S. 2975 — PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

This section revises authorizations of appropriations for natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety programs in 49 U.S.C. 60125(a) as follows: (1) For natural gas pipelines, increases and shifts overall annual funding to $185 million for FY2026 (from $156.4 million for FY2021), $190.365 million for FY2027 (from $158.5 million for FY2022), $195.886 million for FY2028 (from $162.7 million for FY2023), $201.556 million for FY2029, and $207.412 million for FY2030; increases specified amounts for certain activities (e.g., to $83.25 million (from $63 million) for FY2026, $85.66 million (from $66 million) for FY2027, and $88.15 million (from $69 million) for FY2028); and for FY2029 and FY2030, allocates $9 million each to the Pipeline Safety Information Grant program (sec. 12, Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002) and $90.7 million and $93.34 million, respectively, for grants. (2) For hazardous liquid pipelines, increases and shifts overall annual funding to $30 million for FY2026 (from $27 million for FY2021), $31 million for FY2027 (from $27.65 million for FY2022), $32 million for FY2028 (from $28.7 million for FY2023), $33 million for FY2029, and $34 million for FY2030; increases specified amounts for certain activities (e.g., to $13.5 million (from $11 million) for FY2026, $13.95 million (from $12 million) for FY2027, and $14.4 million (from $13 million) for FY2028); and for FY2029 and FY2030, allocates $3 million each to the Pipeline Safety Information Grant program and $14.85 million and $15.3 million, respectively, for grants. (3) For other pipeline safety activities, decreases annual funding to $7 million for FY2026 through FY2030 (from $8 million for FY2021 through FY2023).

This section authorizes appropriations for operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of (1) $33 million for FY2026, (2) $34 million for FY2027, (3) $35 million for FY2028, (4) $36 million for FY2029, and (5) $37 million for FY2030.

This section reauthorizes and modifies funding for pipeline safety grant programs as follows: (1) for emergency response grants under 49 U.S.C. 60125(b)(2), $10 million annually for FY2026 through 2030 (from FY2021 through 2023); (2) for pipeline safety information grants to communities under 49 U.S.C. 60130(c), specified amounts totaling $15 million across FY2026 ($4 million) through 2030 ($6 million) (from $2 million annually for FY2021 through 2023 under one paragraph and $1 million under the other), and requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish a notice of funding opportunity within 60 days of funds availability, accept applications within 60 days thereafter, and select grantees within 120 days of the notice; (3) for damage prevention programs under 49 U.S.C. 60134(i), $3 million annually for FY2026 through 2030 (from $1.5 million annually for FY2021 through 2023), with funds remaining available until expended; and (4) for the pipeline integrity program under section 12(f) of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (49 U.S.C. 60101 note), $2.5 million (from $3 million) for FY2026 through 2030 (from FY2021 through 2023).

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation to revise 49 CFR part 195, not later than one year after enactment, to allow risk-based internal inspections of in-service breakout tanks (i.e., storage tanks in hazardous liquid pipeline systems used to manage flow surges or breaks) if the revisions maintain or enhance safety. In revising the regulations, the Secretary must consider American Petroleum Institute Standard 653 (Fifth Edition, November 2014, or successor) and—for any such tanks inspected less frequently than required under current regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2025)—must require operators to (1) visually monitor external conditions on a routine basis and (2) use secondary containment systems designed to contain hazardous liquids in the event of a leak. If the final regulations differ from API Standard 653, the Secretary must notify the appropriate congressional committees within 60 days of Federal Register publication, explaining the differences.

This section requires an officer or employee of the Department of Transportation with expertise in conducting risk assessments or cost-benefit analyses for pipeline facilities or other transportation modes to attend any meeting of a peer review panel reviewing pipeline risk assessment information. (As background, current law requires the Secretary of Transportation to use such expert peer review panels in developing safety risk assessments for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.)

