In 2006, Congress passed the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act, the “PIPES Act”, which created a new federal grant program as an incentive to states to enhance safety and reduce damage to underground facilities such as natural gas and petroleum pipelines, water mains, and electric and telecommunication lines during excavation activities by improving their call before you dig programs.
In addition to disrupting utility service, the failure of stakeholders to do their part in preventing damage to these facilities can result in extensive property damage, injuries and even fatalities.
 |
● |
|
The new program provides safety and Damage Prevention Grants to states. |
|
|
|
|
|
● |
|
States may receive federal grants by working to implement state programs that incorporate the nine key elements of an effective safety and damage prevention program. * EDPI* can help. |
The American Gas Association (AGA), the Associated General Contractors(AGC), the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL), the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), and the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) collectively established the
*EDPI* to promote development of a comprehensive consensus among excavators, underground facility owners, operators, safety advocates, state regulators, and the public, on implementation of the 9 elements of effective underground facility safety and damage prevention programs.
With U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the Common Ground Alliance and others, the* EDPI* wants to aid state legislators and regulators in improving their state’s programming to reduce damage to underground pipeline and utility infrastructure due to inadequate underground facility safety and damage prevention programs.
Loss of life, injury and property that result from damage incidents is too large.
Reductions in these levels of damage and loss can be achieved with the establishment of an effective state underground safety and damage prevention
program.
Contact EDPI at EDPI@icemillerstrategies.com
or an EDPI member directly.
Nine Elements of an Effective State Damage Prevention Program
|
(1) |
|
Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of methods for establishing and maintaining effective communications between stakeholders from receipt of an excavation notification until successful completion of the excavation, as appropriate. |
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
A process for fostering and ensuring the support and partnership of stakeholders, including excavators, operators,locators, designers, and local government in all phases of the program. |
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
A process for reviewing the adequacy of a pipeline operator's internal performance measures regarding persons performing locating services and quality assurance programs. |
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of effective employee training programs to ensure that operators, the one-call center, the enforcing agency, and the excavators have partnered to design and implement training for the employees of operators, excavators, and locators. |
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
|
A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities. |
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
A process for resolving disputes that defines the State authority's role as a partner and facilitator to resolve issues. |
|
|
|
|
|
(7) |
|
Enforcement of State damage prevention laws and regulations for all aspects of the damage prevention process, including public education, and the use of civil penalties for violations assessable by the appropriate State authority. |
|
|
|
|
|
(8) |
|
A process for fostering and promoting the use, by all appropriate stakeholders, of improving technologies that may enhance communications, underground pipeline locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of locating programs. |
|
|
|
|
|
(9) |
|
A process for review and analysis of the effectiveness of each program element, including a means for implementing improvements identified by such program reviews. |
I/124.1
J.D.
Maniscalco
Executive Director
Utility Notification Center of Colorado
16361 Table Mountain Parkway
Golden, Colorado 80403 |
 |
| Phone: |
|
303-205-6301 |
| Fax: |
|
303-205-6371 |
| Mobile: |
|
303-888-6663 |
| Email: |
|
jdman@uncc.org |
"Call Before You Dig"
"Dig Safely"
|
