Stakeholder Communications

Damage to underground pipelines during excavation has historically been a leading cause of Serious Incidents, which include fatalities and injuries.

When a pipeline is damaged during excavation, people are almost always close by. Since PHMSA does not have regulatory authority over most excavators, we have implemented a broad array of initiatives designed to engage all stakeholders in efforts to reduce the risk of damage to underground facilities.

One-Call Centers

The primary tool for avoiding damages to underground facilities is timely communication among excavators and owners of the facilities. Each State has created a One-Call Center to facilitate this communication process. The first step in damage prevention is to Call Before You Dig.

811

In May 2007, contacting the One-Call Center became much easier. By simply dialing 811, your call will be routed to the appropriate One-Call Center based on your location when making the call. Damage prevention stakeholders have been aggressively advertising the availability of 811.

Common Ground Alliance (CGA)

In 1999, we published the Common Ground Study, which established Best Practices for all stakeholders to prevent excavation damage. Eventually, these stakeholders formed the CGA to continue promoting damage prevention. CGA members include representatives from 15 stakeholder groups that share a common responsibility for damage prevention. The CGA committee structure focuses efforts on Best Practices, Education, Research & Development, Data Collection, One-Call Centers, and Regional Partnerships. You can join the CGA and help reduce the risk of damage to underground facilities.

Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) Program

PHMSA can, upon request, help initiate and facilitate discussions between state damage prevention stakeholder who may be exploring opportunities to strengthen the state program. Complementary technical support and guidance is available through PHMSA’s CATS Program.

Damage Prevention Assistance Program

PHMSA has developed guidance to assist stakeholders in strengthening state damage prevention programs. The guidance draws on the definition of effective damage prevention programs found in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006. It examines the nine elements specified in the PIPES Act and makes suggestions for implementing them at the state level. State programs can be improved by incorporating the nine elements and by identifying and implementing positive changes in processes, procedures, technologies and damage prevention laws. More…

Grants to States

Each state has established laws, regulations, and procedures shaping the state damage prevention program. We have provided Grant Opportunities intended to help states improve their damage prevention programs. States seeking damage prevention program grants must incorporate the nine elements of effective damage prevention programs identified in the PIPES Act of 2006 into their programs. PHMSA’s guide Strengthening State Damage Prevention Programs provides more information.

One-Call Technology Pilot Project

We partnered with damage prevention stakeholders in Virginia to use existing GPS technology to enhance the quality of communication among excavators and owners of underground facilities. The Phase I Report includes guidance on how other States could incorporate GPS technology in their One-Call Center communications.

Pipeline Operator Public Awareness Programs

Our regulations require pipeline operators to provide pipeline safety awareness messages to several stakeholder audiences. Information about damage prevention is a crucial component of these Public Awareness messages.

Research & Development (R&D)

The importance of damage prevention is recognized within our R&D program by establishing a distinct category for projects geared toward damage prevention. Damage Prevention R&D Projects are designed to provide stakeholders with improved tools to reduce the risk of excavation damage.

PHMSA Advisory Bulletins

We have consistently taken a non-regulatory approach to pipeline damage prevention. However, we have used Advisory Bulletins to emphasize important actions pipeline operators can take to protect their pipelines. In May 2002, we urged pipeline operators to follow the CGA Best Practices for damage prevention. In January 2006, we described preventable accidents caused by construction-related damage and called on operators to ensure they use qualified personnel to perform critical damage prevention tasks. In November 2006, we emphasized the importance of following damage prevention best practices, especially for marking the location of underground pipelines prior to excavation.