This section revises the requirements for updating industry consensus standards incorporated into the federal pipeline safety regulations (49 U.S.C. § 60102(l)) by— (1) requiring the Secretary of Transportation, not less frequently than once every five years, to review each such standard modified by a standards development organization since adoption and update its incorporation as necessary; (2) requiring the Secretary to maintain and publish on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) website, within 30 days of completion or revision, a public list of all standards considered for adoption or incorporation, including determinations and reasoning for partial or non-adoption; (3) directing the Secretary to consider adopting or incorporating such standards when prescribing new safety standards; and (4) requiring, for standards incorporated on or after enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, publication of the full text or a direct link to free public access on the PHMSA website during the public comment period for incorporation by reference (prohibiting incorporation otherwise), and similar publication for previously incorporated standards that are publicly available at no charge.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than one year after enactment, a report on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's management of the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). The report must describe (1) how and when the agency updates high-consequence area data in the NPMS, (2) the scientific data sources used for those updates, and (3) data validation methods for accuracy. This section further directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate, not later than two years after enactment, a rulemaking to require pipeline operators to submit facility location information under 49 U.S.C. §60132(a) with spatial accuracy within a radius of 50 feet (±50 feet).

This section revises pipeline safety testing programs—pilot programs that enable the Secretary of Transportation to approve operator testing of new technologies or methods to enhance pipeline safety—as follows: (1) extends the timeframe in subsection (c)(2) to 5 years after enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (from 3 years after enactment of 49 U.S.C. 60142); (2) in subsection (d), modifies the waiver condition in paragraph (1) to apply when a threshold is met or exceeded (i.e., greater than or equal to, from greater than) and authorizes the Secretary in new paragraph (2) to waive compliance via order without requiring the nonemergency waiver process under 49 U.S.C. 60118(c)(1); (3) revises subsection (h) to require immediate termination of a testing program if inconsistent with pipeline safety goals, notification to operators within 10 days on addressing deficiencies, and reinstatement if deficiencies are corrected; and (4) adds subsection (m) specifying that establishing a testing program is not a major federal action under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

This section modifies requirements for technical safety standards committees (i.e., advisory committees that review pipeline safety standards and make recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation) by (1) requiring the Secretary, when publishing reasons for not adopting a committee recommendation, to notify the appropriate committees of Congress (as defined in section 2 of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025), and (2) reducing the maximum number of meetings from up to 4 to 2.

This section revises enforcement procedures under 49 U.S.C. 60117 for pipeline and hazardous materials safety violations administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Specifically, it (1) requires PHMSA to allow recipients of warnings under 49 C.F.R. 190.205 (or successor regulation) to discuss claims with staff and to provide written responses to requests to withdraw or modify such warnings; (2) for civil penalties over $1 million (adjusted annually for inflation), allows respondents to request formal hearings conducted by an administrative law judge in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554; (3) requires hearings to be publicly noticed on PHMSA's website under "Upcoming Enforcement Hearings," to follow an orderly and timely process, and—in the case of formal hearings—to be open to the public; and (4) directs the Secretary of Transportation to update hearing protocols via rulemaking within one year of enactment. The formal hearing requirement applies only to violations occurring on or after the date of enactment.

This section increases the maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations (1) to $400,000 for each violation for each day (from $200,000); and (2) to $4,000,000 for any related series of violations (from $2,000,000).

This section expands pipeline safety whistleblower protections (49 U.S.C. 60129) by prohibiting retaliation not only by pipeline owners or operators and their contractors or subcontractors but also by officers, employees, or agents of pipeline owners or operators; it further enhances remedies by providing back pay with interest and compensatory damages including compensation for special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination.

This section directs the Administrator to assess, within one year of enactment, available studies, data, standards, and approved applications on the safety of composite materials for transporting (1) natural gas, (2) hazardous liquids, (3) new fuels such as hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas, and (4) new fluids such as carbon dioxide. Within 30 days after completing the assessment, the Administrator must submit a report on its conclusions to the appropriate congressional committees. If the assessment determines that composite materials provide an equivalent level of safety to other pipelines under the Administrator's jurisdiction, the Administrator must promulgate regulations within one year after submitting the report to allow their use for transporting new fuels, which may incorporate existing industry consensus standards by reference.

