WSR 12-07-086

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMISSION

[ Docket PG-120345 -- Filed March 21, 2012, 9:09 a.m. ]

     Subject of Possible Rule Making: This rule making would consider possible corrections and clarifications to selected sections of chapter 480-93 WAC, Gas companies -- Safety, rules governing natural gas pipeline operators, specifically rules that need to reflect changes in chapter 19.122 RCW during the 2011 legislative session. The rule making has been assigned Docket PG-120345.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040(4), 81.01.010, 81.04.160, 81.88.040, 81.88.065, and sections 1, 2 and 3, chapter 142, Laws of 2007.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2011 legislature amended the underground utilities law, chapter 19.122 RCW.1 These changes take effect on January 1, 2013. This new law assigned to the Washington utilities and transportation commission (commission) affects the authority to enforce violations of the underground utilities law as these related to pipelines. The commission initiates this rule making to determine whether pipeline companies need to report additional information about damage to their facilities caused by excavators that have violated the underground utilities law.

     1The bill, the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (E2SHB 1634), was passed unanimously by the legislature and signed by the governor on May 5, 2011.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The commission will ask for initial comments, and will provide the opportunity to provide additional comments. The commission will conduct a stakeholder workshop on Thursday, May 10, 2012.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested persons may file comments with the Executive Director and 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, e-mail records@utc.wa.gov, or through the commission's web portal http://www.utc.wa.gov by Monday, April 23, 2012.

     WRITTEN COMMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: Written comments on the proposal to consider damage reporting rules for intrastate pipeline operators may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2012, for consideration at the May 10, 2012, stakeholder workshop.

     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. You may submit comments via the commission's web portal at www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing or by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@utc.wa.gov. Please include:


• The docket numbers of this proceeding (Docket PG-120345).
• The commenting party's name.
• The title and date of the comment or comments.

     An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on its web site all comments that are provided in electronic format. The web site is located at http://www.utc.wa.gov/120345. If you are unable to file your comments electronically the commission will accept a paper document. In addition to filing written comments, interested persons are invited to attend a stakeholder workshop on Thursday, May 10, 2012, beginning at 1:30 p.m., in Room 206, Richard Hemstad Building, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA. At the workshop, commission staff will review and discuss comments with the stakeholders.

     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 web site 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@utc.wa.gov, or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of David W. Danner, executive director and secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket PG-120345 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to David Lykken at (360) 664-1219 or e-mail at dlykken@utc.wa.gov.


NOTICE


     TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NOTICES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RULE MAKING -- The commission wants to ensure its mailings are sent to persons who are interested in the topic and want to receive that information. ANY PERSON WHO COMMENTS will continue to receive notices and information. If you do not submit comments but wish to remain on the mailing list for this rule making, please advise the records center by any one of the following methods: (1) Send a note with your name, address (or a copy of your mailing label), and telephone and fax numbers referencing Docket PG-120345, and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list"; or (2) e-mail your name, address, telephone and fax numbers, referencing Docket PG-120345, and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list" to <records@utc.wa.gov>. Please note that all information in the mailings will be accessible through the commission's internet web site at http://www.utc.wa.gov/120345. THOSE INTERESTED PERSONS WHO DO NOT RESPOND MAY NOT RECEIVE FURTHER MAILINGS OR INFORMATION ON THE RULE MAKING.

March 21, 2012

David W. Danner

Executive Director and Secretary

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