Bill Text: CA SB1206 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [SB1206 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB1206-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 1206 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Morrell
FEBRUARY 18, 2016
An act to amend Section 956 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to natural gas.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1206, as introduced, Morrell. Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act
of 2011.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including gas corporations, as
defined. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 designates the
commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and
enforcing intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline
facilities pursuant to federal law, including the development,
submission, and administration of a state pipeline safety program
certification for natural gas pipelines. The act requires the
commission, by July 1, 2012, to open an appropriate proceeding or
expand the scope of an existing proceeding to establish compatible
emergency response standards that owners or operators of certain
commission-regulated gas pipeline facilities, as defined, are
required to follow and requires the commission to report to the
Legislature on the status of establishing the compatible emergency
response standards on or before January 1, 2013.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to the
compatible emergency response standards requirements.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 956 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
956. (a) On or before July 1, 2012, the commission shall open an
appropriate proceeding or expand the scope of an existing proceeding
to establish compatible emergency response standards that owners or
operators of commission-regulated gas pipeline facilities shall be
required to follow for intrastate transmission and distribution
lines. The commission shall establish the standards to ensure that
intrastate transmission and distribution lines have emergency
response plans that adequately prepare them for a natural disaster or
malfunction that could cause injury to human life or property, with
the purpose of minimizing the occurrence of both.
(b) The commission shall establish the compatible emergency
response standards in consultation with the California Emergency
Management Agency, the State Fire Marshal, and members of California'
s first responder community including, but not limited to, members of
the California Fire Chiefs Association.
(c) The compatible emergency response standards shall require
owners or operators of intrastate transmission and distribution lines
to implement emergency response plans that are compatible with the
United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration's regulations concerning emergency
plans contained in Section 192.615 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, and those plans shall include, but not be limited to,
all of the following requirements:
(1) Emergency shutdown and pressure reduction shall be utilized
whenever deemed necessary and appropriate by the owners or operators
to minimize hazards to life or property. An
The owner or operator shall notify appropriate first responders
of emergency shutdown and pressure reduction.
(2) During an emergency response effort, the incident commander
may direct coordination between first responders and owners or
operators to ensure timely and ongoing communication on decisions for
emergency shutdown and pressure reduction.
(3) Owners or operators of intrastate transmission and
distribution lines shall establish and maintain liaison with
appropriate fire, police, and other public officials to do all of the
following:
(A) Learn the responsibility and resources of each government
organization that may respond to a gas pipeline emergency, including,
but not limited to, the role of the incident commander in an
emergency.
(B) Acquaint the officials with the owner's or operator's ability
in responding to a gas pipeline emergency.
(C) Identify the types of gas pipeline emergencies of which the
owner or operator notifies the officials.
(D) Plan how the owner or operator and officials can engage in
mutual assistance to minimize hazards to life or property.
(E) Identify and update information on individual personnel
responsible for the liaison with the appropriate first responder
organizations.
(4) Owners and operators of intrastate transmission lines shall
provide the State Fire Marshal and the chief fire official of the
applicable city, county, city and county, or fire protection district
with instructions on how to access and utilize the National Pipeline
Mapping System developed by the United States Department of
Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration, utilizing data submitted pursuant to Section 60132 of
Title 49 of the United States Code, to improve local response
capabilities for pipeline emergencies.
(d) (1) The commission shall report to the Legislature on the
status of establishing the compatible emergency response standards on
or before January 1, 2013.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
