Pipeline Fees

Texas.gov Payment Services recently implemented security changes to enhance credit card validation for payments to help ensure the person making the payment is an authorized user for the credit card.

The security enhancements are in the Credit/Debit Card payment page. If the zip code entered in the address section and the credit card security code do not match the information on file with the credit card company, the payment will fail.

Please contact your credit card company to verify this information if your payment fails.

Beginning September 1, 2020, operators shall file their annual renewals as follows:

Companies with names beginning with letters A through C shall file in Febraury;
Companies with names beginning with letters D through E shall file in March;
Companies with names beginning with letters F through L shall file in April;
Companies with names beginning with letters M through P shall file in May;
Companies with names beginning with letters Q through T shall file in June;
Companies with names beginning with letters U through Z and companies with names beginning with numerical values or other symbols shall file in July.

Amendments to 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.70, relating to Pipeline Permits Required, were adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) Commissioners on June 5, 2018 to establish an annual mileage fee, a permit processing fee for new permits and annual permit renewals and the procedure by which pipeline operators will pay both fees. The rule amendments are in accordance with House Bill 1818 (85^th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017) which mandated the creation of provisions to fund the RRC’s Pipeline Safety Program. The number of permitted miles assigned to each operator in RRC records on December 31^st will be the number used in the online payment portal to calculate the mileage fee that each operator must pay by April 1^st of the following year. To calculate the mileage fee, the RRC will categorize pipeline operators into two groups.

Per TAC §3.70(i)(1)(A), Group A includes transmission and gathering pipelines that are required by Commission rules to have a valid T-4 permit to operate and are subject to the regulations in 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, such as natural gas transmission and storage pipelines, natural gas gathering pipelines, hazardous liquids transmission and storage pipelines, and hazardous liquids gathering pipelines.
Per TAC §3.70(i)(1)(B), Group B includes gathering pipelines subject to 16 TAC §8.110 and other gathering & production lines that are required to have a valid T-4 permit to operate but are not subject to the 49 CFR Parts 192 & 195.

Pipeline Mileage Fee

Pipeline Groups

Fee per Mile

Group A

$20

Group B

$10

Pipeline Mileage Late Fee for 50 Miles or Less

1-30 Days Late

31-60 Days Late

Greater than 60 Days Late

$125

$250

$350

Pipeline Mileage Late Fee for More Than 50 Miles

1-30 Days Late

31-60 Days Late

Greater than 60 Days Late

$250

$500

$700

Initial Permit/Renewal Fee

Pipeline Permit Renewal Fees and Renewal Late Fees

Renewal Type

Permit Fee

1-30 Days Late

31-60 Days Late

Greater than 60 Days Late

Permit Renewal

$500

$250

$500

$700

Initial Permit

$500

n/a

* There are no pipeline fees for interstate pipelines.

For questions about pipeline permit fees or pipeline permits, contact the RRC at pops@rrc.texas.gov.