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In This Issue

  1. Critical Energy Infrastructure Information: Final rule
  2. Federal Advisory Committee Meeting: Electronic Transmission and Storage of Drug Testing Information
  3. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  4. Cost-Benefit Study of Excess Flow Valve Installation on Gas Service Lines – Notice of study availability and request for public comments
  5. Oil and Gas Construction Activity Storm Water NPDES Permit Deadline Extension
  6. Air Permit Needs?
  7. Revised Texas Community Liaison Rule
  8. Texas Pipeline Construction – Proposed Notification Rule
  9. RCP’s Fantastic 1-Page Version of New SPCC Regulation
  10. Texas Proposed Rule – Discontinuation of Service
  11. Texas Proposed Rule – Direct Assessment Approval
  12. Pipeline Integrity Management in High Consequence Areas (Gas Transmission Pipelines) – notice of extension of comment period
  13. Integrity Management Plan Up-to-Date?
  14. Pipeline Safety Definitions – Louisiana Department of Natural Resources; Office of Conservation
  15. Louisiana DEQ – Postponement of Permit Deadline for Oil and Gas Construction Activities
  16. Interested in Web-Based Compliance Management Systems?
  17. Final rule – Security Requirements for Offerors and Transporters of Hazardous Materials
  18. Offshore Crane Operations and Safety Conference 2003
  19. Acquiring a pipeline?

Texas Proposed Rule – Discontinuation of Service

The Railroad Commission of Texas has withdrawn its proposal to adopt new �8.340, relating to Discontinuance of Service, published in the October 25, 2002, issue of the Texas Register, and is proposing new �8.240, relating to Discontinuance of Service, which applies when a natural gas service customer ceases taking service at a particular location. The revised proposed new rule supplements the federal pipeline safety rule, found at 49 CFR �192.727(d), and provides more detailed direction to providers of natural gas service with respect to the time for complying with the federal safety standard.

As revised, proposed new �8.240 requires that upon receiving notification from a customer to discontinue natural gas service at that customer’s service location, each provider of natural gas service must take one of the three steps specified in 49 CFR �192.727(d) within 15 days. A provider of natural gas service is not required to take any of the three steps specified in 49 CFR �192.727(d) if the natural gas service provider is notified to transfer natural gas service to another customer or if there is information filed with the gas company to transfer the service to the owner or manager of the service location during an interim time period. The revised proposed new rule also sets forth requirements for the operator to notify the customer regarding the “turn off” time frame as well as requiring closure procedures to be included in the operations and maintenance manual.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Rules Coordinator, Office of General Counsel, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967; online at www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/commentform.html; or by electronic mail to rulescoordinator@rrc.state.tx.us. The Commission will accept comments until April 14, 2003. Comments should refer to Gas Utilities Docket No. 9336. For further information, call Mary McDaniel at (512) 463-7058. The status of Commission rulemakings in progress is available at www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/proposed.html. The complete rule proposal can be downloaded from RCP’s website here through the DOT Gateway.