QUALIFICATIONS FOR STATE GRANT PROGRAMS.

SEC. 104. QUALIFICATIONS FOR STATE GRANT PROGRAMS. Section 5(d) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U.S.C. App. 1674(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(5) Qualifications for state grant programs.— The Secretary may establish by regulation qualifications for States to meet in order to participate in the pipeline safety grant program under this subsection, including qualifications for State employees who perform inspection activities pursuant to either an annual certification by a State agency or an agreement relating to inspection between a State agency and the Secretary. Such regulations may take into account the experience and training of the State employee, may mandate training or other requirements, and may provide for conditional approval of qualifications pending satisfaction of specified requirements.”.