Sec. 8. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness
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/bill/116/hr/5120/rh/section-8·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 60116 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: Each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall carry out a continuing program to educate the public on— the use of a one-call notification system prior to excavation and other damage prevention activities; the possible hazards associated with unintended releases from the pipeline facility; and the physical indications that a release from a pipeline facility may have occurred, the steps that should be taken for public safety in the event of such a release, and how to report such a release.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 , each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall— review its existing public education program for effectiveness, and modify the program as necessary; and submit to the Secretary for review a detailed description of its public education program, including any modifications made to the program under subparagraph (A). The Secretary may— issue standards for public education programs under this subsection, including standards providing for periodic review of such programs and modification of such programs as needed; and develop material for use in the programs.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 , an operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall establish liaison with— any State entity with responsibility for pipeline emergency response in each State in which the pipeline facility is located; the appropriate local emergency planning entity in each emergency planning district in which the pipeline facility is located; and any Tribal entity with responsibility for pipeline emergency response or planning in the area in which the pipeline facility is located.
In a community for which a local or Tribal entity described in paragraph
(1)does not exist, the operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility shall liaise, to the extent practicable, with the local fire, police, and other emergency response entities. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 , and based on the consultation required under subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation and determine whether State, local, and Tribal entities described in paragraphs
(1)and
(2)have sufficient access to pipeline emergency response information. If the Secretary determines under subparagraph
(A)that State, local, and Tribal entities described in paragraphs
(1)and
(2)do not have sufficient access to pipeline emergency response information, the Secretary shall issue regulations not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 specifying relevant emergency response information and requiring each operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility to make such information available to the applicable State, local, and Tribal entities described in paragraphs
(1)and (2). In conducting the evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with national organizations representing State, local, and Tribal entities described in paragraphs
(1)and
(2)and the technical safety standards committees described in section 60115. . The table of sections for chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 60116 and inserting the following: 60116. Community right-to-know and emergency preparedness. .