PIPABringing Guidance to Local Communities

Perspective of the Nat’l League of Cities and Nat’l Assoc. of Counties

Chuck LesniakEnvironmental Policy Mgr. Austin, Texas

NLC/NACO Perspective

• Why should cities and counties be interested?

• What do we hope to get out of PIPA?

• What have been the challenges of the process?

• As we near completion, how do we feel about PIPA?

Why Cities and Counties?

Austin is probably typical of many communities

• 446 miles of hazardous liquids and natural gas lines in Austin’s jurisdiction

• Within 500’ of a hazardous liquids line•2,600 buildings •3,200 platted lots •7000 acres

(2003 data)

Austin Pipelines

Why Cities and Counties?

Urban/Suburban areas

• Greatest public safety and economic impacts from accidents

• Greatest risk of 3rd party damage to pipelines

• Responsible for emergency response and will be in control of first response to accidents

• Little control over pipeline placement or operations

• Generally control and plan new development

Promise of PIPA

Answer these questions:

• What is appropriate land use near pipelines?

• How can we protect adjacent development?

• How should local planners and developers work with pipeline operators?

Promise of PIPA

Provide tools for cities and counties to:

• Do thoughtful, reasoned land use planning near pipelines

• Provide best practices that have been vetted by local government, development, and pipeline stakeholders

• Allow development near pipelines that is protective of our communities

Challenges

• Risk informed vs. risk based

• Protecting pipelines vs. protecting communities

• Misconceptions of how government does land use planning

• How do we have risk informed practices without presenting pipelines as “risky”?

• New tools without overburdening new development

PIPA Today

PIPA has been a solid process with good faith effort by all parties.

NLC and NACO believe the best practices are solid and will provide the tools to help guide local planners and developers.

The report acknowledges the value of pipelines while recognizing and addressing the very real concerns of communities.

Let’s finish it and get it out the door