The U.S. oil pipeline industry continually works to ensure pipeline safety and protect the thousands of communities pipelines serve.
This month, a new communications rule was adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). The purpose of the regulation is to increase awareness among the public, emergency response agencies, local officials and excavators as to how and where pipelines operate.
“Well-managed public education and communications programs can have a significant effect on pipeline safety, environmental protection and emergency response coordination,” said Ben Cooper, executive director of AOPL. “Pipeline operators already undertake public outreach, but the new rule provides guidelines for improving our performance.”
Specifically, the new guidelines are intended to increase awareness among residents, businesses and schools located near pipelines. The rule also promotes stronger communications with local and state emergency response officials, who 
would work with operators in the event of an emergency situation.
In addition, awareness among excavators is also crucial to pipeline safety, as a major cause of pipeline damage is third-party digging, according to Cooper. The Federal Communications Commission recently established a nationwide toll-free, three-digit number (8-1-1) that excavators can use to identify any pipelines in the area before they dig.
“The call-before-you-dig number only works when excavators know to call it. That’s why we are urging pipeline operators to publicize the 811-number as part of their communications plans,” said Cooper.
The new communications standard and the 811-number are the latest safety initiatives put forward in response to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. The Act called for pipeline operators to review and, if necessary, improve the effectiveness of their existing public education programs. PHMSA and OPS developed the new communications standard after extensive collaboration with operators, state pipeline regulators and the public.
