On June 17, John Erickson, APGA’s vice president of operations met with state pipeline safety program managers from the Western Region of the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) in Stateline, NV to discuss issues important to public gas systems. NAPSR is the association for state pipeline safety program managers. John stated that APGA was pleased with the outcome of the Distribution Integrity Management Programs (DIMP) rule because the final rule removed most of the additional items that both APGA and NAPSR have objected to in written comments on the proposed rule. He demonstrated the SHRIMP on-line DIMP plan development tool that is nearing completion by the APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF).

John told the state managers that APGA was NOT pleased with the final control room management rule because its overly broad definition of who is a “controller” failed to differentiate between true controllers and utility employees that merely monitor telemetry from the field. He encouraged the state agencies to use discretion in enforcing the rule to consider whether an individual monitoring telemetry is doing so for operational purposes rather than safety. For example, he noted that the rule would require fatigue management training for controllers and supervisors even if the system they are monitoring is left unmanned on nights and weekends. Telemetry that can go unmonitored for extended periods is obviously not critical to the safety of the distribution system, John noted.

This was the second of four regional NAPSR meetings. Since pipeline safety regulations are enforced by these state agencies for most APGA members, APGA strives to maintain regular communication with NAPSR on issues important to APGA and NAPSR.  For more information please contact John Erickson, APGA Vice President, Operations 202-464-2742, ext 1002 or jerickson@apga.org. 

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