Notice of public hearing regarding proposed amendments to §3.70, relating to Pipeline Permits Required (Gas Utilities Docket No. 10366)

Please note that the room number has been changed to Room 7-100.

A hearing has been requested by the public and is scheduled for Monday, September 22, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. (or earlier adjournment) in Room 7-100 (on the seventh floor) in the William B. Travis Building, located at 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78711. The Railroad Commission ("Commission") received a request from the public to conduct a hearing concerning proposed changes to Texas Administrative Code Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3, entitled “Oil and Gas Division.” Proposed amendments to §3.70 of that chapter, relating to Pipeline Permits Required, more specifically prescribe the procedure by which a pipeline operator may identify itself as a common carrier, gas utility, or private line operator when applying for a new T-4 permit to operate a pipeline or when renewing, amending, or cancelling an existing T-4 permit. The proposed rule amendments were published in the July 25, 2014, issue of the Texas Register (39 TexReg 5705).

Any interested person may appear and offer comments or statements, either orally or in writing; however, questioning of commenters will be reserved exclusively to the Commission or its staff as may be necessary to ensure a complete record. While any person with pertinent comments or statements will be granted an opportunity to present them during the course of the hearing, the Commission reserves the right to restrict statements in terms of time or repetitive content. Depending on the number of persons who wish to speak, the Commission may limit the time each person may speak in order to ensure that all have a fair opportunity to do so. Organizations, associations, or groups are encouraged to present their commonly held views or similar comments through a representative member when possible. This hearing will be tape recorded, and the Commission will make copies of the audio recording available upon request for a nominal fee. This hearing is not a contested case hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act.

For more information about the proposed rule changes, please contact Cristina Self, in the Office of General Counsel, at (512) 463-2299 or Polly McDonald, in the Pipeline Safety Division, at (512) 463-7008.

The status of Commission rulemakings in progress is available at: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/legal/rules/proposed-rules/.

Auxiliary Aids or Services for Persons with a Disability. Any individual with a disability who plans to attend this hearing and who requires auxiliary aids or services should notify the Commission as far in advance as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas by mail at P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967; by telephone at (512) 463-6981 or TDD Number (512) 463-7284; by e-mail at ADA@rrc.state.tx.us; or in person at 1701 North Congress Avenue, Suite 12-110, Austin, Texas.