Agenda Date:          June 26, 1996
Item Number:     

Docket: TO-960810    

Staff:   Dennis E. Lloyd, Utilities Engineer
   Al Jones, Utilities Engineer
   Steve Rieger, Utilities Engineer

Recommendation:

File the Preproposal Statement of Intent (CR-101) with the Code Reviser 
adopting Federal Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Rules..

Discussion:

At the request of the U. S. Department of Transportation - Office of Pipeline 
Safety (OPS), the Commission has filed the necessary documents and is certified 
to assume responsibility for intrastate gasoline and oil pipeline safety. OPS 
will retain responsibility for interstate pipeline safety as authorized by the 
Federal Pipeline Safety Laws 49 U.S.C. Section 60101, et seq. 

The Commission currently regulates in the public interest, persons that are 
common carriers transporting gasoline, oil, or petroleum by pipeline, as 
provided by the public service laws, under Chapters 80.01 and 81.28 RCW. The 
Commission intends to amend Chapter 480-75 WAC by adopting the federal 
hazardous liquids pipeline safety standards, 49 CFR Part 195, and the drug and 
alcohol testing regulations, Part 199, that are currently in effect.  This 
rulemaking is authorized by RCW 80.01.040, and is required for the Commission 
to maintain its certification under the federal pipeline safety law.

The Commission has been working with OPS for several years with the concept of 
common stewardship in natural gas pipeline safety.  The adoption of these rules 
will carry forward the concept of common stewardship in regard to hazardous 
liquid pipeline safety.  The adoption of these rules will provide local/state 
standards to ensure the continued safe operations of pipelines within the state 
of Washington.

The proposed rules will not alter federal law, nor add any significant 
regulatory requirement.  The resulting rules will require common carriers 
reporting accidents and safety-related conditions to the federal OPS to also 
submit these same reports to the Commission.  This revision will assure 
compliance with the federal program and result in similar state and federal 
safety provisions.

Staff recommends the Commission file the Preproposal Statement of Intent 
(CR-101) with the Code Reviser regarding amendment of Chapter 480-75 WAC.