Stakeholder Communications

Excavation damage continues to be a leading cause of serious pipeline incidents.

Serious pipeline incidents can result in fatalities and injuries requiring hospitalization. PHMSA has undertaken a broad array of initiatives designed to engage all stakeholders in efforts to reduce the risk of excavation damage to pipelines.

Comprehensive Report on Pipeline Mechanical Damage

This work consolidates a collective knowledge on the many aspects of mechanical damage to pipelines. The report has three main parts addressing damage prevention, detection and characterization from primarily an onshore, transmission pipeline perspective. However, the prevention portion of this report is significant for gas distribution systems. Pipeline Mechanical Damage. [This is a large file (approx. 40 MB)].

Digging Safely

April heralds the start of the annual digging season. It is important that everyone Dig Safely by always following safe digging practices.

One-Call Centers

The primary tool for avoiding damages to underground facilities is timely communication between excavators and the owners of the facilities. It is important to Call Before You Dig and Dig Safely. One-call centers facilitate this communication process by enabling an excavator to place just one call, prior to digging, to request that all underground facilities in the area of a planned excavation be located and marked.

811

By simply dialing 811, you can reach the one-call center where, at no cost to you, companies that may operate underground utilities in the area you plan to dig will be notified. Those companies can then dispatch locate crews to determine and mark the exact location of their utilities so that you can avoid hitting them when you begin your excavation. If, for some reason, you can’t connect to the one-call center by dialing 811, dial 1-888-258-0808 or visit Call811.com and select the Local Info tab for information to call the one-call center directly.

Hitting underground utilities when you are digging can cause injuries, even deaths, environmental damage and loss of critical infrastructure and services. If you don’t make the call, you could be liable for damage costs and repairs, as well as subject to potential penalties. It is important to call the one-call center before you dig – anytime of the year and no matter who you are or how big or small your project is. The call is free so Call 811 Before You Dig.

Common Ground Alliance (CGA)

In 1999, PHMSA published the Common Ground Study, which established Best Practices for all stakeholders to prevent excavation damage. The CGA evolved from the Study initiative, as a nonprofit organization that continues to provide stewardship for the Damage Prevention Best Practices. Over 1400 CGA members represent stakeholder groups that share responsibility for damage prevention. The CGA committee structure focuses efforts on Best Practices, Education, Research & Development, Data Collection, One-Call Centers, and Regional Partnerships. The CGA Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) is a secure web application for the collection and reporting of underground damage information. The CGA publishes an annual DIRT Report to identify the contributing factors and root causes of underground utility damages and near misses, with the ultimate goal of reducing the occurrence of these incidents in the future. Join the CGA and help reduce the risk of damage to underground facilities.

Community Assistance and Technical Services (CATS) Program

PHMSA can, upon request, help initiate and facilitate discussions between state damage prevention stakeholder who may be exploring opportunities to strengthen the state program. Complementary technical support and guidance is available through PHMSA’s CATS Program.

Damage Prevention Assistance Program

PHMSA has developed guidance, “Strengthening State Damage Prevention Programs”, to assist stakeholders. The guidance draws on the definition of effective damage prevention programs found in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006. It examines the nine elements specified in the PIPES Act and makes suggestions for implementing them at the state level. State programs can be improved by incorporating the nine elements and by identifying and implementing positive changes in processes, procedures, technologies and damage prevention laws.

Grants to States and Communities

Each state has established laws, regulations, and procedures shaping the state damage prevention program. PHMSA provides grant opportunities intended to help states improve their damage prevention programs. We are also offering Technical Assistance Grants to communities. States seeking damage prevention program grants must incorporate the nine elements of effective damage prevention programs identified in the PIPES Act of 2006 into their programs. PHMSA’s guide Strengthening State Damage Prevention Programs provides more information.

One-Call Technology Pilot Project

We partnered with damage prevention stakeholders in Virginia to use existing GPS technology to enhance the quality of communication among excavators and owners of underground facilities. The Phase I Report includes guidance on how other States could incorporate GPS technology in their One-Call Center communications.

Pipeline Operator Public Awareness Programs

Our regulations require pipeline operators to provide pipeline safety awareness messages to several stakeholder audiences. Information about damage prevention is a crucial component of these Public Awareness messages.

Research & Development (R&D)

The importance of damage prevention is recognized within our R&D program by establishing a distinct category for projects geared toward damage prevention. Damage Prevention R&D Projects are designed to provide stakeholders with improved tools to reduce the risk of excavation damage.

PHMSA Advisory Bulletins

We have consistently taken a non-regulatory approach to pipeline damage prevention. However, we have used Advisory Bulletins to emphasize important actions pipeline operators can take to protect their pipelines. In May 2002, we urged pipeline operators to follow the CGA Best Practices for damage prevention. In January 2006, we described preventable accidents caused by construction-related damage and called on operators to ensure they use qualified personnel to perform critical damage prevention tasks. In November 2006, we emphasized the importance of following damage prevention best practices, especially for marking the location of underground pipelines prior to excavation.