Offshore Pipeline Safety Act

Increased Pipeline Safety: Owners would be required to conduct internal and external inspections by a third party at least every two years, which helps ensure pipeline integrity (Section 2).

Faster Leak Detection: Pipelines must be equipped with leak detection systems that provide continuous volume comparisons and alarms to detect leaks as quickly as possible (Section 2).

Environmental Risk Assessment: A joint study will evaluate whether it is better for the environment to leave decommissioned pipelines in place or to remove them (Section 3).

Protections for Marine Activities: When reviewing decommissioning applications, the Bureau must consider if pipelines pose hazards to navigation or interfere with commercial and recreational fishing operations (Section 3).

Financial Security for Decommissioning: An annual fee will be assessed on pipeline owners to ensure funds are available to decommission or remove pipelines if an owner files for bankruptcy (Section 3).

Addressing Exposed Hazards: The Bureau is required to remove or properly decommission any exposed segments of pipelines, or re-secure active segments that have shifted (Section 4).

New Costs for Pipeline Owners: Owners of offshore oil and gas pipelines will be required to pay an annual fee, which is at least $10,000 per mile for deep water and $1,000 per mile for shallower water (Section 3).

Potential Impact on Fish Habitats: The bill notes that actions taken must consider whether they will result in a reduction of reef fish habitat (Section 6).