Subject of Possible Rule Making: This rule making would consider possible corrections and clarifications to selected sections of chapter 480-93 WAC, Gas companies -- Safety, rules governing natural gas pipeline operators, specifically rules that need to reflect changes in Titles 80 and 81 RCW resulting from the passage of SSB 5225 during the 2007 legislative session. The rule making has been assigned Docket PG-070975. This notice supplements the original CR-101 filed at WSR 07-16-060 to consider moving back by two months the fee-setting and fee-payment schedules in WAC 480-93-240, and to provide greater detail for what must be included in a petition contesting the fee. In other respects the original CR-101 at WSR 07-16-060 remains applicable.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040(4), 81.01.010, 81.04.160, 81.88.040, 80.28.010(2), 80.28.020, and sections 1, 2, and 5, chapter 142, Laws of 2007.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington utilities and transportation commission (UTC) has identified several rules that should be modified to reflect statutory changes in the 2007 legislative session. Chapter 480-93 WAC, governing gas safety rules, requires amendments to update definitions and provisions governing penalties. This rule making will modify most rules in chapter 480-93 WAC.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule:      Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, and will provide the opportunity for additional comments.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested persons may file comments with the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504-7250, phone (360) 664-1174, by fax (360) 586-1150, e-mail at records@utc.wa.gov, or through the UTC web portal http://www.utc.wa.gov by Tuesday, November 27, 2007.

     WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than November 27, 2007.

     Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@utc.wa.gov. Please include:

•     The docket number of this proceeding (PG-070975).

•     The commenting party's name.

•     The title and date of the comment or comments.

     An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on the commission's web site all comments that are provided in electronic format. The web site is located at http://www.utc.wa.gov/070975. If you are unable to file your comments electronically or to submit them on a disk, the commission will always accept a paper document.

     Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's web site as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may (1) call the commission's records center at (360) 664-1234, (2) e-mail the commission at records@utc.wa.gov, (3) submit your comments through the commission's web portal http://www.utc.wa.gov or (4) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Carole J. Washburn, secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket PG-070975 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Tim Sweeney, (360) 664-1118 or e-mail at tsweeney@utc.wa.gov.

October 24, 2007

Carole J. Washburn

Executive Secretary

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