Sec. 12. UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITIES
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## SEC. 12 UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITIES ###
(a)Defined Term Section 60101(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— ####
(1)in paragraph (21)(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; ####
(2)in paragraph (22)(B)(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; ####
(3)in paragraph
(24)by striking “and” at the end; ####
(4)in paragraph
(25)by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and ####
(5)by adding at the end the following: > > #### “(26) > > ‘underground natural gas storage facility’ means a gas pipeline facility that stores natural gas in an underground facility, including— > > > ##### “(A) > > a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir; > > > ##### “(B) > > an aquifer reservoir; or > > > ##### “(C) > > a solution-mined salt cavern reservoir.” > . ###
(b)Standards for Underground Gas Storage Facilities Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: > > ## “§ 60141 Standards for underground natural gas storage facilities > > **[**[49 U.S.C. 60141](/us/usc/t49/s60141)**]** > > > ### “(a) Minimum Safety Standards > > Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2016, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall issue minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities. > > > ### “(b) Considerations > > In developing the safety standards required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable— > > > #### “(1) > > consider consensus standards for the operation, environmental protection, and integrity management of underground natural gas storage facilities; > > > #### “(2) > > consider the economic impacts of the regulations on individual gas customers; > > > #### “(3) > > ensure that the regulations do not have a significant economic impact on end users; and > > > #### “(4) > > consider the recommendations of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak task force established under section 31 of the PIPES Act of 2016. > > > ### “(c) Federal-State Cooperation > > The Secretary may authorize a State authority (including a municipality) to participate in the oversight of underground natural gas storage facilities in the same manner as provided in sections 60105 and 60106. > > > ### “(d) Rules of Construction > > > #### “(1) In general > > Nothing in this section may be construed to affect any Federal regulation relating to gas pipeline facilities that is in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2016. > > > #### “(2) Limitations > > Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the Secretary— > > > ##### “(A) > > to prescribe the location of an underground natural gas storage facility; or > > > ##### “(B) > > to require the Secretary’s permission to construct a facility referred to in subparagraph (A). > > > ### “(e) Preemption > > A State authority may adopt additional or more stringent safety standards for intrastate underground natural gas storage facilities if such standards are compatible with the minimum standards prescribed under this section. > > > ### “(f) Statutory Construction > > Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the Secretary’s authority under this title to regulate the underground storage of gas that is not natural gas.” > . ###
(c)User Fees Chapter 603 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 60301 the following: > > ## “§ 60302 User fees for underground natural gas storage facilities > > **[**[49 U.S.C. 60302](/us/usc/t49/s60302)**]** > > > ### “(a) In General > > A fee shall be imposed on an entity operating an underground natural gas storage facility subject to section 60141. Any such fee imposed shall be collected before the end of the fiscal year to which it applies. > > > ### “(b) Means of Collection > > The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe procedures to collect fees under this section. The Secretary may use a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government or of a State or local government to collect the fee and may reimburse the department, agency, or instrumentality a reasonable amount for its services. > > > ### “(c) Use of fees > > > #### “(1) Account > > There is established an Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety Account in the Pipeline Safety Fund established in the Treasury of the United States under section 60301. > > > #### “(2) Use of Fees > > A fee collected under this section— > > > ##### “(A) > > shall be deposited in the Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety Account; and > > > ##### “(B) > > if the fee is related to an underground natural gas storage facility subject to section 60141, the amount of the fee may be used only for an activity related to underground natural gas storage facility safety. > > > #### “(3) Limitation > > No fee may be collected under this section, except to the extent that the expenditure of such fee to pay the costs of an activity related to underground natural gas storage facility safety for which such fee is imposed is provided in advance in an appropriations Act.” > . ###
(d)Clerical Amendments ####
(1)Chapter 601 The table of sections for chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:" “60141. Standards for underground natural gas storage facilities.” ". ####
(2)Chapter 603 The table of sections for chapter 603 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 60301 the following:" “60302. User fees for underground natural gas storage facilities.” ".
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