This section revises the elements of effective State damage prevention programs (i.e., programs to prevent excavation damage to underground pipelines and facilities) under 49 U.S.C. §60134(b) by adding a requirement that states have, or make substantial progress toward, a one-call notification program incorporating specified leading practices, including (1) restricting the size, scope, and longevity of standard one-call tickets; (2) specifying tolerance zone dimensions and requirements; (3) defining excavator responsibilities and qualifications; (4) requiring white-lining, positive responses before excavation, and marking of certain facilities; and (5) other related measures. It further establishes evaluation criteria under §60134(c) requiring the Secretary of Transportation to assess whether states effectively enforce one-call laws (including fines and penalties), mandate reporting of excavation damage events to local one-call centers (with details on causes, impacts, and parties involved), and limit exemptions from damage prevention laws. This section makes a conforming cross-reference amendment to §60114(f).

This section establishes a confidential, nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing system (VIS) for pipeline safety data and information related to gas transmission pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, underground natural gas storage facilities, and hazardous liquid pipelines. The VIS, to be implemented not later than one year after enactment in accordance with the Pipeline Safety Voluntary Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report prepared under the PIPES Act of 2016, aims to gather, evaluate, and quantify critical safety data while sharing recommended remediation measures and lessons learned across the pipeline industry. The VIS is governed by a 15-member Governing Board—with support from a Program Manager, a Third-Party Data Manager, and Issue Analysis Teams—established by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator not later than 180 days after enactment following consultation with stakeholders. The board comprises (1) five representatives from federal, state, or territorial government entities (including the Administrator or designee); (2) five from the gas or hazardous liquid pipeline industries (e.g., operators, trade associations, vendors, standards organizations, research consortia, or inspection organizations), including at least one industry representative; and (3) five from public safety advocacy organizations with pipeline safety expertise (e.g., public interest groups, higher education institutions, or nonprofit labor organizations), including at least one pipeline safety public interest group representative. Governing Board members serve three-year terms (with initial terms of one, two, or three years for staggering), and industry and government representatives may serve up to three total terms with reappointment. The board is co-chaired by the Administrator (or designee), an industry representative, and a pipeline safety public interest group representative and has authority to provide strategic oversight of the VIS; develop public governance documents including a charter; select the Third-Party Data Manager; and approve criteria and procedures for receiving and accepting pipeline safety data.

This section revises the definition of transporting gas under pipeline safety law to exclude (1) gathering gas (except through regulated gathering lines) in rural areas outside populated areas designated by the Secretary of Transportation as nonrural; and (2) movement of gas by a plant's owner or operator for fuel, feedstock, or other plant operations via in-plant piping entirely on plant grounds or transfer piping less than 1 mile long outside those grounds. (As background, the term transporting gas determines the scope of federal regulation of gas pipelines by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Thus, these exclusions exempt specified rural gathering lines and short plant-related piping from such regulation.)

This section revises pipeline right-of-way inspection and management requirements under 49 U.S.C. 60108 by (1) authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to allow operators to use unmanned aircraft systems and satellites when inspecting surface conditions on or adjacent to rights-of-way; (2) permitting operators, as part of their right-of-way maintenance plan reviews, to voluntarily adopt alternative methods (e.g., integrated vegetation management with reduced mowing, pollinator habitat seeding, and higher mowing heights) if the Secretary determines they achieve equivalent safety levels and enable timely emergency response; (3) requiring the Department of Transportation Inspector General, five years after enactment, to review a sample of such alternative plans for effects on risk assessment, incident response, and overall pipeline safety; and (4) making a technical correction to a subsection heading. (As background, 49 U.S.C. 60108 requires pipeline operators to inspect, maintain, and protect rights-of-way—cleared land strips along pipelines—from hazards such as overgrowth that could encroach on or damage facilities.)

This section amends pipeline safety requirements (49 U.S.C. 60108(a)(2)(D)) to require operators' inspection and maintenance plans to include mitigation of threats posed by geological hazards (i.e., landslides, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and scouring); directs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator to submit to the Secretary of Transportation and the appropriate congressional committees, not later than two years after enactment, a report identifying such hazards, evaluating related industry standards and federal requirements, and recommending improvements; and requires the Secretary, not later than one year after the report, to review and, as appropriate, update regulations and guidance for gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines to address geological hazards.

This section directs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator, not later than two years after enactment and every five years thereafter, to (1) issue requests for proposals to identify alternative technologies that meet or exceed the safety intent of existing pipeline safety regulations if used by operators, and (2) provide an opportunity for public comment on those proposals. If the Secretary of Transportation determines that a commercially available technology qualifies, the Administrator may issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the relevant regulations to allow operators to adopt such technology.

This section requires the Secretary of Transportation to complete, not later than two years after enactment, a study on the effectiveness of fire safety valves (i.e., fire shutoff valves or equivalent technology that shuts off gas service lines to dwellings or buildings in the event of fire) in mitigating secondary ignitions, such as fire-first ignitions (i.e., external fires causing natural gas system failure, release, or ignition). The study must evaluate (1) deployment scenarios and applications; (2) current incidence of fire-first ignitions in natural gas distribution pipelines; (3) anticipated risk reductions; (4) long-term durability and effectiveness; and (5) commercial availability. After completing the study, the section authorizes the Secretary to prescribe risk-based standards requiring natural gas distribution operators to install fire safety valves.

This section directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and not later than two years after enactment, to update regulations to exempt certain covered employees from post-accident drug and alcohol testing. The exemption applies to pipeline safety personnel (i.e., covered employees under 49 CFR 199.3 performing safety-sensitive covered functions, such as pipeline operation or maintenance) whose most recent performance of a covered function occurred outside the detection window for prohibited drugs or alcohol under current post-accident testing rules (49 CFR 199.105(b) for drugs and 199.225(a) for alcohol). (Thus, testing is not required if substance use at the time of the accident could not be detected.)

This section prohibits the Secretary of Transportation, until completion of a required report and rulemaking, from requiring owners or operators of natural gas transmission pipelines to reconfirm maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) under 49 CFR 192.624 if material strength is confirmed by prior testing to a sufficient minimum pressure per prevailing safety standards (including class location factors) and documented in contemporaneous records. The section further directs the existing MAOP working group of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), composed as of January 1, 2025, to submit a report within 180 days of enactment recommending sufficient contemporaneous records, considering historical practices, available research, potential additional analyses, and the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion. Finally, the section requires the Secretary, if necessary, to promulgate revised MAOP records standards within one year of receiving the report, without delaying pipeline operators' compliance deadlines under 49 CFR 192.624.

This section requires the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate, not later than 90 days after enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025, regulations prescribing the applicability of pipeline safety requirements to (1) idled natural gas transmission pipelines, (2) idled other gas transmission pipelines, and (3) idled hazardous liquid pipelines.

This section defines “potential impact radius” as the area within which the potential failure of a pipeline could have significant impact on persons or property, including injury or death. It directs the Secretary of Transportation, not later than three years after enactment, to review the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) methodology for determining potential impact radius for onshore gas transmission pipelines and applicable recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board or Government Accountability Office. Not later than 180 days after completing the review, the Secretary must submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees evaluating whether the methodology accounts for (1) available human response data, (2) accident data from pipeline incidents since January 1, 2000, (3) risks of serious injury, death, or property damage from a pipeline incident, and (4) unique characteristics of the types of gas transported. (As background, potential impact radius is used in PHMSA regulations to identify high-consequence areas near pipelines based on potential blast or impact zones.) Beginning one year after enactment, PHMSA Pipeline Failure Investigation reports for accidents involving onshore gas transmission pipelines must identify the location and distance from the pipeline of any damage, including injuries and property damage, outside the potential impact radius.

