Bill Text: TX HB1792 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to safety standards and practices applicable to the transportation by pipeline of certain substances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-02 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB1792 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB1792-Introduced.html

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83R7054 JAM-F
By: Paddie H.B. No. 1792

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to safety standards and practices applicable to the
transportation by pipeline of certain substances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 91.251(1), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Intrastate gas pipeline facility" has the meaning
assigned by the United States Department of Transportation under
[Chapter 601, Title 49, United States Code (]49 U.S.C. Section
60101 et seq.[),] and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding
law.
SECTION 2. Section 91.252(b), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) This subchapter does not apply to a storage facility
that is:
(1) part of an interstate gas pipeline facility as
defined by the United States Department of Transportation; and
(2) subject to federal minimum standards adopted under
[Chapter 601, Title 49, United States Code (]49 U.S.C. Section
60101 et seq.[),] and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding
law.
SECTION 3. Section 117.001(2), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Hazardous liquid" means:
(A) petroleum or any petroleum product; [and]
(B) nonpetroleum fuel, including biofuel, that
is flammable, toxic, or corrosive or would be harmful to the
environment if released in significant quantities; and
(C) a [any] substance or material, other than
liquefied natural gas, [which is in liquid state, excluding
liquefied natural gas, when transported by pipeline facilities and
which has been] determined by the United States secretary of
transportation to pose an unreasonable risk to life or property
when transported by a hazardous liquid pipeline facility in a
liquid state [pipeline facilities].
SECTION 4. Section 117.011(a), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission has jurisdiction over all pipeline
transportation of hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide and over all
hazardous liquid or carbon dioxide pipeline facilities as provided
by 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its subsequent amendments or
a succeeding law.
SECTION 5. Section 117.012(c), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) The safety standards adopted by the commission in its
rules must be compatible with those standards established by the
United States secretary of transportation under 49 U.S.C. Section
60101 et seq. and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding law [the
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (Pub.L.No. 96-129)].
SECTION 6. Section 117.013(a), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Each owner or operator of a pipeline engaged in the
transportation of hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide within this
state shall maintain records, make reports, and provide any
information the commission may require under the jurisdiction
granted by [the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979
(Pub.L.No. 96-129) and] this chapter and 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et
seq. and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding law.
SECTION 7. Section 117.015, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 117.015. COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW. The commission
shall make reports and certifications to the United States
Department of Transportation and shall take any other actions
necessary to comply with 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its
subsequent amendments or a succeeding law [the Hazardous Liquid
Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (Pub.L. No. 96-129)].
SECTION 8. Section 211.001(3), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(3) "Salt dome storage of hazardous liquids" means the
storage of a hazardous liquid in any salt formation or bedded salt
formation storage facility, but does not include a facility that
has been defined by the federal Department of Transportation as
part of an interstate pipeline facility and that is subject to
federal minimum standards adopted under 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et
seq. and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding law [the
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (49 U.S.C. Section
2001 et seq.)].
SECTION 9. Section 211.002(c), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) "Safety standards or practices" means any regulation of
an activity or facility covered by this chapter or that is
incompatible with the safety standards or practices enacted or
adopted by federal or state government pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
Section 60101 et seq. and its subsequent amendments or a succeeding
law [the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979, as amended].
SECTION 10. Section 211.012(a), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission by rule shall adopt safety standards and
practices for the salt dome storage of hazardous liquids and the
facilities used for that purpose. Safety standards and practices
adopted by the commission for a storage facility that is part of an
intrastate pipeline facility, as defined by the federal Department
of Transportation under 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its
subsequent amendments or a succeeding law [the Hazardous Liquid
Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 (49 U.S.C. Section 2001 et seq.)], must
be compatible with federal minimum standards. The rules shall
require:
(1) the installation and periodic testing of safety
devices at a salt dome storage facility;
(2) the establishment of emergency notification
procedures for the operator of a facility in the event of a release
of a hazardous substance that poses a substantial risk to the
public;
(3) fire prevention and response procedures;
(4) employee and third-party contractor safety
training with respect to the operation of the facility; and
(5) other requirements that the commission finds
necessary and reasonable for the safe construction, operation, and
maintenance of salt dome storage facilities.
SECTION 11. Sections 121.201(a), (b), and (c), Utilities
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The railroad commission may:
(1) by rule prescribe or adopt safety standards for
the transportation of gas and for gas pipeline facilities,
including safety standards related to the prevention of damage to
such a facility resulting from the movement of earth by a person in
the vicinity of the facility, other than movement by tillage that
does not exceed a depth of 16 inches;
(2) by rule require an operator that does not file
operator organization information under Section 91.142, Natural
Resources Code, to provide the information to the commission in the
form of an application;
(3) by rule require record maintenance and reports;
(4) inspect records and facilities to determine
compliance with safety standards prescribed or adopted under
Subdivision (1);
(5) make certifications and reports from time to time;
(6) seek designation by the United States secretary of
transportation as an agent to conduct safety inspections of
interstate gas pipeline facilities located in this state; and
(7) by rule take any other requisite action in
accordance with 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its
subsequent amendments[,] or a succeeding law.
(b) The power granted by Subsection (a):
(1) does not apply to the transportation of gas or to
gas facilities subject to the exclusive control of the United
States but applies to the transportation of gas and gas pipeline
facilities in this state to the maximum degree permissible under 49
U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its subsequent amendments[,] or a
succeeding law; and
(2) is granted to provide exclusive state control over
safety standards and practices applicable to the transportation of
gas and gas pipeline facilities within the borders of this state to
the maximum degree permissible under that law.
(c) A term that is used in this section and defined by
[Chapter 601, Title 49, United States Code (]49 U.S.C. Section
60101 et seq. and its subsequent amendments[),] or a succeeding law
has the meaning assigned by that [chapter or the succeeding] law.
SECTION 12. Section 121.452, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 121.452. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter does not
apply to:
(1) an extension of an existing sour gas pipeline
facility that is in compliance with the railroad commission's rules
for oil, gas, or geothermal resource operation in a hydrogen
sulfide area if:
(A) the extension is not longer than five miles;
(B) the nominal pipe size is not larger than six
inches in diameter; and
(C) the railroad commission is given notice of
the construction of the extension not later than 24 hours before the
start of construction;
(2) a new or an extension of a low-pressure gathering
system; or
(3) an interstate gas pipeline facility, as defined by
49 U.S.C. Section 60101 and its subsequent amendments or a
succeeding law, that is used for the transportation of sour gas.
SECTION 13. Section 26.344(c), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) An interstate pipeline facility, including gathering
lines, or an aboveground storage tank connected to such a facility
is exempt from regulation under this subchapter if the pipeline
facility is regulated under 49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq. and its
subsequent amendments or a succeeding law [:
[(1) the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49
U.S.C. Section 1671 et seq.); or
[(2) the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979
(49 U.S.C. Section 2001 et seq.)].
SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.