In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Commission” means the Public Service Commission. “Gas” means natural gas, flammable gas, or toxic or corrosive gas. “Gas pipeline” means an intrastate transmission line or any portion of an interstate transmission line located within the State that: transports gas from a gathering line or storage facility to a distribution center, storage facility, or large volume customer that is not downstream from a distribution center; operates at a hoop stress of 20% or more of the specified minimum yield strength of the pipeline; or transports gas within a storage field. “Gas pipeline” does not mean any transmission line or distribution line constructed, owned, or operated by a public service company as defined in § 1–101 of the Public Utilities Article. “Gas transmission company” means a person that owns or operates a gas pipeline regulated under this title. “Gas transmission company” does not include a person that is primarily in the business of local gas distribution.

On or before December 1, 2013, the Commission shall: evaluate the process and criteria the U.S. Secretary of Transportation would use to review an application for certification or agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 with respect to interstate pipelines located within the State; and determine whether it is in the public interest for the Commission to apply for certification or agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601, to act for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 with respect to interstate gas pipelines located within the State. If the Commission determines that it is in the public interest for the Commission to act for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 with respect to interstate pipelines located within the State, the Commission shall, on or before January 1, 2014, apply for certification or agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. If the Commission enters into a certification or agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to act for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to implement 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 with respect to interstate pipelines located within the State, the Commission shall, in accordance with federal regulations: make periodic certifications and reports to the U.S. Department of Transportation as may be required under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; and take any other actions necessary to carry out responsibilities under a certification or an agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation under this title. The Commission may: accept grants–in–aid, cash, and reimbursements made available to the State to implement federal pipeline safety laws or other federal law; and charge an owner of an interstate gas pipeline a fee to recover the costs of the inspections of the owner’s interstate gas pipelines located within the State, less any grants provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation for inspecting interstate pipelines.