PIPES Act of 2023

This bill amends title 49 of the United States Code to enhance pipeline safety, covering gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines. It authorizes appropriations, updates definitions, and addresses workforce development, regulatory updates, inspection reporting, technical standards, public engagement, and various studies and rulemakings.

Sec. 2, Authorization of appropriations: Amends section 60125 to authorize appropriations from fees collected under section 60301 for fiscal year 2024, including $181,400,000 for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety, with $9,000,000 for a specific pipeline safety program.

Sec. 3, Definitions: Amends section 60101(a) to include carbon dioxide in definitions related to hazardous liquids, pipeline facilities, and transporting gas, and redesignates paragraphs.

Sec. 4, Workforce development: Allows the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to increase full-time equivalent employees in the Office of Pipeline Safety by up to 30 positions for technical expertise, and requires a report.

Sec. 5, Regulatory updates: Defines "outstanding mandate" as certain final rules not yet published, and requires the Secretary to issue a report on such mandates.

Sec. 6, Incorporation by reference: Requires the Secretary to review and update incorporated industry standards at least every 4 years or upon petition.

Sec. 7, Inspection activity reporting: Requires the Secretary to establish and make public a report on inspection and enforcement priorities for fiscal years 2024 through 2027.

Sec. 8, Technical safety standards committees: Amends section 60115 to require written notification to Congress when a final rulemaking differs from a proposed standard.

Sec. 9, Sense of Congress on PHMSA engagement: Expresses that the Secretary should engage with stakeholders during predrafting rulemaking stages.

Sec. 10, Office of Public Engagement: Requires renaming Community Liaison Services as the Office of Public Engagement within 1 year, with duties including proactive engagement and promoting safety.

Sec. 11, Class location changes: Requires the Secretary to prescribe a final rule on class location changes within 90 days, based on a 2020 notice of proposed rulemaking.

Sec. 12, Pipeline operating status: Amends section 60143 to require a notice of proposed rulemaking on safety requirements for idled pipelines within 180 days, considering industry consensus standards.

Sec. 13, Rights-of-way management: Amends section 60108 to allow alternative methods of maintaining rights-of-way if they achieve at least equal safety.

Sec. 14, Study on composite materials for pipelines: Requires a study within 18 months on using composite pipelines for hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas blends.

Sec. 15, Competitive academic agreement program: Allows a 100% federal share for projects by small and mid-sized institutions under the Competitive Academic Agreement Program, with a written request.

Sec. 16, Geohazard mitigation study: Requires the Comptroller General to report within 1 year on federal and state requirements for pipeline design and integrity management related to geohazards.

Sec. 17, Special permit program: Amends section 60118 to limit terms on waivers, require publication of applications, and complete review within 18 months.

Sec. 18, Excavation damage prevention: Amends section 6106 to require state one-call programs to implement leading practices and adds grant conditions.

Sec. 19, Integrity management study: Requires the Secretary to contract with the National Academies for a study on integrity management regulations within 45 days.

Sec. 20, Hydrogen study: Requires the Comptroller General to study natural gas pipelines with over 5% hydrogen blending, including modifications and technical challenges.

Sec. 21, Penalty for causing a defect in or disrupting operation of pipeline infrastructure: Adds a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment for knowingly causing a defect or disrupting pipeline operations.

Sec. 22, Civil penalties: Increases the maximum civil penalty from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000.

Sec. 23, Liquefied natural gas regulatory coordination: Establishes a working group to clarify federal agency authority and improve coordination for LNG facilities.

Sec. 24, Pipeline safety voluntary information-sharing system: Establishes a confidential voluntary information-sharing system to improve pipeline safety data sharing.

Sec. 25, Carbon dioxide pipelines: Amends section 60102 to include carbon dioxide in safety information and regulatory authority.

Sec. 26, Opportunity for formal hearing: Amends section 60117 to allow a hearing on the record for enforcement matters with proposed penalties or compliance costs of at least $125,000.

Sec. 27, State pipeline safety grants reporting: Amends section 60107 to require budget estimates including summaries of amounts claimed and reimbursed.

Sec. 28, Inspection of in-service breakout tanks: Requires review and possible amendment of safety standards to allow risk-based inspections of in-service breakout tank bottoms.

Sec. 29, Disclosure of safety information assessment: Requires an assessment within 1 year on how pipeline operators provide safety information to the public and emergency responders.

Sec. 30, Assessment of certain pipeline safety definitions: Requires evaluation of definitions for protecting buildings and occupied outdoor facilities from pipeline incidents.

Sec. 31, Report assessing the costs of pipeline failures: Requires a study by the National Academies within 3 years on direct and indirect costs of pipeline failures or shutdowns.

Sec. 32, Study on localized emergency alert system for pipeline facilities incidents: Requires the Comptroller General to study the need and feasibility of a localized emergency alert system for pipeline facilities.

Sec. 33, Maximum allowable operating pressure: Amends section 60139 to delay requiring reconfirmation of maximum allowable operating pressure u