116 STAT. 2998 PUBLIC LAW 107-355—DEC. 17, 2002 Deadline. Deadline. expertise in materials research and assisting in the development of consensus technical standards, as that term is used in section 12(d)(4) of Public Law 104-13 (15 U.S.C. 272 note). (c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.— The program authorized by subsection (a) shall include research, development, demonstration, and standardization activities related to— (1) materials inspection; (2) stress and fracture analysis, detection of cracks, corrosion, abrasion, and other abnormalities inside pipelines that lead to pipeline failure, and development of new equipment or technologies that are inserted into pipelines to detect anomalies; (3) internal inspection and leak detection technologies, including detection of leaks at very low volumes; (4) methods of analyzing content of pipeline throughput; (5) pipeline security, including improving the real-time surveillance of pipeline rights-of-way, developing tools for evaluating and enhancing pipeline security and infrastructure, reducing natural, technological, and terrorist threats, and protecting first response units and persons near an incident; (6) risk assessment methodology, including vulnerability assessment and reduction of third-party damage; (7) communication, control, and information systems surety; (8) fire safety of pipelines; (9) improved excavation, construction, and repair technologies; and (10) other appropriate elements. (d) PROGRAM PLAN. — (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall prepare and transmit to Congress a 5-year program plan to guide activities under this section. Such program plan shall be submitted to the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee for review, and the report to Congress shall include the comments of the committees. The 5-year program plan shall be based on the memorandum of understanding under subsection (b) and take into account related activities of other Federal agencies. (2) CONSULTATION.— In preparing the program plan and selecting and prioritizing appropriate project proposals, the Secretary of Transportation shall consult with or seek the advice of appropriate representatives of the natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum product pipeline industries, utilities, manufacturers, institutions of higher learning, Federal agencies, pipeline research institutions, national laboratories. State pipeline safety officials, labor organizations, environmental organizations, pipeline safety advocates, and professional and technical societies. (e) REPORTS TO CONGRESS. —Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the heads of the participating agencies shall transmit jointly to Congress a report on the status and results to date of the implementation of the program plan prepared under subsection (d).
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