Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 04-17-056.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: This rule-making proposal would amend WAC 480-75-240 Annual pipeline safety fee methodology and 480-93-240 Annual pipeline safety fee methodology, to change the current pipeline safety fee methodology for allocating pipeline safety program costs to regulated pipeline companies.

     Hearing Location(s): Commission Hearing Room 206, Second Floor, Chandler Plaza Building, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, on June 15, 2005, at 9:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: June 15, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: Carole J. Washburn, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail records@wutc.wa.gov, please include Docket No. P-041344 in your communication, fax (360) 586-1150, by May 20, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Mary De Young by Monday, June 13, 2005, TTY (360) 586-8203 or (360) 664-1133.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposal changes the method by which pipeline safety fees are allocated to regulated pipeline companies. The effect will be that some companies may pay more than under the current rule and others may pay less. The rule does not change the overall amount of fee collection.

     Affected WACs: WAC 480-75-240 and 480-93-240, Annual pipeline safety fee methodology.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposal is an attempt to improve the fairness and uniformity of the pipeline safety fees application by shifting to a methodology that reflects more of the relative effort expended directly on each regulated pipeline company.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160, 80.24.060, and 81.24.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 80.24.060 and 81.24.090.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The proposal would carry an effective date that would apply the new pipeline fee methodology for the first time to the 2007 fiscal year fees (for the period commencing July 1, 2006).

     Name of Proponent: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Tim Sweeney, Team Leader, 1300 Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-1118; Implementation and Enforcement: Carole J. Washburn, Executive Secretary, 1300 Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 664-1174.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed changes to the pipeline fee methodology rules will not result in or impose an increase in costs. Because there will not be an increase in costs resulting from the proposed rule changes, an SBEIS is not required under RCW 19.85.030(1).

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The commission is not an agency to which RCW 34.05.328 applies. The proposed rules are not significant legislative rules of the sort referenced in RCW 34.05.328(5).

April 20, 2005

Carole J. Washburn

Executive Secretary

OTS-8035.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. UG-010522, General Order No. R-497, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02)

WAC 480-75-240   Annual pipeline safety fee methodology.   (1) Every hazardous liquid pipeline company subject to inspection or enforcement by the commission will pay an annual pipeline safety fee as established in the methodology set forth in section (2) below.

     (2) The fee will be set by general order of the commission entered before July 1 of each year and will be collected in four equal installments payable on the first day of each calendar quarter((, beginning July 1, 2001)).

     (a) The total of pipeline safety fees will be calculated to recover the costs of the legislatively authorized workload represented by current appropriations, less the amount received in ((federal funds)) total base grants through the Federal Department of Transportation(('s Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Safety Program base grant)). Federal grants, other than the federal base grant, received by the commission for additional activities not included or anticipated in the legislatively directed workload will not be credited against company pipeline safety fees, nor will the work supported by such grants be considered a cost for purposes of calculating such fees. To the extent that the actual base grant proceeds are different than the amount credited, the difference will be applied in the following year.

     (b) Total pipeline safety fees as determined in (a) of this subsection will be ((divided between intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline companies and interstate hazardous liquid pipeline companies based on two components)) calculated in two parts:

     (i) ((The first component is direct assignment of average costs associated with a company's standard inspections, including the average number of inspection days per year which will be determined annually. Standard inspections are conducted to comply with the state's participation requirement under the "Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program" of the Federal Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety.

     (ii) The second component is an allocation of the remaining program costs that are not directly assigned in (i). Distribution of these costs between interstate and intrastate hazardous liquid pipeline companies will be based on miles of pipeline operated within Washington state.

     (b))) The commission's annual overhead charge to the pipeline safety program will be allocated among companies according to each company's share of the total of all pipeline miles within Washington as reported by the companies in their annual reports to the commission.

     (ii) After deducting the commission's annual overhead charge, the remainder of the commission's annual pipeline safety program allotment will be allocated among companies in proportion to each company's share of the program staff hours that are directly assigned to particular companies. The commission will determine each company's share by dividing the total hours directly assigned to the company during the two preceding fiscal years (as reflected in the program's timekeeping system) by the total of directly assigned hours for all companies over the same period.

     (c) The commission general order setting fees pursuant to this rule will detail the specific calculation of each company's pipeline safety fee including the allocation of ((program costs between interstate and intrastate hazardous liquid companies and the specific calculation of each company's pipeline fee)) the commission's annual overhead charge to the program based on the relative number of pipeline miles and the allocation of the remaining appropriation in proportion to the relative hours directly assigned to each company.

     (3) ((By April 1 of each year every hazardous liquids pipeline company subject to this section must file an annual report as prescribed by the commission that is necessary to establish the annual pipeline safety fee.)) By June 1 of each year the commission staff will mail to each company ((subject to this section)) an ((annual)) invoice ((showing an estimate of the quarterly amounts)).

