American Gas - July 2011 - (Page 17)

Safety firSt safety | security | reliability Pipeline Safety: Our Paramount Priority AGA and the natural gas industry are working hard to make the U.S. pipeline delivery system as safe as possible. it is truly an exciting and eventful time to be working in the natural gas industry. much of this excitement is due to the increasingly vital role natural gas plays in developing a sustainable national energy policy for our country. unfortunately, a lot of the excitement also is attributed to a number of highprofile accidents our industry has experienced over the past year, triggering questions and concerns related to the safety of our industry. Clearly, the recent accidents have attracted a flurry of media coverage, raising many important issues for public consumption. In my 20plus years of working in the pipeline industry, I cannot recall another time when pipelines and pipeline safety have drawn this level of public interest. Over the past year: Congress has held eight hearings and proposed eight pipeline safety bills. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began an official investigation and held a hearing on the tragic pipeline accident that occurred in San Bruno, Calif. NTSB also released thousands of pages of documentation on the accident and asked the state of Pennsylvania to investigate pipeline accidents that have occurred in Philadelphia and Allentown. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood met with industry CEOs and held a Pipeline Safety Forum to discuss how to improve pipeline safety. DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a number of advisories and proposed and final rules. Operators: United in Purpose AGA’s members and the industry as a whole have been deeply affected by these accidents, particularly those occurring in San Bruno, Philadelphia and Allentown. Any time there is a tragic event in the industry resulting in a loss of life or injury, it is a painful reminder that there are inherent risks associated with the delivery of any energy. Managing those risks is the responsibility of the operator, and one that is taken very seriously. Those who have spent any part of their career working in our industry know that safety is always the No. 1 priority, and it is engrained in everything we do. Our industry works tirelessly to ensure the safety and reliability of the nation’s natural gas delivery systems, the safety of our employees and contractors, and the safety of the customers we serve. We live and work in the communities that we serve, and these are not just our customers, they are also family members and friends. We have made significant progress over the years (see Figure 1), and our overall safety record is good, but there is room for improvement and opportunity to take advantage of stakeholder interest in pipeline safety. The recent accidents have emphasized the importance of accurate and verifiable records, emergency response, public awareness and integrity management. In response, AGA members CHRISTINA SAMES is AGA vice president, operations and engineering. She may be reached at csames@ aga.org. AmericAn GAs july 2011 17

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - July 2011

American Gas - July 2011
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
In the News
Safety First
Integrity Management Fuels Innovation
GTI: A Trifecta of Technology Approaches
NYSEARCH: Technology Equals Solutions
AGA 2011 Membership Directory
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Marketplace
Jobline
Advertisers’ Index
Facts on Gas

American Gas - July 2011