HB24-1357: Pipeline Safety Measures

• Requires pipeline mapping at a scale of 1 to 6,000 or greater and mandates adoption of rules by December 31, 2024 for advanced leak detection technology on transmission lines, distribution systems, and gathering lines with specific detection sensitivity requirements.

• Establishes leak repair timelines: Grade 1 leaks must be repaired immediately, Grade 2 leaks within 60 days, and Grade 3 leaks within one year of detection; requires monthly inspections of all pipeline road and railroad crossings for traffic-related damage.

• Requires removal or abandonment of pipeline sections unused for 2+ years, with abandonment in place only permitted under specific circumstances such as surface owner agreement, federal direction, co-location with active utilities, or proximity to sensitive areas; owners must notify the commission 30 days before removal or abandonment.

• Mandates creation of a user-friendly public website by January 31, 2025 providing real-time access to reportable safety events, gas leak information, violations, compliance actions, inspection records, and pipeline mapping data, searchable by location or operator.

• Increases maximum civil penalties from $200,000 to $500,000 per violation with minimum daily penalties of $5,000 ($15,000 if necessary for public health/safety); allows penalty increases based on violation factors; limits penalty reductions to 15% except for small operators; requires inflation adjustments every 2 years beginning in 2026.