All data presented in the dashboard has been randomly generated for demonstration purposes. No real names, addresses, or contact information have been provided.
Pipelines are considered the safest and most efficient means of transporting natural gas and petroleum products. Each year, the nation’s more than 2.6 million miles of pipeline transports roughly 2/3 of the energy we use. Public safety and environmental protection are responsibilities shared by all operators; both are vital to the design, construction, and safe operation of pipelines. Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR 192.616 and 49 CFR 195.440) require operators to develop and implement public awareness programs which provide pipeline safety information to multiple stakeholder audiences: the affected public, emergency officials, local public officials, and excavators. Public awareness programs must follow the guidance provided by the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162, "Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators" (1st Edition).
Public Awareness programs are designed to promote open communication between pipeline companies and stakeholders. The primary goals of an effective public awareness program are to educate the public about pipeline safety, improve emergency preparedness, protect the environment, and prevent damage to property and facilities. An effective public awareness program will address the needs of different audiences within a community – and be flexible enough to change as the pipeline system changes and/or the public’s needs for information change.
Establishing and maintaining a public awareness plan can be a complex process. Renegade Energy Advisors (REA) provides full-scope public awareness and damage prevention compliance services to assist clients with regulatory requirements. To increase program efficiency, REA recommends the implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based services into all public awareness plans. GIS technology has revolutionized the way we understand and analyze our world. GIS mapping increases situational awareness and reduces errors, allowing operators to streamline communication to stakeholders, optimize planning and decision-making, enhance emergency response management, and improve environmental management. Overall, operators will gain a better understanding of their community and those who their pipelines serve.
REA’s GIS systems for public awareness keep track of ownership and contact information for all properties which intersect a pipeline right-of-way. Supplemental measures provided by REA include:
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Assisting in the drafting and production of public safety information mailers, brochures, etc.
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Tracking inquiries by phone and/or email to operators, including those which require operator follow-up.
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Tracking reply, or bounce-back, cards from all property owners located along the right-of-way.
REA’s primary goal is to build and maintain trust and strong relationships between operators and the public.
