(a) As soon as practicable after April 23, 1970, and every year thereafter, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall submit an annual certification to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation as provided for in Section 5(a) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-481) [49 U.S.C. Section 1674(a)], as may be amended from time to time.

(b) In the event that a new or amended federal safety standard is adopted, the Office of Regulatory Staff shall submit an appropriate certification to comply with Section 5(d) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 [P.L. 90-481, 49 U.S.C. Section 1674(d)].

(c) The Office of Regulatory Staff is further empowered to make and to provide certifications, reports, and information to the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation or any other regulatory agency of the United States having jurisdiction over federal safety standards; to enter into agreements with the Secretary to carry out the purposes of this article; to enforce federal safety standards in the State in lieu of enforcement by the Department of Transportation as permitted by the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as may be amended from time to time; and to exercise regulatory jurisdiction over the safety of pipeline systems and the transportation of gas as permitted by the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as may be amended from time to time.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-145; 1970 (56) 2420; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 31, eff May 24, 2006.