[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 34754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12168]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration


Pipeline Safety: Development of Consensus Standards on Pipeline 
Public Awareness Programs

AGENCY: Office of Pipeline Safety, Research and Special Programs 
Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of development of consensus standards.

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SUMMARY: Trade associations for the natural gas and hazardous liquid 
pipeline industry are working together to develop consensus standards 
to expand the public awareness programs that pipeline operators 
conduct, and to further involve the local communities in ensuring 
pipeline safety. This notice provides information about how the public 
can participate in this consensus standard-setting process. The 
Research and Special Program Administration's (RSPA) Office of Pipeline 
Safety (OPS) is committed to improving the public education programs 
that are a part of the pipeline safety public awareness programs. 
Public participation is being sought as part of this standard-setting 
for industry public awareness programs, with the expected result of 
improved public education regarding pipeline safety.

Background

    Current Federal regulations require that pipeline operators conduct 
public education campaigns so that members of the public, excavators, 
residents along pipeline rights-of-way, emergency responders and local 
officials understand what to do in a pipeline emergency. OPS has 
encouraged pipeline operators to review existing programs and to make 
needed improvements. The National Transportation Safety Board has also 
issued a recommendation urging that gas and hazardous liquid pipeline 
operators increase public education about pipeline safety operations.
    In response to concerns raised by RSPA, the American Petroleum 
Institute (API) has initiated a revision of its Recommended Practice 
(RP) 1123, Development of Public Awareness Programs. This document was 
originally issued for use by API members which transport petroleum and 
other hazardous liquids. However, the need for public education 
standards extends beyond hazardous liquid operators. To promote a 
standardized approach to public education among pipeline operators, OPS 
encouraged natural gas pipeline operators to work with their colleagues 
in the liquid pipeline industry on the API revision of recommended 
practice. The recommended practice, upon completion of this consensus 
standard-setting process, will be assigned a new ANSI identification 
number, and will be referred to in that manner in all future 
correspondence.
    The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the American Gas 
Association and the American Public Gas Association have joined API in 
this effort. This collaborative process will bring a measure of 
consistency to such programs throughout the industry, and will expand 
the effort to include public education not solely of pipeline 
operators, but of all relevant stakeholders. However, this revised 
recommended practice would apply to existing pipelines only.
    RSPA in interested in the success of this effort because OPS had 
already begun work in the area of public education. In the fall of 
2000, at the request of the OPS Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline 
Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC), OPS formed a group with equal 
representation from government, industry and public sectors to explore 
this issue. OPS also held a well-attended public meeting in February 
2001 to solicit input on the information needs of the public and other 
audiences.
    The revision of the recommended practice will provide guidelines 
that operators can use to develop or improve existing public awareness 
and community outreach programs. In advance of this revision, API 
surveyed a number of its members to determine the effectiveness of 
existing public awareness programs and to identify areas which required 
improvement. The results of this survey are being used to help guide 
the revision of the recommended practice, which is expected to be 
complete by the end of 2002.
    The API has created a Web site, http://www.api.org/pipelinepublicawareness to obtain informal, early feedback and to 
solicit public input. OPS hopes that the public will take this 
opportunity to provide its comments. It is important to note that the 
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will also provide the 
opportunity for formal Notice and Comment on the revision of the 
recommended practice. OPS urges interested parties to submit their 
remarks on the completed revision to ANSI.
    OPS, as the Federal government representative, and the National 
Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR), the body 
representing the State pipeline safety agencies, are participating in 
this process as observers. After industry has finalized the revision, 
OPS will decide whether or not to adopt it as a regulatory requirement. 
Alternatively, OPS may adopt only those portions of the document that 
meet its needs. While OPS has encouraged this process, the decision on 
whether to adopt this standard has not been pre-determined. If OPS 
decides to incorporate the revised recommended practice by reference, a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register 
for public comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary-Jo Cooney, OPS, (202) 366-4774, 
regarding the subject matter of this notice.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2002.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Manager, Program Development, Office of Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 02-12168 Filed 5-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P