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The Law

How it came about and how it affects you - the pipeline operator.

Federal pipeline safety regulations require pipeline operators to conduct continuing educational programs to educate a wide variety of stakeholders -- including the public, government agencies, local officials and excavators -- on pipeline safety issues.

Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), along with the pipeline industry and a broad variety of stakeholder groups, is working to improve the outreach and effectiveness of operator public education and awareness programs.

Pipeline safety regulations on operator public awareness programs

On May 19, 2005, OPS issued a final rule requiring pipeline operators to develop and implement public awareness programs consistent with the requirements of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA) and the guidance provided by the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, "Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators".

Under the regulations, operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities must carry out continuing programs to educate the public on:

  • the use of a One-Call notification system prior to excavation, and other damage prevention activities;
  • the possible hazards associated with unintended releases from the pipeline facility;
  • the physical indications that such a release may have occurred
  • what steps should be taken for public safety in the event of a pipeline release; and
  • how to report such an event.
Operators must include in their programs activities to advise affected municipalities, school districts, businesses, and residents of pipeline locations. Of significance is the requirement that operators must review their programs for effectiveness and enhance the programs as necessary.

API RP 1162

API RP 1162 was developed in 2004 through the efforts of pipeline industry representatives, federal and state pipeline regulators and the public. It is an industry consensus standard that provides guidance and recommendations to pipeline operators for the development and implementation of enhanced public awareness programs. It addresses various elements of such programs, including the intended audiences, the kinds of information to be communicated, frequencies and methodologies for communicating the information, and evaluation of the programs for effectiveness. An electronic copy of API RP 1162 may be downloaded from the American Petroleum Institute. Summary tables of the API RP 1162 program recommendations are provided here for review and downloading:

Final Rule on Operator Public Awareness Programs
The 2005 Final Rule modified pipeline safety regulations found in 49 CFR 192.616 and 195.440. More information can be found in the Federal Register Notice in which the rule was issued.  < PDF >

A correction to the 2005 Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2005. The correction addressed the consistency in the language for the requirements in 195.440 (c) and 192.616 (c) and clarifies that the operator must consider both baseline and supplemental requirements of API RP 1162. < PDF >