Skip to content

Title 49 — Transportation

Chapter 601 — Safety

§ 60134. State damage prevention programs

Statutory text

(a)

In General.—

The Secretary may make a grant to a State authority (including a municipality with respect to intrastate gas pipeline transportation) to assist in improving the overall quality and effectiveness of a damage prevention program of the State authority under subsection (e) if the State authority—

(1)

has in effect an annual certification under section 60105 or an agreement under section 60106;

(2)
(A)

has in effect an effective damage prevention program that meets the requirements of subsection (b); or

(B)

demonstrates that it has made substantial progress toward establishing such a program, and that such program will meet the requirements of subsection (b); and

(3)

does not provide any exemptions to municipalities, State agencies, or their contractors from the one-call notification system requirements of the program.

(b)

Damage Prevention Program Elements.—

An effective damage prevention program includes the following elements:

(1)

Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of methods for establishing and maintaining effective communications between stakeholders from receipt of an excavation notification until successful completion of the excavation, as appropriate.

(2)

A process for fostering and ensuring the support and partnership of stakeholders, including excavators, operators, locators, designers, and local government in all phases of the program.

(3)

A process for reviewing the adequacy of a pipeline operator’s internal performance measures regarding persons performing locating services and quality assurance programs.

(4)

Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of effective employee training programs to ensure that operators, the one-call center, the enforcing agency, and the excavators have partnered to design and implement training for the employees of operators, excavators, and locators.

(5)

A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities.

(6)

A process for resolving disputes that defines the State authority’s role as a partner and facilitator to resolve issues.

(7)

Enforcement of State damage prevention laws and regulations for all aspects of the damage prevention process, including public education, and the use of civil penalties for violations assessable by the appropriate State authority.

(8)

A process for fostering and promoting the use, by all appropriate stakeholders, of improving technologies that may enhance communications, underground pipeline locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of locating programs.

(9)

A process for review and analysis of the effectiveness of each program element, including a means for implementing improvements identified by such program reviews.

(c)

Factors to Consider.—

In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the commitment of each State to ensuring the effectiveness of its damage prevention program, including legislative and regulatory actions taken by the State.

(d)

Application.—

If a State authority files an application for a grant under this section not later than September 30 of a calendar year and demonstrates that the Governor (or chief executive) of the State has designated it as the appropriate State authority to receive the grant, the Secretary shall review the State’s damage prevention program to determine its effectiveness.

(e)

Use of Funds.—

A grant under this section to a State authority may only be used to pay the cost of the personnel, equipment, and activities that the State authority reasonably requires for the calendar year covered by the grant to develop or carry out its damage prevention program in accordance with subsection (b).

(f)

Nonapplicability of Limitation.—

A grant made under this section is not subject to the section 60107(a) limitation on the maximum percentage of funds to be paid by the Secretary.

(g)

Limitation on Use of Funds.—

Funds provided to carry out this section may not be used for lobbying or in direct support of litigation.

(h)

Damage Prevention Process Defined.—

In this section, the term “damage prevention process” means a process that incorporates the principles described in sections 60114(b), 60114(d), and 60114(e).

(i)

Authorization of Appropriations.—

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this section $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Such funds shall remain available until expended.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006

    Pub. L. 109–468 § 2(b)(2) · 120 Stat. 3486

    Enacted · 49 U.S.C. § 60134

    Added Pub. L. 109–468, § 2(b)(2), Dec. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 3487

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Added Pub. L. 109–468, § 2(b)(2), Dec. 29, 2006, 120 Stat. 3487

