One-call pipeline safety legislation moved much closer tobecoming law last week as the Senate voted to add it to omnibustransportation legislation and in the House representatives RichardHugh Baker (R-LA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced a bill thatis nearly identical to the one-call legislation already passed bythe Senate.

The Interstate Pipeline Association of America, which haslobbied strongly for a one-call law, lauded the actions. “Theone-call bill addresses an important public safety issue:prevention of damage to the nation’s infrastructure by third-partydamage to pipelines,” said INGAA Chairman John Riordan, who also isvice chairman of KN Energy.

The majority of pipeline accidents are caused by third partydamage. One-call legislation focuses on improving statenotification systems, the so called “call-before-you-dig” programs.With a one call program, an excavator calls a central number withthe location of a planned excavation. The one-call center thennotifies all pipelines, utilities and phone companies in the areaso all underground facilities can be located and marked before theexcavator begins to dig.

The program “saves lives and protects the environment byreducing the number of accidents caused by excavation near unmarkedfacilities,” Rep. Baker said in a statement. Baker referred to agasoline pipeline rupture caused by an unknown excavator in hishome state of Louisiana in 1996. The rupture in Grammercy, LA,resulted in the release of 8,400 barrels of gas into a swamp,killing wildlife and forcing the shutdown of the Kansas CityRailroad. The most well known modern incident in the natural gasindustry was the rupture of Texas Eastern Pipeline in Edison, NJ,in 1993. That rupture, which was caused by third party damage tothe 36-inch diameter pipeline, produced a huge fireball thattotally destroyed several apartment buildings. Both incidentsresulted in the states improving their one-call notificationsystems.

But while 49 states have one call programs, the programs varywidely in the level of required participation and effectiveness.Federal legislation would recommend the states use a risk-basedanalysis to evaluate whether a party should be exempt fromparticipation. Parties who pose minimal risk to public safety couldparticipate voluntarily. But the whole question of exemption isstill left to the states. Baker said his legislation is based on”incentives not madness.”

If a state believes its one-call plan meets federal guidelines,it can apply for a one-time grant from the Department ofTransportation. “We are in essence rewarding the ‘A’ students andencouraging the others to do better,” he said.

Rocco Canonica

©Copyright 1998 Intelligence Press, Inc. All rightsreserved. The preceding news report may not be republished orredistributed in whole or in part without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.