[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48659-48660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20775]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)

[Docket No. RSPA-03-15852, Notice 1]


Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective 
Public Awareness Programs

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

ACTION: Notice of workshops on industry consensus standard American 
Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, ``Public 
Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators.''

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SUMMARY: The Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and the National Association of 
Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) will co-sponsor two workshops 
with the pipeline industry trade associations (API, Interstate Natural 
Gas Association of America, Association of Oil Pipelines, American Gas 
Association, and American Public Gas Association) to introduce and 
discuss industry consensus standard API Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, 
``Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators.'' These workshops 
will also serve to introduce and discuss the statutory requirement that 
pipeline operators complete self-assessments of their public education 
programs no later than December 17, 2003.

DATES: The first workshop will be held on September 4-5, 2003. The 
second workshop will be held on September 16-17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The first workshop will be held at the Westin Galleria, 5060 
West Alabama, Houston, TX 77056, (713) 960-8100. The second workshop 
will be held at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, 300 Light Street, 
Baltimore, MD 21202, (410) 528-1234. Operators of hazardous liquid and 
natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas local distribution 
systems and oil and gas gathering systems are urged to attend. To 
facilitate meeting planning, advance registration for these meetings is 
strongly encouraged and can be accomplished online at the following Web 
site: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/meetings. The deadline for 
registration at both meetings is August 22, 2003.
    Members of the public are welcome to attend these workshops. 
Members of the public who are unable to attend in person can view the 
meeting over the Internet through the RSPA/OPS Web site: http://ops.dot.gov.
    Persons wishing to submit comments relating to these workshops may 
do so by mail or delivery to the Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. The Dockets facility is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays. You should submit the 
original and one copy. Anyone who wants confirmation of receipt of 
their comments must include a stamped, self-addressed postcard. You may 
also submit comments to the docket electronically. To do so, log on to 
the Internet Web address http://dms.dot.gov and click on ``Help'' for 
instructions on electronic filing of comments. All written comments 
should identify the docket and notice numbers which appear in the 
heading of this notice.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance contact Juan Carlos Martinez (tel: 
202-366-1933; e-mail: [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Wiese (tel: 202-366-4595; e-mail: 
[email protected]). You can read comments and other material in 
the docket on the Internet at: http://dms.dot.gov.

[[Page 48660]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The existing pipeline safety regulations at 49 CFR parts 192 and 
195 require operators of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines to 
establish continuing education programs to enable customers, the 
public, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in 
excavation related activities to recognize a pipeline emergency for the 
purpose of reporting it to the operator or the appropriate public 
officials. The regulations also require that operators carry out 
written programs to prevent pipeline damage from excavation activities. 
Accordingly, pipeline operators have previously conducted public 
awareness programs with the affected public, emergency responders, and 
excavators along their routes.
    The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA) requires that 
each owner or operator of a natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline 
facility must carry out a continuing program to educate the public on 
the use of a one-call notification system prior to excavation and other 
damage prevention activities, the possible hazards associated with 
unintended releases from the pipeline facility, the physical 
indications that such a release may have occurred, what steps should be 
taken for public safety in the event of a pipeline release, and how to 
report such an event.
    The PSIA requires that by December 17, 2003, each owner or operator 
of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility must review its existing 
public education program for effectiveness and modify the program as 
necessary. The completed program must include activities to advise 
affected municipalities, school districts, businesses, and residents of 
pipeline facility locations. The completed program must be submitted to 
the Secretary of Transportation or, in the case of an intrastate 
pipeline facility operator, the appropriate State agency, and shall be 
periodically reviewed by the Secretary or, in the case of an intrastate 
pipeline facility operator, the appropriate State agency.
    The PSIA also provides that the Secretary of Transportation may 
issue standards prescribing the elements of an effective public 
education program. The Secretary may also develop material for use in 
the program.
    In anticipation of this requirement and in response to 
recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 
RSPA/OPS has encouraged the pipeline industry to work on improving 
public education programs. The pipeline industry formed a Task Force 
with representatives from natural gas and liquid petroleum transmission 
companies, local distribution companies, gathering systems, and 
industry trade associations. The Task Force has developed a consensus 
standard establishing guidelines for pipeline operators on development, 
implementation, and evaluation of public education programs for 
operating pipeline systems, American Petroleum Institute (API) 
Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, ``Public Awareness Programs for 
Pipeline Operators.'' The Task Force sought feedback from local public 
officials, the public and interested parties. Representatives from 
RSPA/OPS and NAPSR observed and provided input into the development of 
the standard. On January 29, 2003, RSPA/OPS hosted a public meeting on 
this standard in Bellevue, Washington, to encourage additional public 
participation.
    RP 1162 was developed under the guidelines of both API and the 
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Following formal 
adoption, RP 1162 is expected to be published as a national consensus 
standard in September 2003.
    The level of public education and awareness regarding operating 
pipelines and pipeline safety can only be increased through 
demonstrably effective education and communication programs. Therefore, 
RSPA/OPS is considering incorporating RP 1162 into the pipeline safety 
regulations.
    RSPA/OPS has evaluated the PSIA requirements that operators review 
and modify their public education programs and submit their completed 
programs to RSPA/OPS. RP 1162 contains guidance on program 
effectiveness that amply satisfies the statutory requirement. RSPA/OPS 
and pipeline industry trade associations encourage pipeline operators 
to complete a formal self-assessment of their public education programs 
against the guidelines provided in RP 1162. To assist them in this, 
RSPA/OPS is developing an Internet-based self-assessment that operators 
can complete electronically. These self-assessments will help operators 
identify gaps in their public education programs and the improvements 
needed to align it with the guidance of RP 1162. This will assist 
operators in meeting the statutory requirement by December 17, 2003.
    RSPA/OPS will co-sponsor two workshops with the pipeline industry 
trade associations (API, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, 
Association of Oil Pipelines, American Gas Association, and American 
Public Gas Association,) to facilitate these operator self-assessments. 
Each workshop will provide an industry-facilitated review of RP 1162 
and a panel discussion of successful public education practices. RSPA/
OPS will describe the self-assessment process and will facilitate 
sessions on effective program evaluation techniques. RSPA/OPS will 
conduct breakout sessions during these workshops for the hazardous 
liquid and natural gas transmission pipeline operators. The breakout 
sessions will provide a more in-depth overview of the self-assessment 
process and attempt to gauge the current status of public education 
programs for the transmission pipeline operators by completion of 
informal self-assessments in advance of the formal self-assessment 
required by December 17, 2003. All hazardous liquid and natural gas 
transmission pipeline operators are urged to attend the breakout 
sessions. It is important that the attending representative be familiar 
with the operating systems that are covered under the operator's public 
education program.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 8, 2003.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 03-20775 Filed 8-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P