on the comments submitted under this paragraph and the report under paragraph (3).