This section defines applicable weather events—including relevant major disasters under the Stafford Act that could impact natural gas pipeline safety, Winter Storm Uri (February 2021), and Winter Storm Elliott (December 2022)—and natural gas pipeline facilities (i.e., pipelines and related equipment or infrastructure). It directs the Secretary of Transportation to (1) review, not later than one year after enactment, the effects of such events on pipeline facilities to assess safety risks during and after the events and submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) not later than 90 days after submitting the report, review distribution integrity management plans for pipelines at increased risk from applicable weather events to ensure owners and operators mitigate those effects for public safety. (As background, distribution integrity management plans are federally required programs under PHMSA regulations for gas distribution operators to identify, evaluate, and mitigate pipeline risks.)

This section requires each owner or operator of a gas distribution pipeline facility to assess its system for Aldyl-A polyethylene piping—a vintage plastic known for brittleness and failure risks—and report the estimated total mileage to the Secretary of Transportation not later than three years after enactment. The section prohibits the Secretary from requiring excavation activities for the assessment (preserving the Secretary's authorities under 49 U.S.C. §§ 60112, 60117(m), and 60117(p)). The section also (1) amends state pipeline safety program certification requirements to cover pipelines constructed of historic plastics with known safety issues, in addition to cast iron and bare steel pipelines; and (2) revises risk evaluations in distribution integrity management programs to address the presence of pipes and mains made of cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, or historic plastics with known safety issues (previously, only cast iron).

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct research into the use of quantitative data and modeling to assess whether incorporating such data or modeling into pipeline operators' integrity management programs would improve the estimation of costs and benefits of risk reduction measures. (Integrity management programs require gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipeline operators to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks in high-consequence areas, such as populated or environmentally sensitive locations.)

This section revises the process for nonemergency waivers from pipeline and hazardous materials safety regulations under 49 U.S.C. §60118(c) as follows: (1) requires such waivers to be consistent with safety (from not inconsistent), issued only after notice and comment, and acted upon within 180 days of application receipt—by granting or denying the waiver or notifying the applicant of the need for additional time (with such notifications at least every 180 days thereafter); and (2) requires the Secretary to publicly post on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) website the reasons for granting or denying a waiver. (As background, PHMSA administers safety regulations for pipelines and the transportation of hazardous materials; these waivers allow temporary relief from such requirements when safety is not compromised.)

