HR3949-119

What This Bill Does

The Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act is a narrow regulatory exemption. It directs the Homeland Security Secretary to take whatever actions are necessary to exempt any propane tank with a capacity of up to 126,000 pounds of propane from CFATS regulations, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards under the Homeland Security Act. The practical effect is to remove these propane tanks from a federal chemical security regulatory framework that can require facility screening, security vulnerability assessments, site security plans, inspections, and compliance work. The beneficiaries are propane users and suppliers with tanks below the capacity threshold; the burdens fall on DHS security regulators and on communities or security advocates who prefer CFATS coverage for larger propane storage.

Who Benefits and How

Propane distributors benefit because covered tanks up to 126,000 pounds would no longer trigger CFATS compliance duties. Agricultural propane users benefit if farm or rural tanks below the threshold avoid chemical-security paperwork and compliance costs. Rural propane customers benefit indirectly if reduced compliance costs support supply access or pricing. Small energy businesses benefit from a clearer exemption for covered propane storage.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DHS CFATS staff must implement the exemption and remove covered propane tanks from the regulatory scope. Chemical security advocates bear the burden because fewer propane storage sites are subject to CFATS review. Communities near exempt tanks lose any CFATS-specific security planning that would otherwise apply. Facilities above the capacity threshold remain subject to existing CFATS treatment.

Key Provisions

• Requires DHS to exempt propane tanks up to 126,000 pounds from CFATS regulations.
• Limits the exemption to propane tanks at or below the specified capacity threshold.
• Reduces chemical-security compliance burdens for covered propane storage.