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) In general.— Chapter 601 is amended by adding at the end the following: “§ 60134. State damage prevention programs “(a) In General.— The Secretary may make a grant to a State authority (including a municipality with respect to intrastate gas pipeline transportation) to assist in improving the overall quality and effectiveness of a damage prevention program of the State authority under subsection (e) if the State authority— “(1) has in effect an annual certification under section 60105 or an agreement under section 60106; and “(2) (A) has in effect an effective damage prevention program that meets the requirements of subsection (b); or “(B) demonstrates that it has made substantial progress toward establishing such a program, and that such program will meet the requirements of subsection (b). “(b) Damage Prevention Program Elements.— An effective damage prevention program includes the following elements: “(1) Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of methods for establishing and maintaining effective communications between stakeholders from receipt of an excavation notification until successful completion of the excavation, as appropriate. “(2) A process for fostering and ensuring the support and partnership of stakeholders, including excavators, operators, locators, designers, and local government in all phases of the program. “(3) A process for reviewing the adequacy of a pipeline operator’s internal performance measures regarding persons performing locating services and quality assurance programs. “(4) Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of effective employee training programs to ensure that operators, the one-call center, the enforcing agency, and the excavators have partnered to design and implement training for the employees of operators, excavators, and locators. “(5) A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities. “(6) A process for resolving disputes that defines the State authority’s role as a partner and facilitator to resolve issues. “(7) Enforcement of State damage prevention laws and regulations for all aspects of the damage prevention process, including public education, and the use of civil penalties for violations assessable by the appropriate State authority. “(8) A process for fostering and promoting the use, by all appropriate stakeholders, of improving technologies that may enhance communications, underground pipeline locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of locating programs. “(9) A process for review and analysis of the effectiveness of each program element, including a means for implementing improvements identified by such program reviews. “(c) Factors to Consider.— In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the commitment of each State to ensuring the effectiveness of its damage prevention program, including legislative and regulatory actions taken by the State. “(d) Application.— If a State authority files an application for a grant under this section not later than September 30 of a calendar year and demonstrates that the Governor (or chief executive) of the State has designated it as the appropriate State authority to receive the grant, the Secretary shall review the State’s damage prevention program to determine its effectiveness. “(e) Use of Funds.— A grant under this section to a State authority may only be used to pay the cost of the personnel, equipment, and activities that the State authority reasonably requires for the calendar year covered by the grant to develop or carry out its damage prevention program in accordance with subsection (b). “(f) Nonapplicability of Limitation.— A grant made under this section is not subject to the section 60107(a) limitation on the maximum percentage of funds to be paid by the Secretary. “(g) Limitation on Use of Funds.— Funds provided to carry out this section may not be used for lobbying or in direct support of litigation. “(h) Damage Prevention Process Defined.— In this section, the term ‘damage prevention process’ means a process that incorporates the principles described in sections 60114(b), 60114(d), and 60114(e).” .

  2. Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011

    Pub. L. 112–90 § 3(b) · 125 Stat. 1904

    Added · 49 U.S.C. § 60134(a)(3)

    Pub. L. 112–90, § 3(b), added par. (3)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 112–90, § 3(b), added par. (3).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (b) State Damage Prevention Programs.— Section 60134(a) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1) by striking “and” after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking “(b).” and inserting “(b); and”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(3) does not provide any exemptions to municipalities, State agencies, or their contractors from the one-call notification system requirements of the program.” .

    Effective date note
    Amendment by section 3(b) of Pub. L. 112–90 effective 2 years after Jan. 3, 2012, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 112–90, set out as a note under section 6103 of this title.

  3. Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011

    Pub. L. 112–90 § 32(d) · 125 Stat. 1904

    Added · 49 U.S.C. § 60134(i)

    Pub. L. 112–90, § 32(d), added subsec. (i)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 112–90, § 32(d), added subsec. (i).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (d) State Damage Prevention Programs.— Section 60134 is amended by adding at the end the following: “(i) Authorization of Appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants under this section $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015. Such funds shall remain available until expended.” .

    Effective date note
    Amendment by section 3(b) of Pub. L. 112–90 effective 2 years after Jan. 3, 2012, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 112–90, set out as a note under section 6103 of this title.

  4. Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2021

    Pub. L. 116–260 div. R title I § 101(f) · 134 Stat. 1182

    Substituted · 49 U.S.C. § 60134(i)

    Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “fiscal years 2021 through 2023” for “fiscal years 2012 through 2015”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “fiscal years 2021 through 2023” for “fiscal years 2012 through 2015”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    Sec. 101. During Certification. the current fiscal year, applicable appropriations and funds made available to the Department of Commerce by this Act shall be available for the activities specified in the Act of October 26, 1949 (15 U.S.C. 1514), to the extent and in the manner prescribed by the Act, and, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3324, may be used for advanced payments not otherwise authorized only upon the certification of officials designated by the Secretary of Commerce that such payments are in the public interest.

4 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Amendments2012–2020 · 2 rounds

2020

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “fiscal years 2021 through 2023” for “fiscal years 2012 through 2015”.

2012

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 112–90, § 3(b), added par. (3).

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 112–90, § 32(d), added subsec. (i).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by section 3(b) of Pub. L. 112–90 effective 2 years after , see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 112–90, set out as a note under section 6103 of this title.

Credits

2006–2020 · 3 acts
  1. 2006Added Pub. L. 109–468, § 2(b)(2), , 120 Stat. 3487
  2. 2012amended Pub. L. 112–90, §§ 3(b), 32(d), , 125 Stat. 1906, 1923
  3. 2020Pub. L. 116–260, div. R, title I, § 101(f), , 134 Stat. 2214.
Show as published

(Added Pub. L. 109–468, § 2(b)(2), , 120 Stat. 3487; amended Pub. L. 112–90, §§ 3(b), 32(d), , 125 Stat. 1906, 1923; Pub. L. 116–260, div. R, title I, § 101(f), , 134 Stat. 2214.)

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc49.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-05-04

USLM identifier /us/usc/t49/s60134