TO ALL PIPELINE OPERATORS

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) wishes to alert you regarding the development of a new recommended practice for pipeline public awareness. The recommended practice will improve public awareness of pipelines nationwide by focusing on public awareness for stakeholders, including local officials, along existing pipelines. It will help pipeline operators develop and enhance their public awareness and community outreach programs. The new recommended practice for Pipeline Public Awareness Programs is being developed under the auspices and sponsorship of the American Petroleum Institute (API).

This recommended practice is under development as a consensus standard, following American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard-making protocols. This recommended practice is to be utilized by hazardous liquid pipeline companies, natural gas pipeline companies, local distribution companies, and gathering line operator, to develop consistent, thorough, practical, and effective public awareness programs.

This effort is cosponsored by the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the American Gas Association, the Gas Technology Institute, and the American Public Gas Association. The OPS and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives are participating as observers.

OPS requested the development of this recommended practice, based on the findings of OPS’ Technical Advisory Committee public awareness subcommittee, and several National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations. OPS frequently adopts industry-developed standards. If OPS decides to incorporate all or part of RP 1123 by reference, OPS will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register for public comment.

OPS is encouraging all stakeholders to review and comment on the recommended practice as it is developed. These stakeholders include landowners, residents, businesses, schools, local and state emergency planning and response agencies, local officials, governing councils, land developers, and excavators. Input from all stakeholders is crucial to the success of this effort to ensure that pipeline operators’ public awareness programs meet the information needs of stakeholders along and affected by pipeline routes.

Although formal stakeholder review is not scheduled until the Summer of 2002, API has created a website to keep interested parties up-to-date on recommended practice activities and to provide a means for stakeholders to provide comments and suggestions. The API website is located at:
<http://www.api.org/pipelinepublicawareness/>

The recommended practice is expected to be published by the end of 2002. OPS hopes that the public will take this opportunity to provide its comments. It is important to note that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will also provide the opportunity for formal Notice and Comment on RP 1123. OPS urges interested parties to submit their remarks on the completed revision to ANSI.

Sincerely yours,

Stacey L. Gerard
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety