South Carolina H 3303: Petroleum Pipelines

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3303 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3303

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
3 TO CHAPTER 7, TITLE 58 SO AS TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS RELATING TO PETROLEUM 
PIPELINES, TO PROVIDE FOR APPLICATIONS, PERMITTING, AND HEARINGS, TO SET REQUIREMENTS 
FOR RENDERING FINAL ORDERS, TO PROVIDE FOR REHEARINGS, TO PROMULGATE 
REGULATIONS, TO ALLOW THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF TO REQUIRE RECORDS 
PRODUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR DISCOVERY, TO EMPLOY EXPERT WITNESSES, TO PROVIDE 
THAT A PETROLEUM PIPELINE COMPANY MAY REQUEST REASONABLE ACCESS TO PROPERTY ON 
A PROPOSED SITE FOR SURVEY PURPOSES, TO PROVIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR A 
SPILL OR AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE, TO PROVIDE FOR EMINENT DOMAIN AND HEARINGS 
BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW COURT, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; AND TO 
DESIGNATE SECTIONS 58-7-10 THROUGH 58-7-70 AS ARTICLE 1, ENTITLED "SPECIAL 
PROVISIONS AFFECTING GAS, WATER, OR PETROLEUM PIPELINE COMPANIES."

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Title 58 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 3

Petroleum Pipelines

 Section 
58-7-300. As used in this article:

 (1) 
"Applicant" means a petroleum pipeline company that has submitted an 
application with the commission seeking the issuance of a permit by ORS for the 
construction of a new petroleum pipeline or the extension of an existing 
petroleum pipeline in this State.

 (2) 
"Commission" means the Public Service Commission.

 (3) 
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Services.

 (4) 
"Easement" means a corridor obtained by a petroleum pipeline company for the 
right of use on or under the property of others for the permanent placement and 
operation of a petroleum pipeline.

 (5) 
"Existing petroleum pipeline" means a petroleum pipeline that a petroleum 
pipeline company can affirmatively establish to the commission was constructed 
and in use upon the effective date of this act.

 (6) 
"Expansion" means a modification to an existing petroleum pipeline within the 
existing easement or right of way that increases the supply of petroleum by:

 (a) 
increasing the diameter of an existing petroleum pipeline; or

 (b) 
constructing a parallel petroleum pipeline.

 "Expansion" does not 
include improvements, maintenance, or repairs such as pump station development 
or pressure increases on an existing petroleum pipeline.

 (7) 
"Extension" means a modification to an existing petroleum pipeline that 
increases the length or footprint of the existing petroleum pipeline or right 
of way by a distance greater than one linear mile.

 (8) 
"Maintenance" means:

 (a) 
the care or upkeep of an existing petroleum pipeline and its appurtenances;

 (b) 
the replacement of an existing petroleum pipeline within the same easement or 
right of way; or

 (c) 
the relocation of an existing petroleum pipeline for repair within one third of 
one linear mile from the outer limit of the existing petroleum pipeline's 
alignment.

 (9) 
"New petroleum pipeline" means a petroleum pipeline that was not constructed 
and in use upon the effective date of this act. The term "new petroleum 
pipeline" shall not include an expansion, an extension, or any maintenance.

 (10) 
"ORS" means the Office of Regulatory Staff.

 (11) 
"Parallel petroleum pipeline" means a petroleum pipeline that runs side by side 
to an existing petroleum pipeline.

 (12) 
"Permit" means a permit issued by ORS in compliance with the provisions of an 
order of the commission authorizing the construction, expansion, or extension 
of a petroleum pipeline.

 (13) 
"Petroleum" means crude oil and any product derived from crude oil, including 
liquefied petroleum gases, refined petroleum products, or any blend thereof.

 (14) 
"Petroleum pipeline" means a fixed conduit of pipe located within South 
Carolina that transports petroleum products intrastate or interstate.

 (15) 
"Petroleum pipeline company" or "company" means a person, partnership, or 
corporation organized under the laws of this State or another state that is 
authorized to do business in this State and specifically authorized by its 
agreement, charter, or articles of incorporation to construct and operate 
petroleum pipelines for the transportation of petroleum or petroleum products.

 (16) 
"Right of way" means a temporary easement obtained by a petroleum pipeline 
company not to exceed one third of one mile in width for the purpose of 
establishing a corridor for the surveying and construction of a petroleum 
pipeline.

 Section 
58-7-310. Construction of any new petroleum pipeline or the extension or 
expansion of an existing petroleum pipeline in this State shall require a 
per