{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA Guidance, Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective Public Awareness Programs","title":"Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective Public Awareness Programs","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2003-09-05","effective_on":"2003-09-05","summary":"Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective Public Awareness Programs Document 03-22665.pdf (131.81 KB) RSPA’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and operators of hazardous liquid pipelines, gas transmission pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, and crude oil and gas gathering pipeline systems regulated under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195. The Pipeline Safety Im","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-pipeline-industry-implementation-effective-f22d4fa2.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-pipeline-industry-implementation-effective-f22d4fa2.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-guidance-pipeline-safety-pipeline-industry-implementation-effective-f22d4fa2","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulatory-compliance/phmsa-guidance/pipeline-safety-pipeline-industry-implementation-effective","body":"Pipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry Implementation of Effective Public Awareness Programs\n\nDocument\n\n 03-22665.pdf (131.81 KB)\n\n        RSPA’s Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is issuing this advisory bulletin to owners and operators of hazardous liquid pipelines, gas transmission pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, and crude oil and gas gathering pipeline systems regulated under 49 CFR parts 192 and 195. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA) requires that each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility implement a continuing public education program. By December 17, 2003, each owner or operator must review its existing public education program for effectiveness and modify the program as necessary. RSPA/OPS is asking that each operator complete a self-assessment of its public education program against the guidelines established in the recently-issued consensus standard, American Petroleum Institute’s API RP 1162, “Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators,” before December 17, 2003, to demonstrate compliance with the PSIA.\n\n          Issued Date: Friday, September 5, 2003\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n52816 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 172 / Friday, September 5, 2003 / Notices\nhas been prepared. Public notice will be\ngiven of the time and place of the\nscoping meetings, and the formal public\nhearing. The draft EIS will be available\nfor public and agency review and\ncomment prior to the public hearing on\nthe draft EIS.\nTo ensure that the full range of issues\nrelated to this proposed action are\naddressed and all significant issues\nidentified, comments, and suggestions\nare invited from all interested parties.\nComments or questions concerning this\nproposed action and the EIS should be\ndirected to the FHWA or DelDOT at the\naddressed provided above:\n(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance\nProgram Number 20.205, Highway Planning\nand Construction. The regulations\nimplementing Executive Order 12372\nregarding intergovernmental consultation on\nFederal programs and activities apply to this\nprogram.)\nIssued by: August 18, 2003.\nThomas D. Myers,\nDivision Administrator, Federal Highway\nAdministration, Dover, Delaware.\n[FR Doc. 03–22657 Filed 9–4–03; 8:45 am]\nBILLING CODE 4910–22–M\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nResearch and Special Programs\nAdministration\nPipeline Safety: Pipeline Industry\nImplementation of Effective Public\nAwareness Programs\nAGENCY: Research and Special Programs\nAdministration (RSPA), DOT.\nACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory\nbulletin.\nSUMMARY: RSPA’s Office of Pipeline\nSafety (OPS) is issuing this advisory\nbulletin to owners and operators of\nhazardous liquid pipelines, gas\ntransmission pipelines, gas distribution\npipelines, and crude oil and gas\ngathering pipeline systems regulated\nunder 49 CFR parts 192 and 195. The\nPipeline Safety Improvement Act of\n2002 (PSIA) requires that each owner or\noperator of a gas or hazardous liquid\npipeline facility implement a continuing\npublic education program. By December\n17, 2003, each owner or operator must\nreview its existing public education\nprogram for effectiveness and modify\nthe program as necessary. RSPA/OPS is\nasking that each operator complete a\nself-assessment of its public education\nprogram against the guidelines\nestablished in the recently-issued\nconsensus standard, American\nPetroleum Institute’s API RP 1162,\n‘‘Public Awareness Programs for\nPipeline Operators,’’ before December\n17, 2003, to demonstrate compliance\nwith the PSIA.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff\nWiese, (202)366–2036; or by e-mail,\njeff.wiese@rspa.dot.gov. This document\ncan be viewed at the OPS home page at\nhttp://ops.dot.gov. General information\nabout the RSPA/OPS programs may be\nobtained by accessing RSPA’s home\npage at http://RSPA.dot.gov.\nI. Advisory Bulletin (ADB–03–04)\nTo: Owners and Operators of Hazardous\nLiquid Pipelines, Gas Transmission\nPipelines, Gas Distribution Pipeline\nSystems, and Crude Oil and Gas\nGathering Pipeline Systems.\nSubject: Pipeline Industry\nImplementation of Effective Public\nAwareness Programs.\nPurpose: To advise owners and\noperators of hazardous liquid, gas\ntransmission, gas distribution, and\ncrude oil and gas gathering pipeline\nsystems of the statutory\nrequirement to review and maintain\neffective public education programs\nand to evaluate programs for\neffectiveness.\nAdvisory: The (PSIA) requires that\neach owner or operator of a gas or\nhazardous liquid pipeline facility must\ncarry out a continuing public education\nprogram. By December 17, 2003, each\nowner or operator must review its\nexisting public education program for\neffectiveness and modify the program as\nnecessary. RSPA/OPS is asking each\noperator to complete a self-assessment\nof its public education program against\nthe guidelines established in the\nrecently-issued, industry consensus\nstandard, API RP 1162, ‘‘Public\nAwareness Programs for Pipeline\nOperators.’’ To assist in this process,\nRSPA/OPS is developing a self-\nassessment system that operators can\naccess and complete over the Internet.\nThe self-assessment will help operators\nidentify gaps in their public education\nprograms and improvements needed to\nalign their programs with the\nrequirements of API RP 1162. In\nSeptember 2003, RSPA/OPS, the\nNational Association of Pipeline Safety\nRepresentatives, and the pipeline\nindustry are cosponsoring two public\nworkshops to help operators understand\nthe requirements of the law and the use\nof the self-assessment system. Operators\nshould submit their self-assessments to\nRSPA/OPS no later than December 17,\n2003.\nSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:\nII. Background\nThe Federal pipeline safety\nregulations at 49 CFR parts 192 and 195\nrequire operators of gas and hazardous\nliquid pipelines to establish continuing\neducational programs to enable\ncustomers, the public, government\norganizations, and persons engaged in\nexcavation-related activities to\nrecognize a pipeline emergency for the\npurpose of reporting it to the operator or\nthe appropriate public officials. The\nregulations also require that operators\nimplement written programs to prevent\npipeline damage from excavation\nactivities and establish public\nawareness liaison with emergency\nofficials. Accordingly, pipeline\noperators have previously conducted\npublic awareness programs with the\naffected public, emergency responders,\nand excavators along their routes.\nThe PSIA requires that each owner or\noperator of a gas or hazardous liquid\npipeline facility must carry out a\ncontinuing program to educate the\npublic on the use of a one-call\nnotification system prior to excavation\nand other damage prevention activities,\nthe possible hazards associated with\nunintended releases from the pipeline\nfacility, the physical indications that\nsuch a release may have occurred, what\nsteps should be taken for public safety\nin the event of a pipeline release, and\nhow to report such an event.\nThe PSIA requires that by December\n17, 2003 (not later than 12 months after\nthe date of its enactment), each owner\nor operator of a gas or hazardous liquid\npipeline facility must review its existing\npublic education program for\neffectiveness and modify the program as\nnecessary. The completed program must\ninclude activities to advise affected\nmunicipalities, school districts,\nbusinesses, and residents of pipeline\nfacility locations. The completed\nprogram must be submitted to the\nSecretary of Transportation or, in the\ncase of an intrastate pipeline facility\noperator, the appropriate State agency,\nand shall be periodically reviewed by\nthe Secretary or, in the case of an\nintrastate pipeline facility operator, the\nappropriate State agency.\nThe PSIA also provides that the\nSecretary of Transportation may issue\nstandards prescribing the elements of an\neffective public education program. The\nSecretary may also develop material for\nuse in the program.\nIn recognition of the importance of\neffective public awareness programs,\noutstanding recommendations from the\nNational Transportation Safety Board\nand anticipated legislative action in this\nregard, an industry task force developed\nVerDate Jan<31>2003 16:38 Sep 04, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\\FR\\FM\\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nFederal Register / Vol. 68, No. 172 / Friday, September 5, 2003 / Notices\n52817\na consensus standard establishing\nguidelines for pipeline operators on\ndevelopment, implementation, and\nevaluation of public awareness\nprograms for operating pipeline\nsystems, API Recommended Practice\n(RP) 1162, ‘‘Public Awareness Programs\nfor Pipeline Operators’’. The task force\nincluded representatives from gas and\nliquid petroleum transmission\ncompanies, local distribution\ncompanies, crude oil and gas gathering\nsystems, and industry trade\nassociations. Comments were also\nsolicited from local public officials, the\npublic and interested parties was\nsolicited. Representatives from RSPA/\nOPS and the National Association of\nPipeline Safety Representatives\nobserved and provided input into the\ndevelopment of the standard.\nAPI RP 1162 is currently in the final\nstages of the balloting process, following\nthe guidelines of both API and the\nAmerican National Standards Institute.\nAfter appropriate revisions to address\ncomments, it is expected to be\npublished as a national consensus\nstandard in the fall of 2003.\nRSPA/OPS considers that ‘‘public\neducation programs,’’ as used in the\nPSIA, and ‘‘public awareness\nprograms,’’ as used in API RP 1162, are\nthe same. The level of public education\nand awareness regarding operating\npipelines and pipeline safety can only\nbe increased through education and\ncommunication programs that are\ndemonstrated to be effective. Therefore,\nRSPA/OPS is considering incorporating\nall or portions of API RP 1162 into the\npipeline safety regulations. Of particular\ninterest to RSPA/OPS is the operator’s\nevaluation of its program\nimplementation and program\neffectiveness.