This section revises Section 106 of the PIPES Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-260), which requires the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a public website tracking "outstanding mandates" (i.e., statutorily required final pipeline safety rules not yet published in the Federal Register), as follows: (1) adds as a new outstanding mandate a final rule required under the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025; (2) revises the trigger for website updates to issuance of the rule resolving the applicable mandate; (3) requires an in-person briefing to congressional committees every 30 days if the website is not updated as required; (4) requires the PHMSA Administrator to annually offer a briefing to committees on the status of outstanding mandates; and (5) prohibits use of authorized or appropriated funds for travel by the Administrator or Deputy Administrator if a subsection (b) requirement is unmet for over 90 days, unless needed for pipeline or hazardous materials incident response or investigation. (As background, PHMSA—the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration—regulates pipeline safety under the Department of Transportation.) This section further requires the PHMSA Administrator to provide in-person briefings to congressional committees on overdue requirements—(1) within 7 days after a statutory deadline and every 90 days thereafter for the idled pipelines rulemaking required under 49 U.S.C. §60143(b)(1); and (2) similarly for the final rule on gas pipeline leak detection and repair programs required under 49 U.S.C. §60102(q)(1)—until completed.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, with a written agreement such as a memorandum of understanding, to permit certified state pipeline safety authorities to carry out risk-based integrated inspection programs (i.e., programs using risk data to prioritize inspections of high-risk pipeline facilities and requirements), subject to the same procedural and substantive standards as federal inspections, a maximum five-year interval between inspections of any pipeline system, and timely remediation of unsatisfactory conditions. It directs the Secretary to establish application procedures and criteria within one year of enactment and to approve or deny state applications within one year, including an explanation of denials with suggested changes for resubmission. It requires the Secretary to establish a review process for state programs and the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to evaluate each program three years after approval, reporting to the Secretary and appropriate congressional committees on whether it meets pipeline safety needs, with notification if termination is recommended. It permits the Secretary to terminate a state program if inadequately implemented—after notification, provision of at least 120 days for corrective action, and detailed inadequacy descriptions upon request—or allows states to terminate with 90 days' notice.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study evaluating enforcement actions and inspection scheduling and coordination practices of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), state pipeline safety authorities certified under 49 U.S.C. §60105, and state authorities with agreements under 49 U.S.C. §60106(a). The study must (1) identify coordination improvements between PHMSA and states; (2) assess overlaps in inspections by PHMSA and states or across PHMSA regional offices, coordination on findings and scheduling, resolution of interpretive differences, and opportunities to reduce unnecessary overlaps, ensure consistent interpretations, optimize scheduling, and improve compliance; and (3) review the federal enforcement process for fairness and compliance assurance. Not later than one year after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit to congressional committees a report on the study results with recommendations for the PHMSA Administrator to enhance coordination and enforcement without compromising safety. Additionally, not later than June 1 each year beginning after enactment, the Administrator must publish a public summary of the previous calendar year's federal and state pipeline inspections under 49 U.S.C., including for each inspection the date, pipeline owner or operator, system or segment inspected, PHMSA regions and states involved, alleged violations, and enforcement actions taken.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation, if determined appropriate, should engage with a broad range of pipeline stakeholders—including state pipeline safety programs certified under 49 U.S.C. §60105—during predrafting stages of PHMSA rulemaking activities (1) to inform the Secretary's work in carrying out pipeline safety goals under 49 U.S.C. chapter 601 and (2) to reduce timelines for issuing proposed and final rules.

This section directs the Secretary of Energy to enter into an agreement with a National Laboratory to study the safety, technical, and practical considerations of blending hydrogen into existing natural gas systems—particularly those exceeding 5% hydrogen content, including leak rates, infrastructure performance, and underground migration—and to submit a report with recommendations to congressional committees. It requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO), not later than one year after enactment, to study processes, materials, and standards enabling safe operation of such systems above 5% hydrogen in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, and other locations. It further requires the Secretary, not later than one year after both studies, to assess the need for regulatory updates to ensure safety of intentional blending exceeding 5% hydrogen and to notify congressional committees if no updates are needed. A savings provision clarifies that the section does not remove the exemption for certain hydrogen pipelines under 49 C.F.R. §192.625(b)(4) or affect specified pipeline safety authorities.

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation to publish, not later than two years after enactment, a final rule (RIN 2137-AF60) establishing minimum safety standards for carbon dioxide pipelines in all phases (gaseous, liquid, supercritical), including (1) updates to emergency response plans addressing CO2-specific risks, (2) requirements for operators to perform vapor dispersion modeling—considering topography, atmospheric conditions, and operating characteristics—to identify high-consequence areas, (3) a prohibition on using carbon dioxide as a testing medium for spike hydrostatic pressure testing, and (4) mandates for operators to share CO2 risk information and relevant emergency response plans with state, local, and Tribal responders. The rule must also consider conversion-of-service standards and CO2-appropriate safety-condition and leak reporting. Completion of this rulemaking satisfies the existing requirement under 49 U.S.C. §60102(i)(2). This section further requires the Secretary to commission a National Laboratory study on the feasibility of adding odorants to carbon dioxide pipelines and submit a report to congressional committees not later than two years after enactment. Additionally, the Secretary must provide CO2 release-specific information—including potential impact areas and odorants—to emergency responders upon request.

This section requires all operators of natural gas pipelines to report to the Secretary any non-predominant products intentionally blended and intended to exceed 2 percent by volume of the transported product at any point. Reports are required not more frequently than annually.

