CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6358

 

 

 

 

                        55th Legislature

                      1998 Regular Session

Passed by the Senate March 7, 1998

  YEAS 45   NAYS 0

 

 

 

President of the Senate

 

Passed by the House March 4, 1998

  YEAS 97   NAYS 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6358 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

                            Secretary

 

 

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below. 

                                FILED

          

 

 

Governor of the State of Washington

                   Secretary of State

                  State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6358

          _______________________________________________

 

             Passed Legislature - 1998 Regular Session

 

                      AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

 

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

 

Read first time 02/06/98.

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


    AN ACT Relating to utilities and transportation commission intrastate pipeline safety jurisdiction and penalties; adding a new section to chapter 81.88 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 81.88 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

    (a) "Pipeline company" means a person or entity constructing, owning, or operating an intrastate pipeline for transporting hazardous liquid, whether or not such a person or entity is a public service company otherwise regulated by the commission.  For the purposes of this section, a pipeline company does not include:  (i) Distribution systems owned and operated under franchise for the sale, delivery, or distribution of natural gas at retail; or (ii) excavation contractors or other contractors that contract with a pipeline company.

    (b) "Hazardous liquid" means:  (i) Petroleum, petroleum products, or anhydrous ammonia as those terms are defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 195 in effect March 1, 1998; and (ii) carbon dioxide.  The commission by rule may incorporate by reference other substances designated as hazardous by the secretary of transportation under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60101(a)(4).

    (2) The commission shall adopt by rule intrastate pipeline safety standards for pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities that:  (a) Apply to pipeline companies transporting hazardous liquids; (b) cover the design, construction, and operation of pipelines transporting hazardous liquids; and (c) require pipeline companies to design, construct, and maintain their pipeline facilities so they are safe and efficient.

    (3) A person, officer, agent, or employee of a pipeline company who, as an individual or acting as an officer, agent, or employee of such a company, violates or fails to comply with this section or a rule adopted under this section, or who procures, aids, or abets another person or entity in the violation of or noncompliance with this section or a rule adopted under this section, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

    (4)(a) A pipeline company, or any person, officer, agent, or employee of a pipeline company that violates a provision of this section, or a rule adopted under this section, is subject to a civil penalty to be assessed by the commission.

    (b) The commission shall adopt rules:  (i) Setting penalty amounts, but may not exceed the penalties specified in the federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60101 et seq.; (ii) establishing procedures for mitigating penalties assessed; and (iii) incorporating by reference other substances designated as hazardous by the secretary of transportation under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60101(a)(4).

    (c) In determining the amount of the penalty, the commission shall consider:  (i) The appropriateness of the penalty in relation to the position of the person charged with the violation; (ii) the gravity of the violation; and (iii) the good faith of the person or company charged in attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation.

    (d) The amount of the penalty may be recovered in a civil action in the superior court of Thurston county or of some other county in which the violator may do business.  In all actions for recovery, the rules of evidence shall be the same as in ordinary civil actions.  All penalties recovered under this section must be paid into the state treasury and credited to the public service revolving fund.

    (5) Nothing in this section duplicates the authority of the energy facility site evaluation council under chapter 80.50 RCW.

 


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