The U.S. Transportation Department's Research & Special Programs Administration plans a review of interstate pipeline safety standards.
George Tenley, RSPA assistant administrator, told the Washington Natural Gas Roundtable pipeline accidents during the past 12 months, have given the industry low credibility with the public.
He said pipelines in fact are the safest mode of energy transportation in the U.S. "That story is not getting out because the yardsticks we use for measuring pipeline safety, such as how many barrels are spilled, are all negative."
Changing the negative yardsticks to more positive ones would help the pipeline industry "get to a place of greater trust."
RSPA plans to conduct a U.S. pipeline industry summit meeting in late February on whether to reexamine accident risk management and assessment standards.
He said the standards should differ with risks that various lines hold for the environment or populations. "It should not be a one-size-fits-all regulatory approach."
RSPA is working on a "mapping" agenda to persuade pipelines to share information on the location of their underground facilities. He said under the "community right to know" concept, operators should share pipeline grid maps with local governments.
Copyright 1994 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
Issue date: 11/07/94
