Blogs

This week APGA staff, along with Bill DeFoor of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, attended public meetings hosted by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). While the first portion of the event dealt with ensuring safe operations for liquids transmission pipelines that are near or cross waterways, the Administrator spoke and provided some remarks on his priorities for the agency. The focus seems to be on ensuring that there is an appropriate reauthorization legislation, so they have been working with Congress.

The other part of the public meeting dealt with public awareness. Several presenters shared on a variety of topics, including an update on the revisions to the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators. There was quite a bit of discussion on awareness versus engagement, as the agency wants to ensure pipeline operators are engaging the stakeholders, not just “checking a box” with public awareness activities. A work group is being arranged to further look at this challenge, and APGA will be sure they have appropriate representation in this work.

For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at ssaulters@apga.org.