This section directs the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, not later than one year after enactment, to review (1) the findings of the study required under section 16 of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-90) and (2) oil spill response plans under 49 CFR part 194 (or successor regulations) for operators transporting diluted bitumen oil. The review must assess whether those plans identify all transported crude oils (including diluted bitumen) using industry-standard names; include safety data sheets; describe sensitive geographic areas and at-risk water bodies; detail response activities and resources for diluted bitumen spills (including detection, containment, and recovery of submerged or sunken oil); specify procedures for providing response information to the On-Scene Coordinator or equivalent state official; and incorporate all spill-relevant properties for each identified crude oil. Not later than 180 days after completing the review, the Inspector General must submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees summarizing findings and recommendations.

This section requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit to specified congressional committees (Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate; Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and Appropriations of the House), not later than 18 months after enactment, a report estimating costs and describing resources needed to establish the National Center of Excellence for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Leak Detection (Center of Excellence), including how it will carry out specified functions. Subject to appropriations and after submitting the report, the section authorizes the Secretary, in consultation with hazardous liquid pipeline stakeholders, to establish the Center of Excellence—located within the Great Lakes Basin, in a state hosting an international mixed-use pipeline transporting crude oil and natural gas liquids across the Great Lakes, and near an institution of higher education with pipeline safety research expertise—to (1) review availability of technologies detecting very low-volume leaks in hazardous liquid pipelines, (2) research their operational, economic, and technical feasibility for pipeline systems, (3) serve as a repository of best practices and expertise on hazardous liquid leak detection, and (4) perform other Secretary-determined duties to improve such leak detection. The section further directs the Secretary to enter an agreement with a qualified institution of higher education for joint operation of and administrative services for the Center of Excellence and requires the Center of Excellence to submit a report on its findings regarding very low-volume leak detection technologies to the committees not later than three years after establishment.

This section requires an operator of a pipeline facility to notify the Secretary of Transportation within 7 calendar days of filing a petition for relief under chapter 7 (liquidation) or chapter 11 (reorganization) of the Bankruptcy Code.

This section directs the Secretary to publish on a publicly accessible website summary data on pipeline leaks reported by operators in their annual reports to the Administration, not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter.

This section establishes within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) an Office of Public Engagement, to be headed by a Director who reports to the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety, not later than one year after enactment of this subsection. The Director must appoint Office employees—prioritizing those with experience in community engagement with the public, state, local, and Tribal governments, and pipeline safety groups—and transfer existing agency community liaison personnel to the Office. The Office must (1) coordinate technical and educational assistance to the public on PHMSA authorities; and (2) conduct ongoing public engagement on PHMSA activities, including outreach via varied media (e.g., postings, signage, mailings, canvassing), meetings, assistance resolving pipeline safety inquiries, dissemination of filing information, referral of inquiries to other agencies (e.g., Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state agencies), and accessible educational materials on PHMSA responsibilities and interactions with other entities.

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation, not later than two years after enactment, to review the definition of confirmed discovery used by pipeline operators for reporting accidents and incidents to the National Response Center—including related regulations, first responder communications, and immediate notice requirements under 49 C.F.R. §§191.5 and 195.52—and to analyze, for each initial notice over the prior five years, (1) the time from first signs of an incident to confirmed discovery, (2) confirmation methods, and (3) time to report post-confirmation, with findings reported to congressional committees. It further amends the civil penalty factors in 49 U.S.C. §60122(b)(1) by adding: "(E) the timeliness of emergency response notification, including by reducing penalties for cases in which incidents are reported within 10 minutes of a suspected release; and (F) advanced coordination with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governmental entities resulting in the relevant and timely use of existing public alert notification systems."

This section directs the Secretary, in consultation with the FEMA Administrator, to develop voluntary guidance for owners and operators of pipeline facilities to coordinate with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in using existing public alert systems—such as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System—to issue targeted emergency alerts via mobile phones, radio, or television during pipeline emergencies. It requires operators to incorporate any such procedures into their existing emergency response plans.

