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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 PIPELINES IN CERTAIN |
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POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a gas pipeline |
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located or proposed to be located in a county that: |
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(1) has a population of more than 1.4 million; and |
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(2) 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 of Texas issued more than |
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2,000 drilling permits authorizing gas wells to be completed. |
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(b) A gathering or transmission pipeline may not be |
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constructed within 300 feet of an established permanent structure |
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that is used by human beings on a regular basis. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 121.252, gas produced from a |
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well located in a county described by Subsection (a) of this section |
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must be odorized at the wellhead in accordance with the methodology |
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prescribed by 49 C.F.R. Section 192.625 before the gas enters a |
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gathering pipeline. |
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(d) The pipe used in a gathering or transmission pipeline |
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must be constructed of high-grade materials. |
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(e) A gathering or transmission pipeline must be protected |
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from exterior corrosion through the use of adequate coatings and |
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cathodic protection. |
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(f) Gas produced from a well located in a county described |
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by Subsection (a) must be dehydrated at the wellhead before the gas |
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enters a gathering pipeline, or a pipeline integrity assessment by |
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in-line inspection or a pressure test of the gathering pipeline |
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transporting the gas must be conducted every two 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) Section 121.2017(b), Utilities Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies 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(c)-(f), Utilities Code, as added |
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by this Act, until January 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |