[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61826-61827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24975]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2012-0201]
Pipeline Safety: Communication During Emergency Situations
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to remind operators of
gas, hazardous liquid, and liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities
that operators should immediately and directly notify the Public Safety
Access Point (PSAP) that serves the communities and jurisdictions in
which those pipelines are located when there are indications of a
pipeline facility emergency. Furthermore, operators should have the
ability to immediately contact PSAP(s) along their pipeline routes if
there is an indication of a pipeline facility emergency to determine if
the PSAP has information which may help the operator confirm an
emergency or to provide assistance and information to public safety
personnel who may be responding to the event.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Gale by phone at 202-366-0434 or
by email at john.gale@dot.gov. Information about PHMSA may be found at
http://phmsa.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Federal regulations for gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and
hazardous liquid pipeline facilities require operators to have written
procedures for responding to emergencies involving their pipeline
facility. The regulations further require that operators include
procedures for planning with and notifying local emergency response and
other public officials to ensure a coordinated response. Under 49 CFR
Sec. Sec. 192.605, 192.615, 193.2509, and 195.402, pipeline facility
operators must include provisions for coordinating with appropriate
fire, law enforcement, emergency management, and other public safety
officials in their emergency plans. Immediate contact by pipeline
facility operators with local emergency responders located in
potentially affected areas provides for appropriate, more coordinated
and effective response to emergency situations involving pipelines, and
can minimize potential injury, death and environmental damage.
Under Sec. Sec. 192.616 and 195.440, pipeline facility operators
must also develop and implement, and sustain a written public education
program that follows the American Petroleum Institute's (API)
Recommended Practice (RP) 1162. Incorporated by reference into
Sec. Sec. 192.616 and 195.440, API RP 1162 further requires operators
to provide notice of, and information regarding their emergency
response plans to appropriate local emergency officials. These response
plans should include information about how emergency officials can
determine potential pipeline related risks, and implement appropriate
response plans.
In addition, on December 11, 2011, the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) issued safety recommendations following its
investigation of the September 9, 2010, natural gas pipeline rupture in
the city of San Bruno, CA. Included in these recommendations was NTSB
Safety Recommendation P-11-9, which suggested that PHMSA require
operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines ``to ensure that their
control room operators immediately and directly notify the 9-1-1
emergency call center(s) for the communities and jurisdiction in which
those pipelines are located when a possible rupture of any pipeline is
indicated.'' Pipeline facility
[[Page 61827]]
operators should be proactive in notifying officials of possible
incidents so that a suitable and timely response can be implemented.
Finally, PHMSA is publishing this Advisory Bulletin to reiterate
the importance of immediate dialogue between pipeline facility
operators and PSAP staff when there is any indication of a pipeline
rupture or other emergency condition which may have an adverse impact
on public safety or the environment. The local PSAP may have
information pertaining to the event that is not available to the
pipeline facility operator. For example, a pipeline facility operator
may be aware of a sudden pressure drop on their pipeline, but not be
able to pinpoint the location of a release. The local PSAP may have
received 9-1-1 calls concerning a strong odor of crude oil or fuel, or
of a large fire, but not be aware a pipeline facility is involved. The
early exchange and coordination of information can benefit both
pipeline facility operators and emergency responders so that a more
rapid and effective response to the event is achieved.
II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-2012-09)
To: Operators of Gas, Hazardous Liquid, and Liquefied Natural Gas
Pipeline Facilities
Subject: Communication During Emergency Situations
Advisory: To further enhance the Department's safety efforts, PHMSA
is issuing this Advisory Bulletin regarding communication between
pipeline facility operators and the PSAP which serves the local
emergency responders during pipeline facility emergencies in
communities along the pipeline route.
To ensure a prompt, effective, and coordinated response to any type
of emergency involving a pipeline facility, pipeline facility operators
are required to maintain an informed relationship with emergency
responders in their jurisdiction in accordance with Sec. Sec. 192.615,
193.2509 and 195.402.
PHMSA reminds pipeline facility operators of these requirements
and, in particular, the need to notify the PSAP(s), commonly referred
to as 9-1-1 emergency call centers, or the local equivalent, of
indications of a pipeline facility emergency. Such indications may
include an unexpected drop in pressure, unanticipated loss of
supervisory control and data acquisition communications, or reports
from field personnel. PHMSA recommends that pipeline facility operators
immediately contact the PSAP for the communities and jurisdictions in
which those indications occur, to notify local responders and implement
a coordinated emergency response. These notifications to the PSAP(s)
are typically made from pipeline facility control rooms and dispatch
centers; pipeline facility operators should ensure the call to the
appropriate PSAP is made promptly, and to as many jurisdictions as is
necessary. A direct-inbound ten-digit number must be used for the
specific PSAP, since a call to 9-1-1 would be routed only to the PSAP
for the caller's location.
Further, PHMSA believes that immediate contact and conversation
should be established between pipeline facility operators and PSAP
staff when there is any indication of a pipeline rupture or other
emergency condition which may have a potential adverse impact on public
safety or the environment. PHMSA recommends that pipeline facility
operators inquire of the PSAP(s) if there are any other reported
indicators of possible pipeline emergencies such as odors, unexplained
noises, product releases, explosions, fires, etc., as these reports may
not have been linked to a possible pipeline incident by the callers
contacting the 9-1-1 emergency call center. This early coordination
will facilitate the timely and effective implementation of the pipeline
facility operator's emergency response plan and coordinated response
with local public safety officials.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2012-24975 Filed 10-10-12; 8:45 am]
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