[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21379]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration

 

Pipeline Safety User Fees

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration, (RSPA).

ACTION: Notice of Pipeline User Fee Assessments.

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    Section 60301 of Title 49, United States Code\1\, authorizes the 
assessment and collection of pipeline user fees to fund the pipeline 
safety activities conducted under 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. The Research 
and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) assesses each operator of 
regulated interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines 
(as defined in 49 CFR part 192), and hazardous liquid pipelines 
carrying petroleum, petroleum products, anhydrous ammonia and carbon 
dioxide (as defined in 49 CFR part 195), a share of the total Federal 
pipeline safety program costs in proportion to the number of miles of 
pipeline each operator has in service. Operators of liquified natural 
gas (LNG) facilities are assessed based on total storage capacity (as 
defined in 49 CFR part 193).
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    \1\Formerly section 7005 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-272). The change in citation 
is the result of the enactment, on July 5, 1994, of Pub. L. 103-272, 
which codified various transportation laws.
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    This notice announces that the fiscal year 1994 user fee 
assessments for pipeline facilities were mailed to operators on about 
July 29, 1994.
    The fees assessed for Natural Gas Transmission, Hazardous Liquid 
and LNG are as indicated below:
    Natural gas transmission pipelines: $44.49 per mile (based on 
289,674 miles of pipeline).
    Hazardous liquid pipelines: $32.33 per mile (based on 157,671 miles 
of pipeline).
    LNG is based on the number of plants and total storage capacity:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Assessment/
           Total storage capacity BBLS                 =        plant   
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<10,000...........................................  .......       $1,250
10,000-100,000....................................  .......       $2,500
100,000-250,000...................................  .......       $3,750
250,000-500,000...................................  .......       $5,000
>500,000..........................................  .......       $7,500
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    In accordance with the provisions of 49 U.S.C. Sec. 60301, 
Departmental resources were taken into consideration for determining 
total program costs.
    The apportionment ratio between gas and liquid, as shown below, is 
a result of the increased program resources dedicated to the hazardous 
liquid program due to: (1) environmental requirements following passage 
of the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-508); and (2) the 
Secretary's environmental action plan instituted following a serious 
hazardous liquid spill in Fairfax County, Virginia in March 1993.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          General program costs    General program costs
        Year(s)                   (Gas)                  (liquid)       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1986-1990..............  80%....................  20%                   
1991-1992..............  75%....................  25%                   
1993...................  75% (\3/4\ yr.)........  25% (\3/4\ yr.)       
                         60% (\1/4\ yr.)........  40% (\1/4\ yr.)       
1994...................  60%....................  40%                   
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    In accordance with the regulations of the Department of the 
Treasury, user fees are due 30 days after the date of the assessment. 
Interest, penalties, and administrative charges will be assessed on 
delinquent debts in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 24, 1994.
George W. Tenley, Jr.,
Associated Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 94-21379 Filed 8-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M