MN 2016 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant agreement, the recipient will:

1. Trends (mandatory and volunteer damage reporting), gas damages, annual review of the One Call center 2) Intrastate gas operator mandatory leak reporting on leaks caused by excavation activities 3) Surveys from annual MNOPS Conference and feedback from MS216D stakeholder meetings 4) Risk model rankings for specialized damage prevention inspections 5) Locator workshop evaluations 6) Damage prevention presentation evaluations 7) Conciliation court verdict review 8) Enforcement review - frequently cited codes, complaints, & damage prevention presentation feedback 9) Enforcement cases are published on MNOPS' web page. In addition, all damage prevention activities that don't explicitly fit in a single element (1-8) will be attributed to this element. This element supports the work of all the other elements, including any travel that may be needed to accomplish individual elements.

Public Abstract

Under the terms of this grant agreement, the Recipient will address the following applicable elements listed in the approved application, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §60134 (a),(b).

•  Element 1 (Effective Communications): Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of methods for establishing and maintaining effective communications between stakeholders from receipt of an excavation notification until successful completion of the excavation, as appropriate. (Applicable)
•  Element 2 (Comprehensive Stakeholder Support): A process for fostering and ensuring the support and partnership of stakeholders, including excavators, operators, locators, designers, and local government in all phases of the program. (Applicable)
•  Element 3 (Operator Internal Performance Measurement): A process for reviewing the adequacy of a pipeline operator's internal performance measures regarding persons performing locating services and quality assurance programs. (Applicable)
•  Element 4 (Effective Employee Training): Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of effective employee training programs to ensure that operators, the one-call center, the enforcing agency, and the excavators have partnered to design and implement training for the employees of operators, excavators, and locators. (Applicable)
•  Element 5 (Public Education): A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities. (Applicable)
•  Element 6 (Dispute Resolution): A process for resolving disputes that defines the State authority's role as a partner and facilitator to resolve issues. (Applicable)
•  Element 7 (Enforcement): Enforcement of State damage prevention laws and regulations for all aspects of the damage prevention process, including public education, and the use of civil penalties for violations assessable by the appropriate State authority. (Applicable)
•  Element 8 (Technology): A process for fostering and promoting the use, by all appropriate stakeholders, of improving technologies that may enhance communications, underground pipeline locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of locating programs. (Applicable)
•  Element 9 (Damage Prevention Program Review): A process for review and analysis of the effectiveness of each program element, including a means for implementing improvements identified by such program reviews. (Applicable)

Relevant Files & Links