\nRSPA/OPS has evaluated the PSIA\nrequirements that operators review and\nmodify their public education programs\nand submit their completed programs to\nSecretary of Transportation. We have\ndetermined that the intent of the\nrequirements can be met and pipeline\nsafety be best served in the short-term\nby having pipeline operators complete a\nformal self-assessment of their public\neducation programs against the\nguidelines provided in API RP 1162.\nRSPA/OPS is developing an Internet-\nbased self-assessment that operators can\ncomplete electronically. These self-\nassessments will help operators identify\ngaps in their public education programs\nand improvements needed to align their\nprograms with the requirements of API\nRP 1162. We ask all operators to submit\nself-assessments of their public\neducation programs to RSPA/OPS no\nlater than December 17, 2003, to meet\nthe deadline established in the PSIA.\nThis will ensure that operators have\ncomplied with the PSIA and will be\nused in targeting technical assistance\nworkshops to ensure development of\neffective public education programs.\nIn 2004, operators will be required to\nsubmit their public education program\nplans to the RSPA/OPS for review. Time\nframes for submission will be\ndetermined by RSPA/OPS and operators\nwill be notified. These plans will need\nto identify how the operators will\naddress gaps and make improvements in\ntheir public education programs. RSPA/\nOPS will inspect these public education\nprograms as an ongoing part of the\npipeline operator inspection program.\nRSPA/OPS is co-sponsoring with\nNAPSR and the pipeline industry trade\nassociations (API, INGAA, AOPL, AGA,\nAPGA) two workshops to facilitate these\noperator self-assessments. The first\nworkshop will be held on September 4–\n5, 2003, in Houston, TX. The second\nworkshop will be held on September\n16–17, 2003, in Baltimore, MD. On\nAugust 14, 2003, RSPA/OPS issued a\nnotice providing specific locations and\ntimes for the public education\nworkshops (68 FR 48659). Operators of\nhazardous liquid and gas transmission\npipelines, gas local distribution systems\nand crude oil and gas gathering systems\nare urged to attend. Each workshop will\nprovide an industry-facilitated review of\nAPI RP 1162 and a panel discussion of\nsuccessful public education practices.\nRSPA/OPS will describe the self-\nassessment process and will facilitate\nsessions on techniques of effective\nprogram evaluation.\nRSPA/OPS will conduct breakout\nsessions during these workshops for the\nhazardous liquid and gas transmission\npipeline operators. The breakout\nsessions will provide a more in-depth\noverview of the self-assessment process\nand attempt to gauge the current status\nof public education programs for the\ntransmission pipeline operators by\ncompletion of informal self-assessments\nin advance of the formal self-assessment\nrequested by December 17, 2003.\nIssued in Washington, DC on August 29,\n2003.\nStacey L. Gerard,\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.\n[FR Doc. 03–22665 Filed 9–4–03; 8:45 am]\nBILLING CODE 4910–60–P\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nSurface Transportation Board\n[STB Docket Nos. AB–55 (Sub–No. 639X)\nand AB–565 (Sub–No. 15X)]\nCSX Transportation, Inc.—\nDiscontinuance Exemption—In Henry\nCounty, IN and New York Central\nLines, LLC—Discontinuance\nExemption—in Henry County, IN\nOn August 18, 2003, New York\nCentral Lines, LLC and CSX\nTransportation, Inc. (CSXT) (together\npetitioners), jointly filed with the\nSurface Transportation Board (Board) a\npetition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for\nexemption from the provisions of 49\nU.S.C. 10903 to discontinue service over\na 1.64-mile line of railroad in CSXT’s\nWestern Region, Great Lakes Division,\nIndianapolis Line Subdivision,\nextending from milepost QIN 95.34 to\nmilepost QIN 96.98, in New Castle,\nHenry County, IN. The line traverses\nU.S. Postal Service Zip Code 47632, and\nincludes no stations.\nThe line does not contain Federally\ngranted rights-of-way. Any\ndocumentation in the petitioners’\npossession will be made available\npromptly to those requesting it.\nThe interest of railroad employees\nwill be protected by the conditions set\nforth in Oregon Short Line R. Co.—\nAbandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91\n(1979).\nBy issuing this notice, the Board is\ninstituting an exemption proceeding\npursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final\ndecision will be issued by December 5,\n2003.\nAny offer of financial assistance to\nsubsidize continued rail service under\n49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) will be due no\nlater than 10 days after service of a\ndecision granting the petition for\nexemption. Each offer must be\naccompanied by a $1,100 filing fee. See\n49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).\nThis proceeding is exempt from\nenvironmental reporting requirements\nunder 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from\nhistoric reporting requirements under\nsection 1105.8(b).1\nAll filings in response to this notice\nmust refer to STB Docket Nos. AB–55\n(Sub-No. 639X) and AB–565 (Sub-No.\n15X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface\nTransportation Board, 1925 K Street,\nNW., Washington, DC 20423–0001; and\n(2) Natalie S. Rosenberg, 500 Water\nStreet, J150, Jacksonville, FL 32202.\n1 In addition, because these are discontinuance\nproceedings and an abandonment is not proposed,\ntrail use/rail banking and public use conditions are\nnot appropriate.\nVerDate Jan<31>2003 16:38 Sep 04, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\\FR\\FM\\05SEN1.SGM 05SEN1","truncated":false,"body_characters":15191}