§ 60126. Risk management
(a)
Risk Management Program Demonstration Projects.—
(1)
In general.—
The Secretary shall establish risk management demonstration projects—
(2)
Exemptions.—
In carrying out a demonstration project under this subsection, the Secretary, by order—
(A)
may exempt an owner or operator of the pipeline facility covered under the project (referred to in this subsection as a “covered pipeline facility”), from the applicability of all or a portion of the requirements under this chapter that would otherwise apply to the covered pipeline facility; and
(b)
Requirements.—
In carrying out a demonstration project under this section, the Secretary shall—
(1)
invite owners and operators of pipeline facilities to submit risk management plans for timely approval by the Secretary;
(2)
require, as a condition of approval, that a risk management plan submitted under this subsection contain measures that are designed to achieve an equivalent or greater overall level of safety than would otherwise be achieved through compliance with the standards contained in this chapter or promulgated by the Secretary under this chapter;
(3)
provide for—
(D)
the promotion of community awareness concerning how the overall level of safety will be maintained or enhanced by the demonstration project;
(E)
the development of models that categorize the risks inherent to each covered pipeline facility, taking into consideration the location, volume, pressure, and material transported or stored by that pipeline facility;
(F)
the application of risk assessment and risk management methodologies that are suitable to the inherent risks that are determined to exist through the use of models developed under subparagraph (E);
(G)
the development of project elements that are necessary to ensure that—
(H)
a process whereby an owner or operator of a pipeline facility is able to terminate a risk management plan or, with the approval of the Secretary, to amend, modify, or otherwise adjust a risk management plan referred to in paragraph (1) that has been approved by the Secretary pursuant to that paragraph to respond to—
(c)
Emergencies and Revocations.—
Nothing in this section diminishes or modifies the Secretary’s authority under this title to act in case of an emergency. The Secretary may revoke any exemption granted under this section for substantial noncompliance with the terms and conditions of an approved risk management plan.
(d)
Participation by State Authority.—
In carrying out this section, the Secretary may provide for consultation by a State that has in effect a certification under section
60105. To the extent that a demonstration project comprises an intrastate natural gas pipeline or an intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline facility, the Secretary may make an agreement with the State agency to carry out the duties of the Secretary for approval and administration of the project.
(e)
Report.—
Not later than March 31, 2000, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report on the results of the demonstration projects carried out under this section that includes—