Compliance Tools

APGA Public Awareness Sample Materials

The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires each gas utility and pipeline operator to evaluate the effectiveness of its public awareness programs and make improvements where necessary. Operations and communications experts from the American Petroleum Institute (API), America American Public Gas Association (APGA), Interstate Natural Gas Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and American Gas Association developed API Recommended Practice 1162 to provide guidance for what constitutes an effective public awareness program. To assist our members to comply with these new requirements, APGA has developed this model distribution public awareness plan.

View Public Awareness Materials (APGA Members Only Resource)

Operations
& Safety Links

Best Practice Sharing
Emergency Preparedness
Compliance Tools
Regulatory Advocacy
Operations Events
Membership Recognition

GOAL Program


APGA is pleased to partner with Blue Otter Solutions to offer a cost-effective, turnkey program that makes staying compliant an economical and viable option for any service area. The GOAL Program helps you gain insight and knowledge that makes managing your utility’s growth and development easier. 

Learn more about GOAL

Get Started With GOAL

Contact Greg at Blue Otter Solutions at 469-237-3019 or send Greg an email at gregk@blueottersolutions.com.  Click the GET STARTED button to learn more or to become a GOAL user!

Get Started

Plastic Pipe Database Committee

A group of representatives of federal and state regulatory agencies and the natural gas and plastic pipe industries have come together and formed The Plastic Pipe Data Collection Initiative. The Plastic Pipe Database Committee (PPDC) is composed of representatives from APGA, the American Gas Association (AGA), Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). For the past 16 years, the PPDC has been receiving information on in-service plastic piping system failures and/or leaks with the objective of identifying possible performance issues.

Learn more about the PPDC here

Benchmark Tool

The APGA Benchmarking Module is now available for APGA members at benchmark.apga.org. This web-based module allows an APGA member to compare their system with national averages or self-defined peer groups on more than 60 different operational statistics such as leaks per mile of main by cause, MCF sales by type of customer, and damages per excavation ticket.

Learn more about the APGA Benchmark Tool here

Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS) Planning Tool

The APGA PSMS Task Group and ENERGY Worldnet have collaborated to provide PSMS Planning / Gap Analysis Tool for Small Operators. This is a self-assessment tool intended to introduce users to the elements of API RP 1173, while helping identify potential areas for improvement. 

Go to the Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS) Planning webpage.

PSMS Planning Tool

Go to the Tool

Read PSMS FAQ

Highlighted Organization

APGA Security and Integrity Foundation

Early in 2004, the APGA Board of Directors approved the necessary funding to create the APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF). The APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, is dedicated to promoting the security, operational integrity and safety of natural gas distribution and utilization facilities.

Distribution Integrity Management: SHRIMP Tool

SHRIMP (“Simple, Handy, Risk-based Integrity Management Plan”) is an online tool that operators of natural gas distribution systems use to create a complete, written Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) plan customized for the specific needs of their system. The APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF), with support from Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and state pipeline safety regulators, offers SHRIMP so utilities can have access to an affordable DIMP tool. SHRIMP is designed to create accurate written DIMP plans with ease. SHRIMP asks questions about a user’s infrastructure and creates a DIMP plan ready to sign and implement. 

Learn more about SHRIMP here


Anti-Drug and Alcohol Tool

Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing regulations require many operators of gas, hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines to have drug and alcohol prevention programs. The APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF), with support from PHMSA, created an affordable, web-based Anti-Drug & Alcohol Plan Development Tool that will help detect prohibited drug and alcohol use in the workplace. With the SIF Anti-Drug & Alcohol tool, any change to regulation is incorporated automatically and notifies users keeping them one step ahead. 

Learn more about the Anti-Drug and Alcohol Tool here

SIF logo

,
,