PRINTER'S NO. 871
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
677
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, LEACH, MUTH AND SCHWANK, JUNE 5, 2019
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JUNE 5, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
for pipeline safety.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 15 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER C
PIPELINE SAFETY
Sec.
1541. Definitions.
1542. Pipeline remaining life evaluation.
ยง 1541. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Gas." As defined in 49 CFR 192.3 (relating to definitions).
"Hazardous liquid." As defined in 49 CFR 195.2 (relating to
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definitions).
"Transmission." The transportation, other than gathering, of
gas through a transmission line as that term is defined in 49
CFR 192.3 or of hazardous liquids through a pipeline as that
term is defined in 195.2.
ยง 1542. Pipeline remaining life evaluation.
(a) Remaining life evaluation required.--Each public utility
owning or operating a facility engaged in the transmission of
gas or hazardous liquids in this Commonwealth shall consult a
qualified independent consultant to conduct and submit to the
commission an evaluation of the remaining safe life of the
public utilities pipeline, as the commission shall require.
(b) Evaluation requirements.--No later than 90 days
following the effective date of this section, the commission
shall establish, by regulation or order, the procedures to
implement this section. A remaining life evaluation conducted
under this section must include the following components:
(1) the corrosion growth rate of the pipeline based on
the most recent In-Line-Inspection run sectionalized as
appropriate and supporting documentation;
(2) retirement thickness calculations that consider
pressure design thickness and minimum structural thickness;
(3) remaining life calculations by segment, age, coating
type and soil conditions;
(4) a schedule identifying portions of the pipeline to
be replaced or remediated over the next five years;
(5) a summary of the portions of the pipeline that were
previously retired with an explanation of the characteristics
of the pipeline sections that led to the replacements;
(6) a listing and description of threats specific to the
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pipeline, with a summary of how each threat and the
associated risks are mitigated;
(7) a summary of the top 10 highest risks identified on
the pipeline with an explanation as to how the risks are
mitigated;
(8) an explanation of how anomalies, dents and ovalities
are formed on the pipeline and addressed by mitigative
measures;
(9) a summary of the leak history on the pipeline
including a description of the size of each leak;
(10) a discussion of the history of the pipeline,
including when cathodic protection was installed, when
coating was applied and the various measures performed by the
public utility, including the implementation of new
procedures;
(11) a discussion illustrating how managing integrity
lengthens pipeline life; and
(12) any other information required by the commission.
(c) Qualified independent consultant.--The commission shall
establish, by regulation or order, the procedure by which a
qualified independent consultant is selected under this
subsection. The commission, after consultation with the public
utility, shall select the qualified independent consultant to
conduct the remaining life evaluation and require the public
utility to enter into a contract with the selected consultant
providing for payment of the consultant by the public utility.
The terms of the contract shall include all reasonable expenses
directly related to the completion and review of the evaluation.
A selected qualified independent consultant must have experience
conducting independent studies for, but not limited to,
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governmental entities with regulatory authority over public
utilities engaged in the transmission of gas or hazardous
liquids.
(d) Public report.--The commission shall post a summary of
the remaining life evaluation on its publicly accessible
Internet website. The summary shall exclude any proprietary or
confidential security information as determined by the
commission.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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