49 U.S.C. § 60103
Sections in this chapter
- § 60101
- § 60102
- § 60103
- § 60104
- § 60105
- § 60106
- § 60107
- § 60108
- § 60109
- § 60110
- § 60111
- § 60112
- § 60113
- § 60114
- § 60115
- § 60116
- § 60117
- § 60118
- § 60119
- § 60120
- § 60121
- § 60122
- § 60123
- § 60124
- § 60125
- § 60126
- § 60127
- § 60128
- § 60129
- § 60130
- § 60131
- § 60132
- § 60133
- § 60134
- § 60135
- § 60136
- § 60137
- § 60138
- § 60139
- § 60140
- § 60141
- § 60142
- § 60143
§ 60103. Standards for liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities
- (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum safety standards for deciding on the location of a new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. In prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider the—
- (1) kind and use of the facility;
- (2) existing and projected population and demographic characteristics of the location;
- (3) existing and proposed land use near the location;
- (4) natural physical aspects of the location;
- (5) medical, law enforcement, and fire prevention capabilities near the location that can cope with a risk caused by the facility;
- (6) need to encourage remote siting; and
- (7) national security.
- (b) The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum safety standards for designing, installing, constructing, initially inspecting, and initially testing a new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. When prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider—
- (1) the characteristics of material to be used in constructing the facility and of alternative material;
- (2) design factors;
- (3) the characteristics of the liquefied natural gas to be stored or converted at, or transported by, the facility; and
- (4) the public safety factors of the design and of alternative designs, particularly the ability to prevent and contain a liquefied natural gas spill.
- (c)
- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a design, location, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978 , does not apply to an existing liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the standard is to be applied because of authority given—
- (A) under this chapter; or
- (B) under another law, and the standard is not prescribed at the time the authority is applied.
- (2)
- (A) Any design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978 , may provide that the standard applies to any part of a replacement component of a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the component or part is placed in service after the standard is prescribed and application of the standard—
- (i) does not make the component or part incompatible with other components or parts; or
- (ii) is not impracticable otherwise.
- (B) Any location standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978 , does not apply to any part of a replacement component of an existing liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.
- (A) Any design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978 , may provide that the standard applies to any part of a replacement component of a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the component or part is placed in service after the standard is prescribed and application of the standard—
- (3) A design, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard does not apply to a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility existing when the standard is adopted.
- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a design, location, installation, construction, initial inspection, or initial testing standard prescribed under this chapter after March 1, 1978 , does not apply to an existing liquefied natural gas pipeline facility if the standard is to be applied because of authority given—
- (d) The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe minimum operating and maintenance standards for a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility. In prescribing a standard, the Secretary shall consider—
- (1) the conditions, features, and type of equipment and structures that make up or are used in connection with the facility;
- (2) the fire prevention and containment equipment at the facility;
- (3) security measures to prevent an intentional act that could cause a liquefied natural gas accident;
- (4) maintenance procedures and equipment;
- (5) the training of personnel in matters specified by this subsection; and
- (6) other factors and conditions related to the safe handling of liquefied natural gas.
- (e) A standard prescribed under this section is effective on the 30th day after the Secretary of Transportation prescribes the standard. However, the Secretary for good cause may prescribe a different effective date when required because of the time reasonably necessary to comply with the standard. The different date must be specified in the regulation prescribing the standard.
- (f) A new liquefied natural gas pipeline facility may be operated only after the operator submits an adequate contingency plan that states the action to be taken if a liquefied natural gas accident occurs. The Secretary of Energy or appropriate State or local authority shall decide if the plan is adequate.
- (g) This section does not preclude applying a standard prescribed under section 60102 of this title to a gas pipeline facility (except a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility) associated with a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility.
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