U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Pipeline Safety Damage Prevention Programs Christie Murray Senior

U.S. Department of Transportation

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Pipeline Safety Damage Prevention Programs

Christie MurrayChristie MurraySenior Program ManagerSenior Program ManagerU.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Department of TransportationPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety AdministrationPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

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• PIPA

• Public Awareness

• Damage Prevention Programs

– State Characterization Tool

– State DP Laws Summary

– DP NPRM

– Other Initiatives

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OverviewOverview



• Making tremendous progress through shared responsibility and shared action– Educating the public– Reducing incidents

• Incidents/accidents remind us continuous improvement is essential

• Still more work to be done…to improve pipeline safety

How are “we” doing on How are “we” doing on pipeline safety?pipeline safety?



Growth along a pipeline in Washington State…

1990 2002

Pipelines and Informed Planning Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA)Alliance (PIPA)



Intent of PIPAIntent of PIPA• Encourage risk informed land use planning,

not setbacks

• Recommend taking the opportunity to develop a good relationship with those around and who make decisions around the ROW and beyond

• Consider how easements may impact businesses and landowners in the future

www.PIPA-Info.com



Outreach Guiding PrinciplesOutreach Guiding Principles• Focus on local governments• Speak in local government terminology• Utilize existing, authoritative, trusted communication

channels• Develop a sustainable path• Recognize the long-term, evolutionary process of planning• Implement actionable, short-term tasks• Build pipeline awareness

• Foster government/operator/regulator relationships



Pipeline Operators Can Support PIPAPipeline Operators Can Support PIPA

o Evaluate your practices vs. PIPA recommended practiceso Develop plan to implement appropriate PIPA RPs

o Gap Analysis (Operator Worksheet Tool)o Partner with local governments to review the existing

pipeline ROW for emergency response needs o Use the PIPA Checklist and Operator Planning Worksheetso Encourage local governments to use NPMSo Participate in state and local emergency management

hazard mitigation planning process o Include PIPA as part of your public awareness programo Add the PIPA logo to your company website



PIPA Online ResourcesPIPA Online Resources

www.PIPA-info.com



• Taking steps to improve public awareness implementation:– Leveraging technology (portals, Internet)– Engaging field employees for outreach– Implementing creative supplemental activities (i.e.)

• Messages in multiple languages • Emergency # translates to other languages (Spanish,

French, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Arabic, etc)• 24 hour public awareness phone #• Agricultural mailings

– Evaluating programs for ways to continuously improve

Public AwarenessPublic AwarenessInspection ObservationsInspection Observations



• Future opportunities:– Improve stakeholder identification processes/oversight– Improve handling of undelivered/returned mail– Analyzing stakeholder lists for trends– Find out what information ER officials need/face to face?– Including metrics to assess program performance in

written plan– Engaging in PIPA discussions with local public officials

Public AwarenessPublic AwarenessInspection ObservationsInspection Observations



Operator Specific

Collaborative

Educating Stakeholderson pipeline safety

???

Balancing MessagesBalancing MessagesWhat Makes Sense?What Makes Sense?



• Planning a Public Awareness Workshop:– 1st Qtr 2013 (Date & Location TBD)– Would like to co-sponsor with NAPSR– Bringing stakeholders together– Inspection Analysis– Advancing Public Awareness (improvements)

• Identify recommendations after workshop for changes to:– Federal regulations– API RP 1162

Public AwarenessPublic Awareness Next Steps Next Steps



https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/

For More InformationFor More Information



Damage Prevention InitiativesDamage Prevention Initiatives

• State Characterizations based on nine DP elements

• State Damage Prevention Laws

• DP Enforcement Rule

• SDP Grants

• Other DP Initiatives



Characterization Tool – Round Characterization Tool – Round 22

Nine ElementsNine Elements• Designed to understand where states stand with respect to

the Nine Elements of an effective damage prevention program

• Same approach, slightly different scoring

• Many questioned have been revised

– In many cases, questions if requirements are in laws

• Results will be tabulated and displayed in a similar manner to existing results page

• States are taking steps to strengthen their programs and as a result these program characterizations may change from time to time.





State Damage Prevention State Damage Prevention Laws SummaryLaws Summary

• PHMSA need for information about state one call laws, regulations

– Notice requirements, reporting requirements, enforcement, exemptions, etc.

• Others with similar need, some additional info sought

– Positive response, whitelining, locatable facilities, abandoned facilities…

• Publicly available, downloadable formats needed



http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/DamagePrevention.htm



Existing PHMSA Damage Existing PHMSA Damage Prevention RegsPrevention Regs

• PHMSA regulations currently require pipeline operators – and their contractors – to have and follow written damage prevention programs

• Operators must have written damage prevention programs, be members of one-calls, locate and mark pipelines when in receipt of excavation notification, and monitor/inspect pipelines during and after excavation activity as necessary

• Operators face civil penalties for non-compliance



DP Regulation NPRMDP Regulation NPRM• Title: “Pipeline Damage Prevention Programs”

• Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0192, www.regulations.gov

• PHMSA video on the NPRM:

– http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/regs

• ACTION: Comments are invited and encouraged

– Comment period extended to July 9, 2012

– Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov; Fax: 202-493-2251; Mail; Hand delivery (see the NPRM)

• Final rule in Summer 2013?

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Intent of the DP Reg NPRMIntent of the DP Reg NPRM

• Every state has an excavation damage prevention law, but no two laws are identical (see http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/DamagePrevention.htm)

• Some states do not adequately enforce their damage prevention laws

• Effective enforcement reduces excavation damage rates

The proposed rule is intended to accomplish the following:

• Reduce excavation damage to pipelines

• Encourage states to adopt effective, balanced damage prevention law enforcement programs

• Provide “backstop” Federal enforcement authority in states that lack adequate enforcement programs

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PIPES Act RequirementsPIPES Act RequirementsAt a minimum, PIPES Act requires excavators to:

• Use a One Call system before excavating

• Regard the location information or markings established by a pipeline facility operator

• An excavator who causes damage to a pipeline facility that may endanger life or cause serious bodily harm or damage to property:

• Must promptly report the damage to the owner or operator of the facility; and

• If the damage results in the escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, the excavator:

• Must promptly report to other appropriate authorities by calling 911



Other DP EffortsOther DP Efforts• State Damage Prevention Grants

• Incident/leak/damage data

• Emergency Responder outreach

• Meetings with trade associations

• Presentations at events, participation in stakeholder meetings, provide letters, SERVE AS RESOURCE TO STATES

• Reauthorization

– Exemption study to be completed in two years

– Eliminates grant funding for states with certain exemptions



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Pipeline Safety is a Journey…Pipeline Safety is a Journey…



Thank You!Thank You!

Contact InformationContact InformationChristie Murray

Senior Program Manager(202) 366-4996

[email protected]

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Documents

U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Pipeline Safety Damage Prevention Programs Christie Murray Senior