Preventing Future Vintage Plastic Pipeline Tragedies Act

This bill requires owners and operators of gas distribution pipeline facilities to assess their systems for the presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene piping and report findings, while also updating federal pipeline safety laws to include historic plastics with known safety issues. Sec. 2, Aldyl-A pipelines: Within 3 years of enactment, each owner or operator of a gas distribution pipeline facility must assess its system for Aldyl-A polyethylene piping. The Secretary cannot require excavation solely for this assessment, but this does not affect existing authority under specified sections of title 49. Within 3 years, each owner or operator must report the estimated total pipeline mileage identified as Aldyl-A polyethylene piping to the Secretary. The bill amends section 60105(b)(9)(A) of title 49 to require state pipeline safety program certifications to cover pipelines constructed of historic plastics with known safety issues, in addition to cast iron and bare steel. It also amends section 60109(e)(7)(A)(i) of title 49 to require distribution integrity management programs to evaluate the risk from pipes and mains made of cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, or historic plastics with known safety issues.