On November 13 the CDMCS Pipeline Task Force and its three teams made enough progress for an early harvest in delivering solutions that support safe work practices, increase public awareness, and strengthen the accuracy of underwater pipeline data through inter-agency, public-private collaboration and information sharing.
Best Practices Team (# 1) – Devon Carlock as LEAD
Pipeline Safety Awareness and Damage Prevention Flowchart for Dredging Operations – a step-by-step instructional flowchart for use in the field by dredge operators and crews to properly identify the nature, location and ownership of the pipeline and ensure all necessary preventative measures are exercised. (in process)
Pipeline Incident Prevention Best Practices Guide for the Dredging & Marine Construction Industry (late spring/early summer publication estimated)
Training, Awareness & Education Team (# 2) – Ed Landgraf as Lead
Training Module PowerPoints, Videos and FAQs – one set for the pipeline transportation industry and one set for the dredging industry (in process)
CDMCS Underwater Pipeline Resource Center – New page on the CDMCS website that identifies the national and state-level databases to check pipeline crossings, such as PHMSA’s National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) and Louisiana’s Strategic Online Natural Resources Information System (SONRIS), and also provides key points-of-contact at the relevant state and federal agencies and organizations for answering questions. In addition to Louisiana, similar information will be added soon for the following states: TX, MS, AL, GA, FL, PA, NY, NJ & CA (initial phase completed)
Modifications to the Louisiana 811 One Call Law – to allow for longer ticket duration if the initial ticket request is made further in advance (in process)
Louisiana 811 One Call Now Providing Shapefiles for Utility Lines (Thank you Ed!)
Government Coordination & Information Exchange Team (# 3) – Michael Gerhardt as LEAD
PHMSA’s National Pipeline Mapping System – working to add offshore pipeline information to the Public Viewer (in process)
USACE / PHMSA Coordination – underwater pipeline data exchange from PHMSA to the Army Corps is currently underway; the degree to which this data can be integrated into project plans and specs is in process.
Additional Stakeholder Involvement – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSSE), and the Texas Railroad Commission will join our efforts beginning this spring.
Enhanced Early Engagement with Pipeline Transportation Industry – USACE will begin sharing project announcements for design and pre-construction meetings with PHMSA who will in turn inform the pipeline operators, all in an effort to increase early coordination, communication and awareness of the project and its hazards. (in process)
Upper and Lower Calcasieu River Pilot Study – the pipeline transportation industry is currently verifying XYZ data for all crossings in the channel and directly providing to the dredge contractor updated ownership/contact information for all pipeline operators in the relevant parishes. Discrepancies between the USACE plans and specs and the other databases NPMS & SONRIS will be evaluated once this study is complete. Similar coordination will soon occur on other projects. Thank you to David McMasters of Chevron and Carl Dickerson of Mike Hooks for leading this effort!!
To access the PTF Strategic Plan, teams list, agenda, list of participants, and presentations from previous meetings, click here.
The next PTF Meeting is set for Tuesday, March 12 – Details & RSVP here. (Log-in not required); Agenda in process.