Office of Public Engagement

(a) In general Section 108 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting (referred to in this section as the Administration) after Safety Administration; (2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by inserting (referred to in this section as the Administrator), after shall be the Administrator; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (h) Office of Public Engagement (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Pipeline Accountability Act of 2025. (B) Covered facility The term covered facility means— (i) a covered pipeline (as defined in section 60109(c)(12)(A)); (ii) a liquefied natural gas pipeline facility (as defined in section 60101(a)); and (iii) an underground natural gas storage facility (as defined in section 60101(a)). (C) Director The term Director means the Director of the Office appointed under paragraph (3). (D) Environmental justice community The term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and Indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects. (E) Incident The term incident has the meaning given the term in section 191.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). (F) Low-income community The term low-income community means a census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population are individuals with an annual household income equal to, or less than, the greatest of— (i) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (ii) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line; and (iii) a level of income higher than the levels described in clauses (i) and (ii), as determined by the Secretary. (G) Office The term Office means the Office of Public Engagement of the Administration established under paragraph (2). (2) Establishment (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall establish within the Administration an office, to be known as the Office of Public Engagement. (B) Process Before establishing the Office under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall— (i) seek and incorporate public input regarding the responsibilities of the Office, including through in-person public meetings, prioritizing input from individuals without financial interests in the pipeline, petroleum, ethanol, or gas industries, including environmental justice communities and experts in community engagement; and (ii) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a summary of the input received pursuant to clause (i) and an explanation of how that input will be integrated into the establishment of the Office. (C) Compensation The Administrator may provide reasonable compensation for those providing input pursuant to subparagraph (B) in order to facilitate the participation of environmental justice communities. (3) Director The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall— (A) be appointed by the Administrator; (B) report to the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety; and (C) be responsible for the discharge of the functions and duties of the Office. (4) Employees The Director may appoint, and assign the duties of, employees of the Office. (5) Duties and functions of the Office (A) Coordination of assistance The Director shall coordinate the provision of assistance, including financial assistance, technical assistance, and educational assistance to the public, with respect to the authorities exercised by the Administration, including by proactive and targeted community outreach that incorporates— (i) accessible communications; (ii) the provision of in-person and online communications; and (iii) translations to languages spoken by impacted populations. (B) Public engagement The Director shall coordinate active and ongoing engagement with the public with respect to the authority and activities of the Administration, including by— (i) conducting— (I) proactive outreach, which may include public postings, signage at relevant physical locations, newspaper publications, utility bill inserts, mailings, phone calls, canvassing, and door hangers, to communities, especially environmental justice communities, using varied media; and (II) meetings, set at times and places to maximize the number of community members who can conveniently attend, with appropriate services, including, if the Director determines it would have a meaningful impact on participation by members of affected environmental justice communities— (aa) translation and interpreting services; (bb) virtual attendance; and (cc) reasonable funding for transportation to and from meetings, food, and caregiving; (ii) establishing an independent, neutral, accessible, confidential, and standardized process to receive, review, process, and follow up on inquiries, complaints, and allegations with respect to the activities of the Administration and entities regulated by the Administration, including with respect to cracks and leaks in pipeline infrastructure identified by workers and community members; (iii) assisting individuals in responding to and resolving inquiries, complaints, and allegations described in clause (ii); (iv) making publicly available, and proactively disseminating, information on the manner in which members of the public may file inquiries, complaints, and allegations; (v) coordinating with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, State agencies, and, as necessary, other agencies to direct public inquiries that are not within the jurisdiction of the Administration to the relevant agency; (vi) preparing, and making publicly available in accessible formats, educational materials about the Administration, the responsibilities of the Administration, and how those responsibilities interact with entities under the jurisdiction of the Administration and other Federal, State, local, or Tribal government agencies; (vii) assisting local first responders, local officials, and community members— (I) to develop their own emergency management plans; and (II) to prepare to respond to all potential adverse scenarios relating to covered facility malfunctions, including to evacuate on short notice if necessary; and (viii) making publicly available, and proactively disseminating, information on local evacuation plans to the surrounding community. (C) Post-incident support The Director shall facilitate, including by directing impacted individuals to the appropriate agency and coordinating with relevant counterparts at other agencies, appropriate remediation, environmental testing, and assistance with compensation in the case of leaks, incidents, accidents, or other relevant events.. (b) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out section 108(h) of title 49, United States Code, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028.