RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Oversight and Safety Division
Pipeline Safety Department
NOTICE TO PIPELINE OPERATORS
Gathering Line Mileage Fee and Permit Clarification
On November 15, 2021, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
published a final rule titled “Pipeline Safety: Safety of Gas Gathering Pipelines: Extension of Reporting
Requirements, Regulation of Large, High-Pressure Lines, and Other Related Amendments” (86
Federal Register 63266).
The final rule makes changes to the federal pipeline safety regulations [49 Code of Regulations (CFR)
Parts 190-199] to improve the safety of onshore gas gathering pipelines. Operators of certain Type C
and Type R gathering lines are required to meet compliance deadlines in the new rule of November
16, 2022 (49 CFR §192.8) and May 16, 2023 (49 CFR §192.9).
Due to these federal rule changes related to gas gathering under 49 CFR Part 192, the Railroad
Commission of Texas (Commission) would like to provide clarification regarding how to classify these
newly regulated gathering lines in accordance with 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.70,
relating to Pipeline Permits.
At this time, and until further notice from the Commission, all pipeline facilities defined as Type C and
Type R gathering lines per 49 CFR §192.8(c) shall continue to pay the mileage fee associated with
Group B pipelines in accordance with 16 TAC §3.70(i)(1)(B).
We have updated A Guide to Shapefile Submissions to reflect that pipeline facilities defined as Type
C and Type R gathering lines should continue to be coded as “N” for the “Texas Regulatory Pipeline
Status” required field until further notice from the Commission. To view the guide, visit the
Commission’s website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/pipeline-safety/permitting-and-mapping/.
If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact the Commission’s Pipeline Safety
Permitting Section at [email protected].