As you may know, on December 22, 2011, Governor Corbett signed the Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Act ("Act 127 of 2011"). Act 127 provides the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ("PUC" or "Commission") with authority to enforce Federal pipeline safety laws for non-public utility gas and hazardous liquids pipeline equipment and facilities. In addition, Act 127 of 2011 enables the PUC to fund an increase in its pipeline safety inspectors by assessments to be paid by Pennsylvania pipeline operators.

On January 12, 2012, the Commission issued a Tentative Implementation Order ("Tentative Order" or "Order"), inviting parties to attend a Teleconference to be held on January 26, 2012, and requesting Comments in response to the Tentative Order, due February 1, 2012. This memorandum provides a summary of that Order.