PA 2015 Technical Assistance Grant

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant award the City of Allentown's goal is to achieve safer American communities through collaborative efforts, to define and develop pipeline safety protocols specific to American cities that start with the grass roots, and to influence the advancement of safety recommendations into active and required best practices.

Public Abstract

Under the terms of this agreement, the Recipient must demonstrate completion of the work through the actions it has specified in its Application.

1. The project will utilize the recommendations produced by MCPS in 2014-2015 of: a. Clear definitions and minimum leak detection regulations such as what qualifies as a leak, how leaks are classified, and what is done about discovered leaks b. Defining a MCPS national campaign for more consistent and prescriptive distribution line safety regulations such as national regulatory standards for leak detection class; leak detection monitoring outside utility dictates; regulation on frequency of surveys; use of plastic vs steel in replacement of aging systems and in new systems c. Development of a model Urban Pipeline Initiative in which utilities and cities share pipeline mapping information d. Prescriptive response best practices specific to urban communities e. Prescriptive use of automatic shut off valves. The project will engage industry, local officials, government and non-government entities in order to implement these work products and collaboratively move these initiatives forward to fruition of the goals implicit to each initiative.
2. Identify key cities to participate in a case study of city officials' knowledge base in these five areas of MCPS initiatives.
3. Conduct the case study in order to: a. produce subjective needs assessments benchmarks based on pre and post study data b. identify risk management education and training needs specific to gas pipeline and infrastructure safety specific to local government officials to include increasing awareness of "811" Call Before You Dig" program. c. implement data to educate city officials d. implement data to encourage and obtain proactive membership in MCPS and MCPS initiative outcomes.
4. Develop and implement a strategic social media plan & campaign to include content development of the above statements of work beyond key cities.
5. Maintain records for transferability of the project
6. Produce final report.

Relevant Files & Links