§560. Pipeline safety inspection fees

A. As used in this Section:

(1) "Distributor" means any person engaged in the transportation, distribution, or delivery of jurisdictional gas.

(2) "Jurisdictional gas" means natural gas, flammable gas, or gas which is toxic or corrosive.

B. There is hereby imposed upon all distributors of jurisdictional gas who own and operate any jurisdictional gas distribution system that comes under the supervision of the assistant secretary pursuant to R.S. 30:551(B) an annual safety and odorization inspection fee not to exceed one dollar per service line, or four hundred dollars per pipeline facility, whichever is greater. The commissioner shall annually review the fee amount and may revise it in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

C. There is hereby imposed upon all distributors of jurisdictional gas who own or operate any jurisdictional gas gathering or transmission system that comes under the supervision of the assistant secretary pursuant to R.S. 30:551(B) an annual safety inspection fee not to exceed forty-four dollars and eighty cents per mile of pipeline used in a jurisdictional gas pipeline system, or eight hundred dollars per pipeline facility, whichever is greater. The commissioner shall annually review the fee amount and may revise it in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

D. The annual inspection fees imposed by this Section are for the purpose of enforcing the natural gas pipeline safety standards and practice required by this Chapter and regulations promulgated thereunder. All fees collected by the commissioner shall be reasonably related to the services provided and shall be used by the office of conservation solely for the purposes of that program.

Acts 1985, No. 250, §2, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 86, §1; Acts 2003, No. 879, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 223, §1; Acts 2016, No. 435, §1.