Pipeline Safety Trust Public Awareness Issues

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Pipeline Safety TrustPublic Awareness Issues

• John W. Pepper
• Project Manager
• Office of Pipeline Safety
• Southwest Region, Houston, Texas

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Public Awareness Issues

• Original and Ongoing Purpose
• Statistics
• Implementation
• Inspections
• Conclusions
• Ultimate Conclusion

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Edward R. Murrow

• The newest computer can merely compound, at
  speed, the oldest problem in the relations
  between human beings, and in the end the
  communicator will be confronted with the old
  problem, of what to say and how to say it.

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Original and Ongoing Purpose

• What to say and how to say it?
• Effective public awareness programs are vital to
  continued safe pipeline operations. Such programs
  are an important factor in establishing
  communications with affected stakeholders,
  providing information necessary to enhance public
  awareness of pipelines, and communicating
  stakeholder roles relative to pipeline safety.
• There are no silver bullets with regard to
  perfect communications.

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Statistics

• Significant Incidents Caused by Excavation Damage
  2002 thru 2006
• Liquid Pipelines
• 14 of Significant Incidents
• 63 of Fatalities and 16 of Injuries
• Gas Transmission Pipelines
• 13 of Significant Incidents
• 80 of Fatalities and 23 of Injuries
• Gas Distribution Pipelines
• 37 of Significant Incidents
• 28 of Fatalities and 32 of Injuries

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Statistics (cont.)

• Statistics show Damage Prevention can be a major
  contribution to overall pipeline safety.

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Implementation

• Participated with API committee that created the
  new API RP 1162 in 2002 and 2003
• Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
• Natural Gas Pipelines
• Distribution Pipelines
• Operator workshops in 2003 and 2005

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Implementation (cont.)

• Final Rule published May 2005 requiring programs
  by June 2006
• As of June 2007, 1,441 Programs covering 1,835
  Operator IDs
• Programs reviewed by central Clearinghouse
• PHMSA has begun inspections of the Programs
• First effectiveness evaluation from the operators
  is due June 2010

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Inspections

• Recent Integrity Inspection
• Operator generally communicating the right
  messages to the right stakeholders at the right
  frequencies one of the better aspects of their
  overall program.
• Creative feedback mechanisms.
• Helped save a life!!!
• New construction needs to be a focus!

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Conclusions

• No silver bullets!
• Appropriate communications do work!
• Do not neglect new construction it is easier to
  start out with a good relationship than to repair
  a broken one!
• Ongoing communications foster safer pipelines!
• Get creative!

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Ultimate Conclusion

• After the Virginia Tech Massacre, one official
  commented, Its sometimes better to communicate
  too much than too little.

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Thank You!

• John W. Pepper
• John.pepper_at_dot.gov
• Work 713-272-2849