(a) Grant Authority. - (1) In general. - The Secretary of Transportation may make grants for technical assistance to local communities and groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities) relating to the safety of pipeline facilities in local communities, other than facilities regulated under Public Law 93-153 (43 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.). The Secretary shall establish competitive procedures for awarding grants under this section and criteria for selecting grant recipients.

The amount of any grant under this section may not exceed $50,000 for a single grant recipient.

The Secretary shall establish appropriate procedures to ensure the proper use of funds provided under this section. (2) Technical assistance defined. - In this subsection, the term "technical assistance" means engineering and other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues, including the promotion of public participation in official proceedings conducted under this chapter. (b) Prohibited Uses. - Funds provided under this section may not be used for lobbying or in direct support of litigation. (c) Annual Report. - (1) In general. - Not later than 90 days after the last day of each fiscal year for which grants are made by the Secretary under this section, the Secretary shall report to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on grants made under this section in the preceding fiscal year. (2) Contents. - The report shall include - (A) a listing of the identity and location of each recipient of a grant under this section in the preceding fiscal year and the amount received by the recipient; (B) a description of the purpose for which each grant was made; and (C) a description of how each grant was used by the recipient. (d) Authorization of Appropriations. - There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for carrying out this section $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2006. Such amounts shall not be derived from user fees collected under section 60301.