By: West H.B. No. 2161
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the power of the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt
and enforce safety standards and practices applicable to the
transportation by pipeline of certain substances and to certain
pipeline facilities; imposing an administrative penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 121.201, Utilities Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read
as follows:
(a) The railroad commission [by rule] 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) 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) require record maintenance and reports;
(4) inspect records and facilities to determine
compliance with [adopted] 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) take any other requisite action in accordance with
49 U.S.C. Section 60101 et seq., 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., 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.
(d) In this subsection, "telecommunications service" and
"information service" have the meanings assigned by 47 U.S.C.
Section 153. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this title does not
grant the railroad commission jurisdiction or right-of-way
management authority over a provider of telecommunications service
or information service. A provider of telecommunications service
or information service shall comply with all applicable safety
standards, including those provided by Subchapter G, Chapter 756,
Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 2. Sections 121.206(a) and (d), Utilities Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The railroad commission may assess an administrative
penalty against a person who violates Section 121.201 [or
Subchapter I] or a safety standard or other rule prescribed or
[relating to the transportation of gas and gas pipeline facilities]
adopted under that section [those provisions].
(d) The railroad commission by rule shall adopt guidelines
to be used in determining the amount of a penalty under this
subchapter. The guidelines shall include a penalty calculation
worksheet that specifies the typical penalty for certain
violations, circumstances justifying enhancement of a penalty and
the amount of the enhancement, and circumstances justifying a
reduction in a penalty and the amount of the reduction. The
guidelines shall take into account:
(1) the person's history of previous violations of
Section 121.201 or a safety standard or other rule prescribed or
[relating to the transportation of gas and gas pipeline facilities]
adopted under that section, including the number of previous
violations;
(2) the seriousness of the violation and of any
pollution resulting from the violation;
(3) any hazard to the health or safety of the public;
(4) the degree of culpability;
(5) the demonstrated good faith of the person charged;
and
(6) any other factor the commission considers
relevant.
SECTION 3. Section 117.012, Natural Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (n) to
read as follows:
(a) The commission shall adopt rules that include safety
standards for and practices applicable to the intrastate
transportation of hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide by pipeline
and intrastate hazardous liquid or carbon dioxide 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.
(n) In this subsection, "telecommunications service" and
"information service" have the meanings assigned by 47 U.S.C.
Section 153. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this title does not
grant the commission jurisdiction or right-of-way management
authority over a provider of telecommunications service or
information service. A provider of telecommunications service or
information service shall comply with all applicable safety
standards, including those provided by Subchapter G, Chapter 756,
Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 4. The Railroad Commission of Texas may not adopt
safety standards under Section 121.201(a), Utilities Code, or
Section 117.012(a), Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act,
until the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of
the United States Department of Transportation adopts the rules
published at 69 Fed. Reg. 35279 (2004) (to be codified at 49 C.F.R.
Parts 192 and 195) (proposed June 3, 2004) or other rules pertaining
to public education programs for hazardous liquid and gas pipeline
operators.
SECTION 5. (a) The change in law made by this Act to Section
121.206, Utilities Code, applies only to a violation committed on
or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this
section, a violation is committed before the effective date of this
Act if any element of the violation occurred before that date.
(b) A violation committed before the effective date of this
Act is covered by the law in effect when the violation was
committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.