PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The law says when a pipeline is considered "idled" and what must happen before it can be used again. A pipeline is idled if it stops normal work and will stay out of service for at least 180 days, is cut off from any sources of hazardous liquids or gas, and either is cleaned and kept under a safe inert gas or has only a tiny amount of gas that the Secretary calls nonhazardous. The Secretary must create rules within 2 years after the PIPES Act of 2020. The rules will apply based on the risk to people, property, and the environment and will include how and when an idled pipeline can resume operation. The Secretary or a state agency must inspect idled pipelines and check any required cleaning. The Secretary will set how often to reinspect them. Before restarting, a pipeline must be tested by hydrostatic pressure, an internal inspection tool, or another similar method if those are not possible, and must meet any current safety rules.

Title 49, §60143

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definition of Idled.—

In this section, the term “idled”, with respect to a pipeline, means that the pipeline—

(1)(A)has ceased normal operations; and

(B)will not resume service for a period of not less than 180 days;

(2)has been isolated from all sources of hazardous liquid, natural gas, or other gas; and

(3)(A)has been purged of combustibles and hazardous materials and maintains a blanket of inert, nonflammable gas at low pressure; or

(B)has not been purged as described in subparagraph (A), but the volume of gas is so small that there is no potential hazard, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to a rule.

(b)Rulemaking.—

(1)In general.—

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2020, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations prescribing the applicability of the pipeline safety requirements to idled natural or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines.

(2)Requirements.—

(A)In general.—

The applicability of the regulations under paragraph (1) shall be based on the risk that idled natural or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines pose to the public, property, and the environment, and shall include requirements to resume operation.

(B)Inspection.—

The Secretary or an appropriate State agency shall inspect each idled pipeline and verify that the pipeline has been purged of combustibles and hazardous materials, if required under subsection (a).

(C)Requirements for reinspection.—

The Secretary shall determine the requirements for periodic reinspection of idled natural or other gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines.

(D)Resumption of operations.—

As a condition to allowing an idled pipeline to resume operations, the Secretary shall require that, prior to resuming operations, the pipeline shall be—

(i)inspected with—

(I)hydrostatic pressure testing;

(II)an internal inspection device; or

(III)if the use of hydrostatic pressure testing or an internal inspection device is not technologically feasible, another comparable technology or practice; and

(ii)in compliance with regulations promulgated under this chapter, including any regulations that became effective while the pipeline was idled.

References in Text

The date of enactment of the PIPES Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is the date of enactment of div. R of Pub. L. 116–260, which was approved Dec. 27, 2020.

§60143 Idled Pipelines

Summary

Title 49, §60143

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

References in Text

Citations & Metadata