(a) In this section:
(1) “Distribution gas pipeline facility” means a pipeline facility that distributes natural gas directly to end use customers.
(2) “Pipeline incident” means an event involving a release of gas from a pipeline that:
(A) under federal regulations, gives rise to a duty of a distribution gas pipeline facility operator to report the event to a federal agency; or
(B) results in one or more of the following consequences:
(i) a death or a personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization;
(ii) estimated property damage greater than or equal to the greater of:
(a) $50,000, including loss to the operator, loss to others, or both, but excluding cost of gas lost; or
(b) an amount under federal regulations that gives rise to the duty of a distribution gas pipeline facility operator to report the event to a federal agency; or
(iii) unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more.
(3) “State record” has the meaning assigned by § 441.180, Government Code.
(b) The railroad commission by rule shall require a distribution gas pipeline facility operator, after a pipeline incident involving the operator’s pipelines, to:
(1) notify the commission of the incident before the expiration of one hour following the operator’s discovery of the incident;
(2) provide the following information to the commission before the expiration of one hour following the operator’s discovery of the incident:
(A) the pipeline operator’s name and telephone number;
(B) the location of the incident;
(C) the time of the incident; and
(D) the telephone number of the operator’s on-site person; and
(3) provide the following information to the commission when the information is known by the operator:
(A) the fatalities and personal injuries caused by the incident;
(B) the cost of gas lost;
(C) estimated property damage to the operator and others;
(D) any other significant facts relevant to the incident, including facts related to ignition, explosion, rerouting of traffic, evacuation of a building, and media interest; and
(E) other information required under federal regulations to be provided to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration or a successor agency after a pipeline incident or similar incident.

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