H.R. 8050: Preventing Future Vintage Plastic Pipeline Tragedies Act

This bill, known as the Preventing Future Vintage Plastic Pipeline Tragedies Act, aims to address safety concerns regarding specific types of gas distribution pipeline materials, particularly a type of plastic known as Aldyl-A polyethylene. The key provisions of the bill include:

Pipeline Assessment Requirement

Owners and operators of gas distribution pipeline facilities are required to:

• Assess their pipeline systems for the presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene within three years of the bill's enactment.

Limitation on Excavation

The bill specifies that:

• Owners and operators are not required to conduct excavation activities solely for the purpose of this assessment.
• This limitation does not affect the Secretary's existing authorities regarding pipeline safety regulations.

Reporting Obligations

After assessing their systems, pipeline facility owners and operators must:

• Report to the Secretary of Transportation the total estimated mileage of pipeline identified as Aldyl-A polyethylene, also within three years of the bill’s enactment.

Amendments to Safety Program Certifications

The bill amends existing legislation related to state pipeline safety programs, specifying that:

• Certifications must now also include a consideration of pipelines constructed from historic plastics that have known safety issues, in addition to cast iron and bare steel pipelines.

Evaluation of Risk in Management Programs

The bill further amends the evaluation criteria for risks in distribution integrity management programs to include:

• A review of pipes and mains that are made of cast iron, unprotected steel, wrought iron, and historic plastics with known safety issues.

Implementation Timeline

The provisions of this bill are intended to be implemented within a specified timeframe, primarily focusing on the three-year assessment and reporting deadlines.

Relevant Companies

• UGI Corporation (UGI): As a provider of natural gas distribution, UGI may need to evaluate its pipeline infrastructure and report on the presence of Aldyl-A polyethylene in its systems.
• NiSource Inc. (NI): This utility company may also be affected, as it will have to assess and report on its pipeline materials including the potentially problematic Aldyl-A polyethylene.