The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has issued an advisory bulletin to owners and operators of regulated hazardous liquid pipelines, gas transmission pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, and crude oil and gas gathering pipeline systems. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA) requires that each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility implement a continuing public education program. By December 17, 2003, each owner or operator must review its existing public education program for effectiveness and modify the program as necessary. RSPA/OPS is asking that each operator complete a self-assessment of its public education program against the guidelines established in the proposed consensus standard, American Petroleum Institute’s API RP 1162, “Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators,” before December 17, 2003, to demonstrate compliance with the PSIA. Note that API RP 1162 has not yet been officially incorporated into the OPS regulations, and that the modifications to an operator’s public awareness program, if any are required, should be those necessary to meet the existing regulations in 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195.
The full advisory bulletin is available from RCP’s website here through the DOT Gateway.