[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 64042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31742]


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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 1998 user fee 
assessments for pipeline facilities will be mailed to pipeline 
operators on or about December 15, 1997. The fees to be assessed for 
natural gas transmission, hazardous liquid and liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) are indicated below:
    Natural gas transmission pipelines: $67.98 per mile (based on 
291,765 miles of pipeline).
    Hazardous liquid pipelines: $59.59 per mile (based on 155,558 miles 
of pipeline).
    LNG is based on the number of plants and total storage capacity:

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Assessment/
                Total storage capacity (bbl)                    plant   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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, 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 Program 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. Onshore pipelines excluded from 
regulation by 49 CFR Part 195 are not included in this mileage. 
Operators of LNG facilities are assessed based on total storage 
capacity (as defined in 49 CFR Part 193).
    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 pipeline programs 
(as shown below) is a result of the shift of program resources to the 
hazardous liquid program because of increased emphasis on environmental 
protection:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 General program       General program  
           Year(s)                 costs (gas)         costs  (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%.                
1997-1998...................  55%.................  45%.                
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    In accordance with the regulations of the Department of the 
Treasury, user fees will be due 30 days after the date of assessment. 
Interest, penalties, and administrative charges will be assessed on 
delinquent debts in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. November 28, 1997.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-31742 Filed 12-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P