PA - S.A.V.E. - Development & Implementation of Chester County Coalition for Safety and Reliability of Pipeline Operations

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant award the Safety, Agriculture, Villages and Environment (S.A.V.E.), Inc will create a Chester County coalition for pipeline safety.

Public Abstract

S.A.V.E. will:

1. Initiate the formal development of a coalition of stakeholders from the Mid-Atlantic mirrored after Washington State's Pipeline Safety Trust;
2. Gather and serve as a clearinghouse for factual and unbiased information and education to communities, thereby increasing public participation and improving safety over time;
3. Develop and maintain media contacts and respond to inquiries with equitable research;
4. Enhance and manage a website dedicated to pipeline safety issues;
5. Work collaboratively with pipeline operators, FERC, PHMSA to encourage involvement of all stakeholders at the inception of the pipeline sitting process in order to proactively address and resolve safety issues;
6. Educate local government, planners and officials about careful land use practices near pipelines;
7. Research, develop and secure dedicated funding resources to sustain a 501C3 Coalition beyond TAG funding;
8. Utilize mentoring and experience as offered by Pipeline Safety Trust to facilitate cost and time efficiency while offering reciprocal collaboration on PST projects;
9. Incorporate work product of Congressman Gerlach and the County Commissioners' Chester County Pipeline Task Force while facilitating their desire to seamlessly transition the Task Force into a Coalition;
10. Act as liaison and adviser to government and industry officials on how to improve communications with the public on pipeline safety issues and promote public participation and improve safety over time;
11. Act as liaison to bring together local government officials, developers, pipeline operators and the public to address land use issues around pipelines thereby improving safety over time;
12. Offer subjective input to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in developing updates for effective safety regulations; and,
13. Act as a public representative at pipeline industry conferences and meetings in order to foster open communications.

Relevant Files & Links