Transcript Pipelines and Public Safety: Effective Measures for

Office of Pipeline Safety
U. S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
www.dot.gov
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
Office of Pipeline Safety
Restoring Trust In Pipeline Safety
Conference
November 2006
Kimbra Davis
Community Assistance/Technical
Services Program Manager
Distribution Integrity Management
Program (DIMP)
Office of Pipeline Safety
Excavation Damage Prevention Team:
Included stakeholders from –
• PHMSA
• Distribution utilities
• State pipeline safety representatives
• Contractors
• Common Ground Alliance
DIMP Excavation Damage Prevention
Task Group Focus
Office of Pipeline Safety
• What current actions, approaches or
practices exist that can be applied
broadly to reduce excavation damage
• Emphasis on comparing damage
prevention in states with
comprehensive damage prevention
programs and effective enforcement
DIMP Excavation Damage Prevention
Task Group Approach
Office of Pipeline Safety
Reviewed/analyzed data from
• Available state-level 3rd party and other
excavation damage to distribution pipe
• Damage date for states with vs. without
effective damage prevention programs
• One-call ticket volumes
• DOT incidents
DIMP Excavation Damage Prevention
Task Group Approach
Office of Pipeline Safety
Also looked at
• Damage prevention processes
• CGA Best Practices
• Incentives to reduce damage
• Effective enforcement
• Public education, including 811
• Damage prevention performance metrics
• Cost/benefit analysis
Findings
Office of Pipeline Safety
• Total excavation damage numbers are
declining but excavation damage still presents
the greatest threat to distribution pipeline
safety.
• Excavation damage prevention poses the
greatest opportunity for safety improvements.
• Distribution pipeline safety and excavation
damage prevention are intrinsically linked.
• Excavation damage prevention must be
addressed to improve pipeline safety.
Findings
Office of Pipeline Safety
• States with comprehensive damage prevention
programs that include effective enforcement
have a substantially lower risk of excavation
damage to pipeline facilities and related
consequences.
• Federal legislation is needed to help develop
and implement comprehensive damage
prevention programs at the state level
• Requires a partnership of all stakeholders
Virginia
(Effective Enforcement Program)
Damages Per 1000 Tickets
Gas Distribution Excavation
Damages per 1000 Tickets
Office of Pipeline Safety
5.00
4.00
4.49
3.45
3.36
2.83
3.00
2.65
2.55
2.30
2.25
2.10
2.00
1.00
0.00
1996 1997
1998 1999
2000 2001
2002 2003
2004
Minnesota
(Effective Enforcement Program)
Office of Pipeline Safety
Gas Distribution Excavation
Damages per 1000 Tickets
Comprehensive vs. Limited
Office of Pipeline Safety
Elements of Effective
Excavation Damage Prevention
Office of Pipeline Safety
1. Enhanced communications between
operators and excavators
2. Fostering support & partnership of all
stakeholders
3. Operator’s use of performance measures
4. Partnership in employee training
Elements of Effective
Excavation Damage Prevention
Office of Pipeline Safety
5. Partnership in public education
6. Dispute resolution process
7. Fair and consistent enforcement of the law
8. Use of technology to improve process
9. Analysis of data to continually
evaluate/improve program effectiveness
Legislation
Office of Pipeline Safety
Three Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Proposals:
• H.R. 5782 as amended by T&I
• H.R. 5782 as amended by E&C
• S. 3961
Common Elements
Office of Pipeline Safety
Focus on excavation damage prevention
• Increased enforcement/penalties for those that
do not use one-call systems,disregard location
markings or fail to take responsible steps to
prevent excavation damage.
• State pipeline safety grants increased from 50%
to 80%, contingent on the effectiveness of the
state’s damage prevention program
• Continued funding for CGA
• Continued funding for One-Call Grants
Office of Pipeline Safety
U. S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
www.dot.gov