§ 60103. Standards for liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities

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(a)Location Standards.— The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum safety standards for deciding on the location of a new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. In prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider the—

(1)kind and use of the facility;

(2)existing and projected population and demographic characteristics of the location;

(3)existing and proposed land use near the location;

(4)natural physical aspects of the location;

(5)medical, law enforcement, and fire prevention capabilities near the location that can cope with a risk caused by the facility;

(6)need to encourage remote siting; and

(7)national security.

(b)Design, Installation, Construction, Inspection, and Testing Standards.— The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum safety standards for designing, installing, constructing, initially inspecting, and initially testing a new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. When prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider—

(1)the characteristics of material to be used in constructing the facility and of alternative material;

(2)design factors;

(3)the characteristics of the liquefied natural gas to be stored or converted at, or transported by, the facility; and

(4)the public safety factors of the design and of alternative designs, particularly the ability to prevent and contain a liquefied natural gas spill.

(c)Nonapplication.—

(1)Except as provided in paragraph

(2)of this subsection, a design, location, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978, does not apply to an existing liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the standard is to be applied because of authority given—

(A)under this chapter; or

(B)under another law, and the standard is not prescribed at the time the authority is applied.

(A)Any design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978, may provide that the standard applies to any part of a replacement component of a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the component or part is placed in service after the standard is prescribed and application of the standard—

(i)does not make the component or part incompatible with other components or parts; or

(ii)is not impracticable otherwise.

(B)Any location standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978, does not apply to any part of a replacement component of an existing liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.

(3)A design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard does not apply to a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility existing when the standard is adopted.

(d)Operation and Maintenance Standards.— The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum operating and maintenance standards for a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. In prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider—

(1)the conditions, features, and type of equipment and structures that make up or are used in connection with the facility;

(2)the fire prevention and containment equipment at the facility;

(3)security measures to prevent an intentional act that could cause a liquefied natural gas accident;

(4)maintenance procedures and equipment;

(5)the training of personnel in matters specified by this subsection; and

(6)other factors and conditions related to the safe handling of liquefied natural gas.

(e)Effective Dates.— A standard prescribed under this section is effective on the 30th day after the Secretary of Transportation prescribes the standard. However, the Secretary for good cause may prescribe a different effective date when required because of the time reasonably necessary to comply with the standard. The different date must be specified in the regulation prescribing the standard.

(f)Contingency Plans.— A new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility may be operated only after the operator submits an adequate contingency plan that states the action to be taken if a liquefied natural gas accident occurs. The Secretary of Energy or appropriate State or local authority shall decide if the plan is adequate.

(g)Effect on Other Standards.— This section does not preclude applying a standard prescribed under section 60102 of this title to a gas pipeline facility (except a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility) associated with a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1307; Pub. L. 114–183, § 27(a), June 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 531.)

In subsections (a), (b), and (d), the words “general safety” are omitted as surplus. The text of 49 App.:1674a(e) is omitted for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

In subsections

(a)and (b), before each clause (1), the words “Not later than 180 days after November 30, 1979” are omitted as executed. The word “prescribe” is substituted for “establish by regulation” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “with respect to standards relating to the location of any new LNG facility” are omitted because of the restatement. In clause (2), the word “involved” is omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “meteorological, geological, topographical, seismic, and other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (5), the word “existing” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the text of 49 App.:1674a(a)(2) (1st sentence) is omitted as executed. The text of 49 App.:1674a(a)(2) (last sentence) is omitted as surplus. The words “with respect to standards applicable to the design, installation, construction, initial inspection, and initial testing of any new LNG facility” are omitted because of the restatement. In clause (1), the words “thermal resistance and other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the words “(such as multiple diking, insulated concrete, and vapor containment barriers)” are omitted as surplus.

In clause (3), the words “(for example, whether it is to be in a liquid or semisolid state)” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “under such a design” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c)(1) and (2), the word “prescribed” is substituted for “issued” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.

In subsection (c)(1), before clause (A), the words “if the standard is to be applied” are added for clarity. The word “either” is omitted as surplus. In clause (B), the word “Federal” is omitted as surplus. The words “the authority is applied” are substituted for “such authority was exercised” for clarity.

In subsection (c)(2)(A), before clause (i), the words “design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978” are substituted for “Any such standard (other than one affecting location)” for clarity. In clause (i), the words “of the facility involved” are omitted as surplus. In clause (ii), the word “otherwise” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d), before clause (1), the words “Not later than 270 days after November 30, 1979” are omitted as executed. The words “with respect to standards for the operation and maintance [sic] of any LNG facility” are omitted because of the restatement. In clause (3), the words “to be used with respect to the operation of such facility” and “sabotage or other” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (e), the text of 49 App.:1674a(f) (related to 49 App.:1672(a)(1) (8th, last sentences), (c), and (d)) is omitted as surplus because those provisions apply to all standards prescribed under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (Public Law 90–481, 82 Stat. 720).

In subsection (f), the words “Secretary of Energy” are substituted for “Department of Energy” because of 42:7131. The words “or local” are added for clarity. The words “in the case of any facility not subject to the jurisdiction of the Department under the Natural Gas Act” are omitted as surplus.

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