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In This Issue

  1. Extension of Existing Information Collection on OPA plans
  2. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  3. Vessel and Facility Response Plans for Oil: 2003 Removal Equipment Requirements and Alternative Technology Revisions
  4. Interested in Web-Based Compliance Management Systems?
  5. OPS Advisory re: Gas Gathering Line Delineation
  6. Revised SPCC Requirements and RCP SPCC Workshops
  7. Acquiring a pipeline?
  8. National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) triennial exercise schedule for 2003, 2004, and 2005.
  9. Texas Railroad Commission – Proposed Rule on Discontinuance of Service
  10. Air Permit Needs?
  11. Minerals Management Service (MMS) – Corrections to abandonment regulations
  12. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Workshop, Better Stakeholder Involvement: How To Make It Work
  13. NTSB Report on Bellingham Pipeline Accident

Texas Railroad Commission – Proposed Rule on Discontinuance of Service

The Railroad Commission of Texas proposes new rule 16 TAC 8.340, relating to Discontinuance of Service, which applies when a natural gas service customer ceases taking service at a particular location. The 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. The proposed rule reads:

8.340.Discontinuance of Service.

  1. Upon notification from a current customer to discontinue natural gas service at that customer’s service location, each provider of natural gas service shall take one of the three steps specified in 49 CFR 192.727(d) within:
    1. 48 hours, if the current customer is moving or relocating any gas appliances from the premises and within that 48 hours there will not be a new customer occupying the premises; or
    2. 120 hours, if the current customer is not moving or relocating the gas appliances from the premises and within that 120 hours there will not be a new customer occupying the premises.
  2. 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 who will occupy the service location within 120 hours and no gas appliances are being either removed or installed.

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 for 30 days after publication in the Texas Register (editor’s note: this was published October 25, 2002), and 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.