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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to safety requirements applicable to gas pipelines in |
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certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 121.2017 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 121.2017. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN PORTIONS OF |
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PIPELINES IN CERTAIN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a) This section applies |
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only to that portion of a gas pipeline that is located or proposed |
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to be located in: |
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(1) a Class 3 or 4 location as defined by 49 C.F.R. |
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Section 192.5; and |
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(2) a county that is located wholly or partly above a |
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hydrocarbon-producing geological formation in which during the |
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preceding year the railroad commission issued more than 1,500 |
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drilling permits authorizing gas wells to be completed. |
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(b) A gathering pipeline may not be constructed within 30 |
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feet of an established permanent structure that is used by human |
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beings on a regular basis unless: |
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(1) the owner of the structure consents in writing to |
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the construction of the pipeline; or |
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(2) the pipeline meets enhanced safety requirements in |
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its design, construction, and operation as determined by the |
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railroad commission. |
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(b-1) A transmission pipeline may not be constructed within |
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50 feet of an established permanent structure that is used by human |
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beings on a regular basis unless: |
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(1) the owner of the structure consents in writing to |
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the construction of the pipeline; or |
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(2) the pipeline meets enhanced safety requirements in |
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its design, construction, and operation as determined by the |
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railroad commission. |
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(c) A gathering pipeline must use advanced leak detection |
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measures as determined by the railroad commission. |
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(d) The pipe used in a gathering or transmission pipeline |
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must be constructed of materials that meet the requirements of 49 |
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C.F.R. Part 192. |
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(e) A gathering or transmission pipeline must be protected |
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from external corrosion in the manner required by 49 C.F.R. Part |
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192. |
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(f) A pipeline integrity assessment by in-line inspection, |
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a pressure test, or a direct assessment as defined by railroad |
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commission rules of a gathering pipeline must be conducted every |
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five years. |
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(g) The railroad commission shall adopt rules to implement |
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this section. |
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(h) This section and railroad commission rules adopted to |
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implement this section shall be enforced in the same manner as |
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Section 121.201 and safety standards or other rules prescribed or |
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adopted under that section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt rules |
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to implement Section 121.2017, Utilities Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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(b) Sections 121.2017(b)-(d), Utilities Code, as added by |
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this Act, apply only to a pipeline constructed on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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(c) A pipeline subject to this Act that is in existence on |
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the effective date of this Act is not required to be brought into |
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compliance with Sections 121.2017(e) and (f), Utilities Code, as |
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added by this Act, until February 4, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |