PHMSA awards over US$ 1 million to pipeline safety programmes

The US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) awarded over US$ 1 million to state pipeline safety programmes in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to improve pipeline damage prevention efforts.PHMSA's One Call Grant programme helps to improve a state’s efforts in protecting people and communities from pipeline accidents through efforts and activities that include:

• The overall quality and effectiveness of one-call notifications systems in the state.
• Communications systems linking one-call notification systems.
• Location capabilities, including training personnel and developing and using location technology.
• Record retention and recording capabilities for one-call notification systems.
• Public information and education.
• Participation in one-call notification systems.
• Compliance and enforcement under the state one-call system.

Since 1995, PHMSA has offered grants to states that enforce pipeline safety regulations to provide assistance in educating the public about safe digging practices and helping to protect communities from accidental damages to pipelines and other underground utilities.

Accidentally digging and damaging underground pipelines is the leading cause of incidents resulting in death or injury. 811 – a toll-free hotline designed to prevent excavation-related incidents – connects callers to the appropriate one call centre in their state.

In two to three days, local utility companies visit the property to mark the location of any underground utilities, including pipelines, electrical wires, or telephone cables before digging begins. One Call Grants support state damage prevention programmes by financing upgrades to communications systems and providing funds for training personnel, developing and using underground pipeline location technology, and improving record retention and recording capabilities for one call notification systems. The grants will also be used to provide public information and education.

The 2014 grant recipients include:

• Colorado: US$ 18 690
• Connecticut: US$ 45 000
• Delaware: US$ 11 421
• Georgia: US$ 45 000
• Illinois: US$ 45 000
• Indiana: US$ 45 000
• Iowa: US$ 21 383
• Kansas: US$ 45 000
• Louisiana: US$ 45 000
• Maine: US$ 45 000
• Michigan: US$ 45 000
• Minnesota: US$ 44 610
• Mississippi: US$ 43 106
• Missouri: US$ 9221
• Nebraska: US$ 33 847
• Nevada: US$ 45 000
• New Hampshire: US$ 45 000
• New Jersey: US$ 45 000
• New Mexico: US$ 45 000
• New York: US$ 45 000
• North Dakota: US$ 9221
• Oregon $38,345
• Puerto Rico: US$ 43 244
• Rhode Island: US$ 45 000
• South Dakota: US$ 44 221
• Vermont: US$ 45 000
• District of Columbia: US$ 45 000
• Washington: US$ 20 000
• Wyoming: US$ 8351

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/01072014/phmsa_awards_over_us_1_million_to_pipeline_safety_programmes_580/