Pipeline Safety Workshop on Public Awareness Programs for Operators (Houston)

PHMSA and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) will host two workshops to help ensure full compliance with new public awareness program requirements for pipeline operators. PHMSA will provide an update on the compliance review plan and the workshops will provide a forum to share strategies for implementing these new requirements successfully.

Damage Prevention & Subsurface Solutions Conference & Expo. This event is being held directly across from the Hilton Americas in the George R. Brown Convention Center from December 6-8. Persons attending the public awareness workshop can have complimentary access December 6th – 8th to the exhibit floor and Tuesday evening’s network reception. Visit http://www.damageprevention.com/damage/dpc/attendee_registration.po to register with priority code FPE-OPS for free entry.

Presentations and results of the meeting may be seen at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/PublicAwarenessWorkshops.htm

PHMSA and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) will host two workshops to help ensure full compliance with new public awareness program requirements for pipeline operators. A Federal Register Notice announcing these workshops was published on October 19, 2005.

During these workshops, PHMSA will provide an update on the compliance review plan. In addition, these workshops will provide a forum to share strategies for implementing these new requirements successfully. Participants can learn about collaborative efforts undertaken in different sectors of the pipeline industry to improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of their related programs.

The December 7-8, 2005, workshop will focus on helping hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline operators improve their public awareness programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blaine Keener, OPS, (202) 366-0970, blaine.keener@dot.gov, about the subject matter in this notice.

Registration: To register for the workshops, select the workshop you would like to attend from this web page (http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/). Hotel reservations must be made by contacting the hotel directly.

Web Casting: Both workshops will be Web cast and will be available for one month after each workshop. The Web cast Internet address will be posted to the registration Web page prior to the workshop.

The revised regulations require operators of pipeline systems to implement public awareness programs in accordance with American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators, First Edition, December 2003. On June 16, 2005, PHMSA issued a Final Rule Correction Notice (70 FR 35041) to clarify that all pipeline system operators must follow the baseline and, where appropriate, the supplemental requirements of API RP 1162. Most operators must enhance their public awareness programs to meet the new requirements by June 20, 2006. Small propane and master meter operators have until June 20, 2007, to revise their programs. The announced workshops will provide additional guidance to operators as they revise their public awareness programs.

PHMSA has created a public awareness resource Web page at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/PublicEducation.htm.

PHMSA and NAPSR will begin eachworkshop with a brief presentation on the Public Awareness Program Final Rule and the Final Rule Correction. Industry presentations will describe efforts industry has undertaken to ensure effective and efficient compliance with these rules, including guidance on how to:

• Determine the content of public awareness messages;
• Establish delivery methods for public awareness messages;
• Determine supplemental enhancements to baseline programs; and
• Evaluate public awareness program effectiveness.

PHMSA and NAPSR will discuss oversight plans. In particular, they will discuss current plans to use a central clearinghouse approach to review public awareness programs. Finally, PHMSA will respond to frequently asked questions. PHMSA will post agendas for the workshops on its Web site (http://phmsa.dot.gov/) approximately two weeks prior to the workshop.