[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2469 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2469
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the use of advanced
leak detection technology for pipelines, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 12, 2019
Mr. Udall (for himself, Mr. Carper, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms.
Harris, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Markey, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr.
Merkley, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the use of advanced
leak detection technology for pipelines, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Methane Emissions from Transmission
Harm American Neighborhoods and the Environment Act'' or the ``METHANE
Act''.
SEC. 2. LEAK DETECTION REQUIREMENTS AND METHANE EMISSIONS FROM
PIPELINES.
(a) Leak Detection Requirements.--Section 60109 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Leak Detection Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and as part of the minimum
standards for integrity management programs for distribution
pipelines under subsection (e), to the maximum extent
practicable, operators of distribution pipelines shall use
advanced leak detection technology described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Advanced leak detection technology.--
``(A) In general.--Advanced leak detection
technology referred to in paragraph (1) includes--
``(i) a high sensitivity methane detector
mounted on a vehicle or aircraft, including a
drone, equipped with Global Positioning System
technology, if that high sensitivity methane
detector and Global Positioning System
technology meet the minimum performance
standards described in subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) any other technology or combination
of technologies that meet the minimum
performance standards described in subparagraph
(B).
``(B) Minimum performance standards.--The high
sensitivity methane detector and Global Positioning
System technology referred to in subparagraph (A)(i)
shall, at a minimum--
``(i) collect latitude and longitude
coordinates and methane concentration data
simultaneously;
``(ii) measure methane concentrations in
parts per billion; and
``(iii) collect data points at a rate of at
least twice per second.
``(3) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations to carry out this subsection.''.
(b) Methane Emissions From Pipelines.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 60142. Methane emissions from pipelines
``(a) In General.--To the maximum extent practicable, the owner or
operator of a pipeline facility shall--
``(1) use the best available technology to capture natural
gas when making repairs to the pipeline facility;
``(2) use the best available technology, including, as
applicable, advanced leak detection technology described in
section 60109(h)(2), to search for and identify leaks in the
pipeline facility;
``(3) develop or participate in a replacement or repair
program for pipeline facilities that--
``(A) are of a design, age, or material known to be
leaky; or
``(B) are known to be leaky based on operating
history; and
``(4) report to the Secretary any event that involves a
release of gas from a pipeline facility that results in an
unintentional estimated gas loss of 50,000 cubic feet or more.
``(b) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations
to carry out this section.''.
(2) Reporting threshold.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation
shall amend section 191.3 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, to ensure that the quantity of unintentional
estimated gas loss necessary to be considered an ``incident''
under that section is 50,000 cubic feet or more.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 60141 the following:
``60142. Methane emissions from pipelines.''.
<all>