This section establishes restrictions prohibiting the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) from operating covered unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or entering contracts for their procurement or with entities using them in PHMSA contract performance. Covered UAS include those on the Consolidated Screening List or Entity List, domiciled in a covered foreign country (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, or Cuba), or subject to such a country's government influence or control. The restrictions do not apply to intelligence, electronic warfare, information warfare operations, testing, analysis, or training; allow case-by-case waivers by the PHMSA Administrator upon written certification to the Secretary of Homeland Security and appropriate congressional committees that such action serves the U.S. public interest; and require PHMSA, subject to appropriations, to replace any covered UAS in its possession within one year of enactment with UAS manufactured in the United States or an allied country. Additionally, within 180 days of enactment, PHMSA must report to appropriate congressional committees on process changes to avoid covered UAS, the number of systems requiring replacement (including their prior uses, replacement plans, and costs), and other relevant information. The section also makes a conforming amendment to the chapter analysis for chapter 448 of title 49, U.S. Code.

This section establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation to assist publicly owned (i.e., municipally owned and nonprofit) natural gas distribution utilities in repairing, rehabilitating, or replacing pipeline systems or acquiring related equipment to improve safety. In awarding grants, the Secretary must consider pipeline risk profiles (e.g., pipe material) and economic conditions in applicant communities (e.g., high poverty or unemployment); provides for congressional notification of project selections; limits grants to 50% of project costs (up to 80% for areas with populations under 50,000 per the latest decennial census), no more than 12.5% of annual funds to a single utility, and 2% for administrative costs; and authorizes $75 million annually for FY2027 through FY2030 from general revenues (not user fees).

This section defines "Indian land" (as under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) and "Indian Tribe" (as under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) in 49 U.S.C. §60101 and requires the inclusion of affected Indian Tribes and Tribal officials in multiple pipeline safety processes. Specifically, the section (1) amends §60102 on safety standards and reports to notify and consult Tribal officials, share information on Indian land, and include Tribes in notifications and coordination; (2) amends §60108(c) on inspection and maintenance to provide reports to Tribal officials; (3) replaces §60109(e)(7)(C) to require distribution pipeline operators to make emergency response plans available to affected Indian Tribes within two years of enactment, other plans to the Secretary or certified State authorities within two years of enactment, and significant updates within 60 days (with FOIA protections); (4) amends §60112(c) to notify Tribal officials of hazardous facilities; (5) amends §60115(b) to include Indian Tribes on technical safety standards committees; (6) amends §60116(b) to require public education program regulations within one year of enactment of the PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (from 12 months after the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002) and to advise affected Indian Tribes; (7) amends §60117 on administration to include Indian Tribes and Tribal officials in grants, agreements, and consultations; and (8) amends §60119(a)(1) on judicial review.

This section requires the Secretary of Energy to charge and collect, for each loan guarantee under the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act, a fee sufficient to cover applicable administrative expenses (including third-party consultant costs), with collection on or after the financial close of the obligation. Such fees are to be deposited in the Treasury and remain available without further appropriation until expended for those purposes, and the Secretary may reduce the fee amount subject to appropriations availability. (Thus, the Department of Energy may recover costs of issuing loan guarantees for the Alaska natural gas pipeline without relying solely on annual appropriations.)

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish in the Federal Register, not later than 180 days after enactment, a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking proceeding entitled “Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management” (Docket Number TSA–2022–0001; Regulation Identifier Number 1652–AA74) on pipeline cybersecurity.

This section makes technical corrections to definitions in 49 U.S.C. §60101(a) for pipeline safety programs, including (1) replacing semicolons with periods in specified paragraphs, (2) reformatting paragraphs (1), (14), and (27)—for "existing liquefied natural gas facility," "liquefied natural gas pipeline facility," and "transporting hazardous liquid," respectively—with subparagraph headings ("In general" and "Exclusions"), (3) adding "The term" and paragraph headings to multiple other paragraphs, and (4) standardizing introductory punctuation; and strikes paragraph (7) of 49 U.S.C. §60102(b).