Sec. 2607. Review and report on construction of new, or maintenance of existing, direct fuel pipeline connections at Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations
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Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, in conjunction with the Defense Logistics Agency, shall complete a review considering— the need for, and benefits of, the construction of new, or maintenance of existing, direct fuel pipeline connections at Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations; and the barriers, including funding needs and any inconsistent guidance and consideration of such projects by the Air Force, that may impede such projects. The review required by subsection
(a)shall include the following: An analysis of the extent that the Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency have identified direct fuel pipeline projects as an effective and efficient way to enhance the ability of regular component, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve installations, to improve the readiness of affected units and help them to meet their mission requirements, including an assessment of how the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve facilities, across all States and territories, can leverage such connections to better support current and emerging air refueling requirements. An assessment of how direct fuel pipeline connections enhance the resiliency and efficiency of the installations and help meet existing Defense Logistics Agency requirements for secondary storage and other fuel requirements. A list of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations that currently do not have a direct connection pipeline but have access to such a pipeline within reasonable proximity (less than five miles) to the facility. An overview and summary of the current process for considering such proposals, including the factors used to consider requests, including the weight provided to each factor and including a list of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations that have sought funding for projects to create direct access to a national fuel pipeline or to maintain access to such pipelines over the last five years. A list of the total instances in the past five years in which projects for direct fuel pipeline connections have been approved for regular component, Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve installations, including the costs of each project and the justification for such approval. A list of Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations with current pipeline connections that the Air Force or Defense Logistics Agency has determined should no longer be used, including— an analysis of the justifications for each such determination, such as decisions to switch from pipelines to using trucks as the primary fuel delivery method; an assessment of whether these determinations fairly weigh the costs and benefits of building or maintaining a pipeline tap as a practical primary or secondary fuel delivery method for the installation compared to railroad, barge terminal, or truck delivery; and an assessment of whether these determinations fairly consider or weigh how direct fuel pipeline connections increase security for the fuel supply by reducing the threat of interruption, enhance mission reliability by providing access to greater fuel storage capability, and the ability of such projects once completed to better support the domestic and global operations of the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve installation. An assessment of how costs associated with each direct fuel pipeline connection project is considered by the Air Force or Defense Logistics Agency and the weight given to such costs in the final analysis. An assessment of the effectiveness or usefulness of guidance or technical assistance provided to installations requesting or proposing direct fuel pipeline connection projects and recommend ways to provide additional assistance to ensure the Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency receive the most up to date information about the costs and benefits of proposed projects from installations. An assessment of the available funding sources though the Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency, other Department of Defense entities, or other mechanisms, such as a public-private partnership or enhanced use lease, that can support direct fuel pipeline connection projects either in whole or in part. An assessment of the extent to which direct fuel pipeline connection projects have been incorporated in any comprehensive plan the Air Force has developed or will develop regarding investments needed to improve Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and regular component installations to meet the Department's needs. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide a final report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives containing the results of the review required by subsection
(a)and recommendations from the review on how the Air Force can better expedite and support the use of fuel pipelines at Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve installations. Such recommendations shall include options for accelerating the development and consideration of such projects where most feasible and appropriate, including whether costs savings could be obtained by including such projects as part of other related projects already authorized at an installation.