Pipeline Emergency Response Forum

This meeting has been completed. The main forum sessions from 8:00AM to 11:30AM and from 4:00PM to 5:15PM were webcast. Go to the following link for the archive of all of the presentations, the webcast, follow-up documents, etc.: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/pipeline_emergency_response_forum/index.html

The purpose of the forum was to convene a meeting of leaders in the emergency response community, the government, the pipeline industry, and the interested public to solicit professional advice that will inform the development of a strategy for improving emergency responders' ability to prepare for and respond to pipeline emergencies.

This meeting has been completed. Go to the following link for the archive of all of the presentations, the webcast, follow-up documents, etc.: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/pipeline_emergency_response_forum/index.html

This meeting has been completed. Go to the following link for the archive of all of the presentations, the webcast, follow-up documents, etc.: http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/pipeline_emergency_response_forum/index.html

Thank you for registering for the Pipeline Emergency Response Forum; we appreciate your participation. Our goal is to have a meaningful and productive discussion to ensure local emergency responders are prepared to respond to pipeline incidents should they occur and to identify how local communities can improve awareness of pipeline risks in their communities. We hope that this forum will also allow for the various disciplines to better understand each other's perspectives and enable us to begin to address the gaps in understanding.

SUMMARY: PHMSA is co-sponsoring a one-day Pipeline Emergency Response Forum with the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The purpose of the forum is to convene a meeting of leaders in the emergency response community, the government, the pipeline industry, and the interested public to solicit professional advice that will inform the development of a strategy for improving emergency responders' ability to prepare for and respond to pipeline emergencies.

DATES: The forum will be held on December 9, 2011. Name badge pick up and on-site registration will be available starting at 7:00 a.m., with the forum taking place from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 5:15 p.m. eastern time. Pre-registration for the forum is available until December 2, 2011. Webcast: The main forum sessions from 8:00AM to 11:30AM and from 4:00PM to 5:15PM will be webcast. However, the breakout sessions from 12:30PM to 4:00PM will not be webcast.

ADDRESSES: The forum will be held at U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590, in the atrium of the west building (New Jersey Avenue entrance, across the street from the Navy Yard Metro station). Attendees should arrive early to allow for time to go through security.

Note that there are limited public parking lots in the area around DOT Headquarters. We strongly recommend the use of public transit. The closest Metro stop is the Navy Yard exit off of the Green Metro line. Train and bus schedules are available at http://www.wmata.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Hall at (804) 556-4678 or by e-mail at sam.hall @ dot.gov.

The success of this forum depends on your engagement throughout the day. We have an ambitious agenda (see below). The first half of the day, pipeline emergency experts, regulators, and pipeline operators will share their insights into pipeline emergency response. After lunch, we ask everyone to roll up their sleeves and participate in the three breakout sessions — we will spend this valuable time focusing on pipeline emergency training, communication, and awareness. In preparation for the forum, please:

• Familiarize yourself with PHMSA's initiatives to support and enhance pipeline emergency response that are included in the document, Ways PHMSA Supports Emergency Response which you can download below. The document provides a high-level summary of the initiative with a link to more detailed information.
• Read the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pipeline accident report Pacific Gas and Electric Company Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Rupture (http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/summary/PAR1101.html). Several of the safety recommendations included in the report impact pipeline emergency response. Fire Chief Dennis Haag will speak about the pipeline emergency response to the pipeline rupture in San Bruno, CA on September 9, 2010.
• Visit PHMSA's Pipeline Safety Awareness site (http://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/index.html) for information about U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's Call to Action to improve the safety of the nation's energy pipeline system.
• Examine the newly released NENA Pipeline Emergency Operations Standard/Model Recommendation 56-0007 which you can download below. This Standard is intended to aid Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in the development and implementation of emergency communications protocols pertaining to pipeline emergencies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Registration: Members of the public may attend this free forum. To help ensure that adequate arrangements are made, all attendees and webcast viewers are encouraged to pre-register for the forum. Hotel reservations must be made by contacting the hotel directly.

• Important: For security purposes, if you are a non-US citizen/foreign national and will be attending the meeting in person, please contact Marlise Soria at (202) 366-2427 or marlise.soria.ctr @ dot.gov to provide the following information: Full Name, Date Of Birth, Official, Title, Country, Passport #, and Passport Exp. Date.
• Other Guidelines
• Please be sure all representatives who plan to attend are registered. Not being registered in advance may delay processing through security. If you are not registered, you may not be able to attend the meeting.
• Please bring a current government issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc)
• Laptops and large personal electronics, such as Ipads are discouraged. If you plan on bringing a laptop with you, please know they will ask you to fill out a form requiring your laptop's serial number and owner info.
• If possible, please avoid bringing luggage due to security and storage issues

Webcast: The main forum sessions from 8:00AM to 11:30AM and from 4:00PM to 5:15PM will be webcast. However, the breakout sessions from 12:30PM to 4:00PM will not be webcast. To participate in the webcast, go to: http://mediasite.yorkcast.com/webcast/Viewer/?peid=1d830a753cb54f3cae83429b826f9b211d

• E-Gov Web Site: http://www.regulations.gov. This site allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice issued by any agency. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 1—202—493—2251.
• Mail: Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12—140, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System, Room W12—140, on the ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Instructions: Identify the Docket ID at the beginning of your comments. If you submit your comments by mail, submit two copies. If you wish to receive confirmation that PHMSA has received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov. Note: Comments will be posted without changes or edits to http://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below for additional information.
• Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received for any of our dockets. The Privacy Notice for comment submissions may be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.