The commission has amended its rules detailing the methodology used to determine its safety fee it charges regulated piepline operators.

Amendments change the method by which pipeline safety fees are allocated to regulated pipeline companies from a methodology that allocated costs to companies based on each company’s percentage of the total pipeline miles located within Washington to a methodology based on effort expended on each company, using the pipeline safety program’s timekeeping system.

Other revisions include clarification that the Commission can set the total fee amount at less than the appropriation amount, conversion to a calendar year instead of a fiscal year for determining the effort data, and removal of incident investigations that result in a penalty issued under RCW 19.122.055 from consideration in the fee allocation.

If you have questions about this rulemaking, please contact Tim Sweeney (360-664-1118).