# 119-hr-3948: Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

119-hr-3948, Offshore Pipeline Safety Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3948
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3948
- Congress: 119
- Title: Offshore Pipeline Safety Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-12
- Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Tightens offshore pipeline safety and decommissioning rules.** The bill would require more frequent third-party inspections and continuous volumetric leak detection, and would set fees and studies to manage pipeline removals and environmental risks. - Owners and operators would have to arrange internal and external third-party inspections at least every two years unless waived and equip pipelines with continuous volumetric leak-detection systems with alarms. They would also face an annual fee of at least $10,000 per mile for pipelines in 500+ foot water depth and $1,000 per mile for pipelines in water less than 500 feet. - Coastal communities, fishers, and mariners would get stronger safety and navigation protections because BSEE must consider hazards to navigation and fishing and must monitor and remove or re-secure exposed or shifting pipeline segments. - BSEE and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management would jointly study environmental tradeoffs of leaving pipelines in place versus removing them, identify high-risk decommissioned lines, and report within 18 months. The bill also requires a separate study on chemicals used in offshore operations with a report due in two years.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger oversight of offshore pipelines: benefit, medium. If enacted, BSEE would track the condition and location of pipelines left on the seabed and keep records. If a pipeline segment is exposed or shifts, BSEE would remove it, make it safe, or re‑secure it on the seafloor. When deciding if a pipeline can be left in place, BSEE would weigh risks to navi…
- Higher fees and checks for pipeline owners: cost, medium. If enacted, owners of offshore pipelines would face a new yearly fee. It would be at least $10,000 per mile in water 500 feet deep or more, and at least $1,000 per mile in shallower water. BSEE would set fee rules within 180 days. Within 18 months, owners would also need third‑party internal and ex…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3948 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3948)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3948 (as of 2026-04-21).