PUBLIC LAW 109–468—DEC. 29, 2006
120 STAT. 3493
SEC. 9. DISTRIBUTION INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RULEMAKING DEADLINE.
Section 60109 is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(e) DISTRIBUTION INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.— ‘‘(1) MINIMUM STANDARDS.—Not later than December 31, 2007, the Secretary shall prescribe minimum standards for integrity management programs for distribution pipelines. ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may require operators of distribution pipelines to continually identify and assess risks on their distribution lines, to remediate conditions that present a potential threat to line integrity, and to monitor program effectiveness. ‘‘(3) EXCESS FLOW VALVES.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The minimum standards shall include a requirement for an operator of a natural gas distribution system to install an excess flow valve on each single family residence service line connected to such system if— ‘‘(i) the service line is installed or entirely replaced after June 1, 2008; ‘‘(ii) the service line operates continuously throughout the year at a pressure not less than 10 pounds per square inch gauge; ‘‘(iii) the service line is not connected to a gas stream with respect to which the operator has had prior experience with contaminants the presence of which could interfere with the operation of an excess flow valve; ‘‘(iv) the installation of an excess flow valve on the service line is not likely to cause loss of service to the residence or interfere with necessary operation or maintenance activities, such as purging liquids from the service line; and ‘‘(v) an excess flow valve meeting performance standards developed under section 60110(e) of title 49, United States Code, is commercially available to the operator, as determined by the Secretary. ‘‘(B) REPORTS.—Operators of natural gas distribution systems shall report annually to the Secretary on the number of excess flow valves installed on their systems under subparagraph (A). ‘‘(4) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall determine which distribution pipelines will be subject to the minimum standards. ‘‘(5) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.—Each operator of a distribution pipeline that the Secretary determines is subject to the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary under this subsection shall develop and implement an integrity management program in accordance with those standards. ‘‘(6) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Subject to section 60104(c), a State authority having a current certification under section 60105 may adopt or continue in force additional integrity management requirements, including additional requirements for installation of excess flow valves, for gas distribution pipelines within the boundaries of that State.’’.
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