In This Issue

Oklahoma Pipeline Safety — Final Rule

Oklahoma Register Vol. 28, No. 19 [RM 201000008]

On June 15, 2011, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) adopted final rules to Title 165 Chapter 20 – Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety. Of particular interest, is the adoption of Subchapter 10 Non-DOT Regulated Gas Gathering Pipelines which establishes reporting requirements relating to incidents of a gathering pipeline unit that is not subject to 49 CFR 191 and 192 regulations. This includes telephonic notice of certain non-DOT gathering pipeline incidents and reports.

Additional rule changes include how fines are calculated, fining an operator up to $10,000 per day plus prosecution costs for each day the violation continues, with maximum fine not exceeding $500,000 for any related series of violations.

If, after an inspection, the Manager of Pipeline Safety may request more specific information from the owner or operator; and, may require testing of portions of pipeline facilities that have been involved in, or affected by, an accident.

The OCC also adopts the provisions of 49 CFR 192 & 195 as such exist on January 1, 2011 and all those amendments and appendices adopted thereafter.

Effective date July 1, 2011.

For a copy of Oklahoma’s Pipeline Safety Final Rule, contact Jessica Roger.