Bill Text: CA AB2856 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Intrastate transmission line: safety valves.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - Died at Desk. [AB2856 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2856-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2856 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Burke
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
An act to amend Section 957 of the Public Utilities Code, relating
to oil and gas.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2856, as introduced, Burke. Intrastate transmission line:
safety valves.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory
authority over public utilities, including gas corporations, as
defined. The Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission to
ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications,
regulations, practices, measurements, or services to be furnished,
imposed, observed, and followed by specified public utilities,
including gas corporations.
Existing law requires the installation of automatic shutoff or
remote controlled sectionalized block valves on certain intrastate
transmission lines that are located in a high consequence area, as
defined, or that traverse an active seismic earthquake fault.
Existing law requires the owner or operator of a commission-regulated
gas pipeline facility that is an intrastate transmission line to
provide the commission with a valve location plan, along with any
recommendations for valve locations, and authorizes the commission to
make modifications to the valve location plan.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 957 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
957. (a) (1) Unless the commission determines that it is
prohibited from doing so by subdivision (c) of Section 60104 of Title
49 of the United States Code, the commission shall require the
installation of automatic shutoff or remote controlled sectionalized
block valves on both of the following facilities, if it determines
those valves are necessary for the protection of the public:
(A) Intrastate transmission lines that are located in a high
consequence area.
(B) Intrastate transmission lines that traverse an active seismic
earthquake fault.
(2) Each owner or operator of a commission-regulated gas pipeline
facility that is an intrastate transmission line shall provide the
commission with a valve location plan, along with
plan and any recommendations for valve locations. The
commission may make modifications to the valve location plan or
provide for variations from any location requirements adopted by the
commission pursuant to this section that it deems necessary or
appropriate and consistent with protection of the public.
(3) The commission shall additionally establish action timelines,
adopt standards for how to prioritize installation of automatic
shutoff or remote controlled sectionalized block valves pursuant to
paragraph (1), ensure that remote and automatic shutoff valves are
installed as quickly as is reasonably possible, and establish ongoing
procedures for monitoring progress in achieving the requirements of
this section.
(b) The commission shall authorize recovery in rates for all
reasonably incurred costs incurred for implementation of the
requirements of this section.
(c) The commission, in consultation with the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States
Department of Transportation, shall adopt and enforce compatible
safety standards for commission-regulated gas pipeline facilities
that the commission determines should be adopted to implement the
requirements of this section.
