PIPELINE NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Vol. 4, No. 46
November 23, 2001

Association of Oil Pipe Lines
(202) 408-7970
(202) 408-7983 (fax)
bcooper@aopl.org

The opinions if any expressed in these notes are the author’s only and do not represent the views of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (but they should).

1.	Pipelines Announce Joint Push for Legislation 

	Five pipeline associations, representing the vast majority of the domestic pipeline deliveries of oil and natural gas, wrote to Department of Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta this week pledging to cooperate in a proactive approach to pipeline safety reauthorization legislation.  A number of pipeline CEOs and trade association heads signed the letter, which included a one-page position summary of the longer joint position paper we reported on earlier (NOTES, No. 40, October 12, 2001).  This public communication sends the important message that the pipeline industry is united in its view of the need for reauthorization legislation and has agreed on a core set of principles and provisions upon which this legislation can be based.  We will have this correspondence up on our website soon, but if you need a copy sooner, let us know and we’ll send it to you.

2.	Commission Denies Rehearing of Olympic Suspension

	The Commission this week denied Tesoro’s request to suspend Olympic’s proposed rates for the full seven months permitted under the Interstate Commerce Act.  The Commission found the order “in the public interest as it allows the increased rates to be collected, and during the period the proposed rate increases are examined to determine whether they are just and reasonable, they remain subject to refund.”  If Tesoro proves its case, it will get refunds with interest.  If Olympic is prevented from collecting the rates, that revenue is lost forever.  The Commission favored giving Olympic the option of getting that revenue.  The order can be found at http://cips.ferc.gov/Q\CIPS\OIL\IS\IS01-441.00E.TXT. 

3.	OPS on Right-To Know Post Sept. 11

http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/epaper/editions/today/news_b3ff4359b34c525c1000.html -- Sept. 11 has pipeline regulators rethinking public access to records.

4.	FERC Releases New Search Engine

	The FERC has been upgrading and improving its website, www.ferc.gov.  Today it announced the testing of a new search engine to help users find documents more easily across FERC libraries and files.  For more on the new search engine, see http://cips.ferc.gov/Q\CIPS\MISC\NR\NR01-59.000.TXT. 

5.	EPA Seeks Comments on Diesel Emissions Standards

	EPA is seeking review and comment on a Staff Technical Paper regarding non-road diesel emission standards.  According to the notice, EPA Staff believes the Tier 3 standards in the regulations on emissions control are feasible within the timeframe contemplated by the rule.  Now Staff will be turning its attention to further particulate matter reduction in the off-road diesel, “to be addressed in a subsequent regulatory action.”  Comments on the Staff Technical Paper on emissions controls are due by January 4, 2002.  A copy of the EPA notice may be found at page 58085 of the Federal Register of November 20, 2001 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a011120c.html).   The Technical Paper is available at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/equiphd.htm. 
6.	Comment Period on Historic Pipelines Extended
	The Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation has extended the comment period on the program to streamline the historic preservation review process for projects involving historic natural gas pipelines.  Comments will now be accepted until December 10, 2001.  See the November 20, 2001 Federal Register at page 58106 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a011120c.html).  The program proposal is available at www.achp.gov/news-pipelinecomment.html.  
7.	REMINDER – AOPL Winter Meeting in January
	Last year, the Pipeline Leadership voted to move the AOPL Annual Winter Meeting from December to January.  The meeting will be held in Washington, DC on January 22-23, 2002.  Mark your calendars.  More information concerning the meeting will be mailed to members the first week in December.