[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:
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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):
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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
