PUBLIC LAW 94-477—OCT. 11, 1976
90 STAT. 2075
SEC. 6. The first sentence of section 11 of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 is amended to read as follows: "Each person who 49 USC 1680. engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates intrastate pipeline transportation facilities shall file with the Secretary or, if a certification or an agreement pursuant to section 5 of this Act is in effect, with the appropriate State agency, a plan for inspection and maintenance of each facility used in such transportation and owned or operated by such person, and any changes in such plan, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary or appropriate State agency.". SEC. 7. Section 14(a)(1) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 is amended by striking out "accidents" and inserting in lieu 49 USC 1683. thereof "leak repairs, accidents,". SEC. 8. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "CONSUMER EDUCATION
"SEC. 16. Each person who engages in the transportation of gas 49 USC 1685. shall, in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Secretary, conduct a program to educate the public on the possible hazards associated with gas leaks and on the importance of reporting gas odors and leaks to appropriate authorities. The Secretary may develop materials suitable for use in such education programs. 'CITIZEN 8 CIVIL ACTION
"SEC. 17. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), any person may commence a civil action for mandatory or prohibitive injunctive relief, including interim equitable relief, against any other person (including any State, municipality, or other governmental entity to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment to the Constitution, and the United States) who is alleged to be in violation of this Act or of any order or regulation issued under this Act. The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over actions brought under this section, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties. "(b) No civil action may be commenced under subsection (a) with respect to any alleged violation of this Act or any order or regulation issued under this Act— "(1) prior to the expiration of 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice of such alleged violation to the Secretary (or to the applicable State agency in the case of a State which has been certified under section 5(a) and in which the violation is alleged to have occurred), and to any person who is alleged to have committed such violation; or "(2) if the Secretary (or such State agency) has commenced and is diligently pursuing administrative proceedings or the Attorney General of the United States (or the chief law enforcement officer of such State) has commenced and is diligently pursuing judicial proceedings with respect to such alleged violation. Notice under this subsection shall be given in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation. "(c) In any action under subsection (a), the Secretary (with the concurrence of the Attorney General) or the Attorney General may intervene as a matter of right.
49 USC 1686.
Jurisdiction.
Notice,
Regulations,
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