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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 that underlies all or |
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part of two counties: |
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(A) that are adjacent to one another; and |
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(B) each of which has a population of more than |
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1.8 million. |
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(b) A gathering or transmission pipeline may not be |
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constructed within 50 feet of an established permanent structure |
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that is used by human 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: |
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(A) operates at a pressure that does not exceed |
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50 percent of the pipeline's specified minimum yield strength; |
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(B) is equipped with automatic shutoff valves; |
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and |
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(C) is buried at least 12 inches deeper than |
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required by all other applicable state and federal regulations. |
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(c) The operator of a gathering or transmission pipeline |
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shall monitor the pipeline with a supervisory control and data |
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acquisition system unless: |
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(1) the operator demonstrates to the railroad |
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commission that use of the system would be infeasible or |
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economically impractical; and |
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(2) the operator conducts a leak survey of the |
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pipeline at least once every three months. |
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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. The railroad commission may not issue a permit |
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that exempts a pipeline from the requirements of this subsection. |
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(e) A gathering or transmission pipeline must be protected |
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from corrosion in the manner required by 49 C.F.R. Part 192. A |
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pipeline integrity assessment by in-line inspection, a pressure |
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test, or a direct assessment as defined by railroad commission |
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rules of a gathering or transmission pipeline must be conducted |
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every three years. |
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(f) The railroad commission shall adopt rules to implement |
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this section. |
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(g) 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) and (d), Utilities Code, as added |
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by 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 Section 121.2017(e), Utilities Code, as added by |
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this Act, until January 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014. |