PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
COMMISSION
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Review fee methodology established in WAC 480-93-240 and 480-75-240 to evaluate alternative methods for allocating pipeline safety program costs to pipeline operators regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC), Docket No. P-041344.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040, 80.04.160, 81.04.160, 80.24.060, and 81.24.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 80.24.060 and 81.24.090 require the WUTC to establish by rule a fee methodology to recover the reasonable costs of administering the pipeline safety program from pipeline operators. The fee methodology provides for an equitable distribution of program costs among all pipeline companies. This rule making will provide the WUTC the opportunity to review the current fee methodology and explore alternative ways of allocating pipeline safety program costs to regulated pipeline companies.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, and the state Department of Ecology also have jurisdiction over some matters relating to pipeline safety and environmental effects. The commission will invite those agencies to participate in this rule making.
Process for Developing New Rule: The commission will schedule one or more workshops with representatives of affected constituencies in a manner designed to develop consensus among affected interests regarding any rule proposal.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504-7250, phone (360) 664-1174, fax (360) 586-1150. Interested persons may file written comments on the CR-101 by September 8, 2004. For specific information regarding opportunities for written comment and to ensure receipt of further information concerning this rule making, please see below.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than September 8, 2004.
Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@wutc.wa.gov. Please include:
| • | The docket number of this proceeding (P-041344). |
| • | The commenting party's name. |
| • | The title and date of the comment or comments. |
Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's website as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may: (1) Call the commission's records center at (360) 664-1234; (2) e-mail the commission at <records@wutc.wa.gov>; or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Carole J. Washburn, Secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket No. P-041344 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Sondra Walsh, (360) 664-1286 or e-mail at <swalsh@wutc.wa.gov>.
August 11, 2004
Carole J. Washburn
Executive Secretary