     (4) All funds received by the commission for the pipeline safety program will be deposited to the pipeline safety account. For those companies subject to RCW 81.24.010 the portion of the company's total regulatory fee applicable to pipeline safety will be transferred from the public service revolving fund to the pipeline safety account.

     (5) Any company wishing to contest the amount of the fee imposed under this section must pay the fee and, within 6 months of the due date of the fee, file a petition in writing with the commission requesting a refund. The petition shall state the name of the petitioner; the date and the amount paid, including a copy of any receipt, if available; the amount of the fee that is contested; and any reasons why the commission may not impose the fee. The commission may grant the petition administratively or may set the petition for adjudication or for brief adjudication.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 2001 c 238 § 2. 02-03-016 (Docket No. -- UG-010522, General Order No. R-497), § 480-75-240, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02.]

OTS-8036.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Docket No. UG-010522, General Order No. R-497, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02)

WAC 480-93-240   Annual pipeline safety fee methodology.   (1) Every gas company and every interstate gas pipeline company subject to inspection or enforcement by the commission will pay an annual pipeline safety fee as established in the methodology set forth in section (2) below.

     (2) The fee will be set by general order of the commission entered before July 1 of each year and will be collected in four equal installments payable on the first day of each calendar quarter((, beginning July 1, 2001)).

     (a) The total of pipeline safety fees will be calculated to recover the costs of the legislatively authorized workload represented by current appropriations, less the amount received in ((federal funds)) total base grants through the Federal Department of Transportation(('s Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Program base grant)). Federal grants, other than the federal base grant, received by the commission for additional activities not included or anticipated in the legislatively directed workload will not be credited against company pipeline safety fees, nor will the work supported by such grants be considered a cost for purposes of calculating such fees. To the extent that the actual base grant proceeds are different than the amount credited, the difference will be applied in the following year.

     (b) Total pipeline safety fees as determined in ((subsection)) (a) of this subsection will be ((divided between gas companies and interstate gas pipeline companies based on two components)) calculated in two parts:

     (i) ((The first component is direct assignment of average costs associated with a company's standard inspections, including the average number of inspection days per year, which will be determined annually. Standard inspections are conducted to comply with the state's participation requirement under the "Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program" of the Federal Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety.

     (ii) The second component is an allocation of the remaining program costs that are not directly assigned in (i). Distribution of these costs between gas companies and interstate gas pipeline companies will be based on miles of transmission lines as defined in WAC 480-93-005(18) and miles of main as defined in WAC 480-93-005(12) operated within Washington state.)) The commission's annual overhead charge to the pipeline safety program will be allocated among companies according to each company's share of the total of all pipeline miles within Washington as reported by the companies in their annual reports to the commission.

     (ii) After deducting the commission's annual overhead charge, the remainder of the commission's annual pipeline safety program allotment will be allocated among companies in proportion to each company's share of the program staff hours that are directly assigned to particular companies. The commission will determine each company's share by dividing the total hours directly assigned to the company during the two preceding fiscal years (as reflected in the program's timekeeping system) by the total of directly assigned hours for all companies over the same period.

     (c) The commission general order setting fees pursuant to this rule will detail the specific calculation of each company's pipeline safety fee including the allocation of ((program costs between gas companies and interstate gas pipeline companies, and the specific calculation of each company's pipeline safety fee)) the commission's annual overhead charge to the program based on the relative number of pipeline miles and the allocation of the remaining appropriation in proportion to the relative hours directly assigned to each company.

     (3) ((By April 1 of each year every gas company and every interstate gas pipeline company subject to this section must file an annual report as prescribed by the commission that is necessary to establish the annual pipeline safety fee.)) By June 1 of each year the commission staff will mail to each company ((subject to this section)) an ((annual)) invoice ((showing an estimate of the quarterly amounts)).

     (4) All funds received by the commission for the pipeline safety program will be deposited to the pipeline safety account. For those companies subject to RCW 80.24.010, the portion of the company's total regulatory fee applicable to pipeline safety will be transferred from the public service revolving fund to the pipeline safety account.

     (5) Any company wishing to contest the amount of the fee imposed under this section must pay the fee and, within 6 months of the due date of the fee, file a petition in writing with the commission requesting a refund. The petition must state the name of the petitioner; the date and the amount paid, including a copy of any receipt, if available; the amount of the fee that is contested; and any reasons why the commission may not impose the fee. The commission may grant the petition administratively or may set the petition for adjudication or for brief adjudication.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160 and 2001 c 238 § 2. 02-03-016 (Docket No. UG-010522, General Order No. R-497), § 480-93-240, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02.]

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