API RP 1162: Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators

The American Petroleum Institute has finalized Recommended Practice 1162: Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators. The Research and Special Programs Administration’s (RSPA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has given a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The OPS proposes to require all pipeline operators to develop, document, and implement public awareness programs based on API RP 1162 and 192.616/195/440.

RP 1162 states that each operator of a hazardous liquid pipeline system, natural gas transmission pipeline system, gathering pipeline system, or a natural gas distribution pipeline system should establish a written Public Awareness Program designed to cover all required components including:

	Statement of Management’s Commitment to achieve Public Awareness.
	Roles and responsibilities of personnel administering the program.
	Identification of key personnel and titles responsible for implementation, delivery, and ongoing development of the program (including senior management).
	Identification of the media and methods of communication to be used in the program, as well as the basis for selecting the chosen media and method.
	Documentation of the frequency and the basis for selecting that frequency for communicating with each of the targeted audiences.
	Identification of program enhancements, beyond the baseline program, and the basis for implementing such enhancements.
	The program evaluation process, including the evaluation objectives, methodology to be used to perform the evaluation and analysis of the results, and criteria for program improvement based on the results of the evaluation.

MCS has developed a Generic Public Awareness Compliance Plan to address all of the elements listed above. This Generic Plan will provide a straight forward, compliant, effective document for companies to customize and utilize as their written plan.

Customization of the plan will be efficient as operators will be able to work through the plan filling in the blanks and making choices as decisions are made on specific methods and procedures to be used.

For more information on:

	Updating your existing plan
	Utilizing the MCS generic plan
	Developing and documenting a customized plan

Contact Amy L. Miller at:
Phone: 972-580-0812 ext.101
Email: amy.miller@mcs.biz