Title 18—Conservation of Power and Water Resources--Volume 1
PART 343—PROCEDURAL RULES APPLICABLE TO OIL PIPELINE PROCEEDINGS
§ 343.0   Applicability.
(a) General rule. The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure in part 385 of this chapter will govern procedural matters in oil pipeline proceedings under part 342 of this chapter and under the Interstate Commerce Act, except to the extent specified in this part.
§ 343.1   Definitions.
For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:
(a) Complaint means a filing challenging an existing rate or practice under section 13(1) of the Interstate Commerce Act.
(b) Protest means a filing, under section 15(7) of the Interstate Commerce Act, challenging a tariff publication.
§ 343.2   Requirements for filing interventions, protests and complaints.
(a) Interventions. Section 385.214 of this chapter applies to oil pipeline proceedings.
(b) Standing to file protest. Only persons with a substantial economic interest in the tariff filing may file a protest to a tariff filing pursuant to the Interstate Commerce Act. Along with the protest, a verified statement that the protestor has a substantial economic interest in the tariff filing in question must be filed.
(c) Other requirements for filing protests or complaints —(1) Rates established under § 342.3 of this chapter. A protest or complaint filed against a rate proposed or established pursuant to § 342.3 of this chapter must allege reasonable grounds for asserting that the rate violates the applicable ceiling level, or that the rate increase is so substantially in excess of the actual cost increases incurred by the carrier that the rate is unjust and unreasonable, or that the rate decrease is so substantially less than the actual cost decrease incurred by the carrier that the rate is unjust and unreasonable. In addition to meeting the requirements of the section, a complaint must also comply with all the requirements of § 385.206, except § 385.206(b)(1) and (2).
(2) Rates established under § 342.4(c) of this chapter. A protest or complaint filed against a rate proposed or established under § 342.4(c) of this chapter must allege reasonable grounds for asserting that the rate is so substantially in excess of the actual cost increases incurred by the carrier that the rate is unjust and unreasonable. In addition to meeting the requirements of the section, a complaint must also comply with all the requirements of § 385.206, except § 385.206(b)(1) and (2).
(3) Non-rate matters. A protest or complaint filed against a carrier's operations or practices, other than rates, must allege reasonable grounds for asserting that the operations or practices violate a provision of the Interstate Commerce Act, or of the Commission's regulations. In addition to meeting the requirements of this section, a complaint must also comply with the requirements of § 385.206.
(4) A protest or complaint that does not meet the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(3) of this section, whichever is applicable, will be dismissed.
§ 343.3   Filing of protests and responses.
(a) Protests. Any protest pursuant to section 15(7) of the Interstate Commerce Act must be filed not later than 15 days after the filing of a tariff publication. If the carrier submits a separate letter with the filing, providing a telefax number and contact person, and requesting all protests to be telefaxed to the carrier by a protestant, any protest must be so telefaxed to the pipeline at the time the protest is filed with the Commission. Only persons with a substantial economic interest in the tariff filing may file a protest to a tariff filing pursuant to the Interstate Commerce Act. Along with the protest, the protestant must file a verified statement which must contain a reasonably detailed description of the nature and substance of the protestant's substantial economic interest in the tariff filing.
(b) Responses. The carrier may file a response to a protest no later than 5 days from the filing of the protest.
(c) Commission action. Commission action, including any hearings or other proceedings, on a protest will be limited to the issues raised in such protest. If a filing is protested, before the effective date of the tariff publication or within 30 days of the tariff filing, whichever is later, the Commission will determine whether to suspend the tariff and initiate a formal investigation.
(d) Termination of investigation. Withdrawal of the protest, or protests, that caused the initiation of an investigation automatically terminates the investigation.
§ 343.4   Procedure on complaints.
(a) Responses. The carrier must file an answer to a complaint filed pursuant to section 13(1) of the Interstate Commerce Act within 20 days after the filing of the complaint in accordance with Rule 206.
(b) Commission action. Commission action, including any hearings or other proceedings, on a complaint will be limited to the issues raised in the complaint.
§ 343.5   Required negotiations.
The Commission or other decisional authority may require parties to enter into good faith negotiations to settle oil pipeline rate matters. The Commission will refer all protested rate filings to a settlement judge pursuant to § 385.603 of this chapter for recommended resolution. Failure to participate in such negotiations in good faith is a ground for decision against the party so failing to participate on any issue that is the subject of negotiation by other parties.