[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1441 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1441
To require the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to
further develop, finalize, and implement updated regulations for
offshore oil and gas pipelines to address long-standing limitations
regarding its ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and address
safety and environmental risks associated with decommissioning, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2023
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to
further develop, finalize, and implement updated regulations for
offshore oil and gas pipelines to address long-standing limitations
regarding its ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and address
safety and environmental risks associated with decommissioning, 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 ``Offshore Pipeline Safety Act''.
SEC. 2. FINALIZATION OF REGULATIONS RELATED TO OFFSHORE PIPELINES.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, shall issue final
regulations relating to Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer
Continental Shelf--Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way (72 Fed. Reg.
56,442 (Oct. 3, 2007)). Such regulations shall require owners of oil
and gas pipelines subject to such regulations--
(1) to provide for internal and external inspections of
pipelines by a third-party no less frequently than every two
years, unless the Director of the Bureau determines that any
such inspection is not required; and
(2) to equip such pipelines with a leak detection system or
device that provides continuous volumetric comparison between
the pipeline's product input and output and includes alarms and
adequate sensitivity to detect variations between input and
discharge volumes to enable any leaks from the pipeline to be
detected as quickly as possible.
SEC. 3. ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF DECOMMISSIONING PIPELINES.
(a) Study on Environmental Risks of Decommissioning Pipelines
Versus Removing Pipelines.--
(1) Study.--The Directors of the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement and the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management shall jointly conduct a study to evaluate the
environmental benefits and risks associated with
decommissioning oil and gas pipelines in place on the sea floor
compared to removing such pipelines. Such study shall include--
(A) an evaluation of pipelines that have been
decommissioned in place, identifying decommissioned
pipelines at high-risk of causing safety and
environmental harm, causing obstructions, or otherwise
unduly interfering with present or future uses of the
outer continental shelf; and
(B) recommendations on the best uses of the
revenues generated by the annual pipelines fees as
authorized by subsection (d).
(2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Directors shall transmit a report to
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate, detailing the findings and
determinations of the study, including any recommendations for
legislation.
(b) Required Considerations in Reviewing Decommissioning
Applications.--In determining whether to permit an owner to
decommission an oil or gas pipeline, the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement, shall fully consider whether the offshore
oil and gas pipeline constitutes a hazard to navigation and commercial
and recreational fishing operations, unduly interferes with other uses
of the outer continental shelf, or has adverse environmental effects.
(c) Ongoing Monitoring of Decommissioned Pipelines.--The Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement shall continually monitor the
condition and location of all oil and gas pipelines that have been
decommissioned and remain in place, and shall maintain all relevant
records of such monitoring.
(d) Annual Pipeline Owners Fee.--Not later than 180 after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement shall issue regulations to assess an annual fee on owners
of offshore oil and gas pipelines for the purpose of providing the
Bureau with funds to decommission or remove such pipelines in the event
an owner files for bankruptcy. Such fee shall be no less than--
(1) $10,000 per mile for such pipelines in water with a
depth of 500 feet or greater; and
(2) $1,000 per mile for pipelines in water depth of under
500 feet.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT RELATING TO EXPOSED SEGMENTS OF OFFSHORE PIPELINES.
If the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement identifies
any exposed segment of any active or decommissioned pipeline, the
Bureau shall either remove the pipeline from the ocean or ensure it is
properly decommissioned and does not pose a threat. If a segment of any
active pipeline is exposed or shifts, the Bureau shall re-secure such
segment to the sea floor.
SEC. 5. COMPLETION OF STUDY RELATING TO ENVIRONMENT RISKS OF CHEMICAL
PRODUCTS USED IN OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS.
(a) Completion of Study.--The Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement shall complete a study addressing the risks to the
environment of chemical products used in oil and gas operations
including umbilical lines. In conducting the study, the Bureau shall
seek input from chemical suppliers and the oil and gas industry.
(b) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Bureau shall transmit a report of the findings and
determinations in such study to Congress, including any recommendations
for legislation.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
No provision of this Act shall take effect without considering
whether such action will result in a reduction of reef fish habitat.
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