PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

Increased Safety Funding: The bill increases funding for gas and hazardous liquid safety for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, which can help enhance national safety standards (Sec. 101).

Improved Risk-Based Inspections: The Secretary may allow risk-based inspections for in-service breakout tanks, provided safety is maintained or enhanced, requiring visual monitoring and secondary containment (Sec. 201).

Enhanced Whistleblower Protections: The act expands protections for employees and agents of pipeline operators, including provisions for back pay with interest and compensation for special damages (Sec. 209).

Greater Transparency and Public Access: The bill requires the publication of industry standards on a public website and mandates that the Secretary maintain a publicly available list of industry standards (Sec. 203).

Improved Public Alert Systems: The Secretary is tasked with developing voluntary guidance to help operators coordinate with local and Tribal governments using existing public alert systems, such as mobile phone alerts, during emergencies (Sec. 507).

Infrastructure Modernization Grants: The Secretary may provide grants to non-profit, community-owned utilities to repair or replace natural gas distribution systems, specifically supporting communities with limited investment capacity (Sec. 602).

Increased Tribal Involvement in Safety: The bill amends various sections of title 49 to include "affected Indian Tribes" or "Tribal officials" in safety standards, reports, and inspections. This ensures that Tribal nations have a voice and oversight regarding pipeline safety on or near their lands (Section 603).

Improved Access to Safety Information: Distribution system operators are required to make emergency response plans, distribution integrity management plans, and procedural manuals available to affected Indian Tribes. This provides communities with critical information regarding safety and operations (Section s 603(d)).

Enhanced Transparency in Redactions: If the Administration redacts any part of a document provided to another person, they must now cite the specific statute that allows them to withhold that information (Section 604).

Strengthened Pipeline Cybersecurity: The Secretary of Homeland Security is required to publish a final rule aimed at enhancing surface cyber risk management for pipelines (Section 606).

Increased Regulatory Burdens for Operators: Changes to the definition of "transporting gas" exclude certain gathering lines and in-plant piping, which may affect how certain movements of gas are regulated (Sec. 213).

Potential Impact of Alternative Maintenance Methods: While the bill allows for alternative methods of maintaining rights-of-way, such as reduced mowing, there is a requirement for the Inspector General to review these later to ensure they do not hinder risk assessment or emergency response (Sec. 214).

Uncertainty Regarding Emerging Gas Standards: The bill mandates new studies and rules for hydrogen and carbon dioxide, meaning safety standards for these emerging gases are still being determined (Sec. 401, Sec. 402).

New Administrative Fees: The Secretary is authorized to charge and collect fees for loan guarantees to cover administrative expenses, which may include costs for third-party consultants (Section 605).