FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6358

                          C 123 L 98

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing the utilities and transportation commission authority to regulate certain pipeline facilities.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Rossi, Finkbeiner, Brown and Jacobsen; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission).

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

House Committee on Energy & Utilities

Background:  The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) operates under an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), to administer the federal pipeline safety program.  The federal law includes authority to enforce pipeline safety standards through injunctions and civil penalties, including civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, for each day that a violation persists, up to a maximum of $500,000.

Currently, OPS exercises regulatory jurisdiction over the enforcement of pipeline safety regulations for intrastate hazardous liquid private pipeline companies, and WUTC exercises jurisdiction over similar public service companies or common carriers.

WUTC is requesting this legislation to clarify its safety jurisdiction over certain types of pipelines that are not otherwise regulated by the commission as public service companies or common carriers.

Summary:  The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) is directed to adopt rules relating to safety standards for intrastate pipeline companies.  Such authority is extended only to the extent it is not duplicative of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council.

Violations of the act or WUTC rules are punishable by criminal and civil penalties.  Civil penalties may not exceed the penalties specified in federal pipeline safety laws.  The commission determines the amount of penalties after considering specified circumstances.  The amount of the penalty may be recovered in a civil action and credited to the public service revolving fund.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 48 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    45 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  June 11, 1998