[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 9005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5193]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration


Pipeline Safety User Fees

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

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the fiscal year 1996 user fee 
assessments for pipeline facilities will be mailed to pipeline 
operators on or about February 29, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Kokoszka, (202) 366-4554, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, RSPA, Office of Pipeline Safety, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, regarding the subject 
matter of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The fee to be assessed for Natural Gas 
Transmission, Hazardous Liquid and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are as 
indicated below:
    Natural gas transmission pipelines: $77.49 per mile (based on 
290,924 miles of pipeline). Hazardous liquid pipelines: $49.65 per mile 
(based on 155,649 miles of pipeline).
    LNG is based on the number of plants and total storage capacity:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Storage Capacity BBLS               Assessment/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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    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. 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 LNG facilities are assessed based on total storage 
capacity (as defined in 49 CFR Part 193).

     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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    A final rule on hazardous liquid pipelines operating at 20 percent 
or less of specified minimum yield strength (low stress pipelines), was 
published in the Federal Register on July 12, 1994. This rule became 
effective on August 11, 1994. Low Stress Pipelines include pipelines 
that carry highly volatile liquids (HVL), pipelines or pipeline 
segments in populated areas, and pipelines or pipeline segments in 
navigable waterways. Onshore rural gathering pipelines, pipelines that 
operate at less than 20% of SMYS (non-HVL located outside populated 
areas and navigable waterways), and other pipelines excluded from 
regulation by 49 CFR 195, should not be included.
    In accordance with the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 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 increased program resources to the hazardous liquid 
program because of environmental requirements following passage of the 
Pipeline Safety Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-508):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         General program costs    General program costs 
       Year(s)                   (Gas)                   (Liquid)       
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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%                    
1995.................  75%.....................  25%                    
1996.................  65%.....................  35%                    
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    Collection Dates: In accordance with the regulations of the 
Department of the Treasury, user fees will be 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 February 29, 1996.
Dr. D.K. Sharma,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-5193 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P