RP 1162 Explained
History
Recommended Practices 1162 was developed by gas and hazardous materials pipeline operators in response to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act passed by Congress on December 17, 2002. After a one-year self-assessment effort mandated by Section 5 of the Act, pipeline operators identified the areas of their business where changes could most effectively impact and improve public safety. Overwhelmingly, public information and liaison were found to be the chief deficiency hampering safe pipeline operations.
Industry leaders evaluated these findings and developed a set of recommended practices for addressing the need. RP 1162 is the result of that effort. The RP lays out a clear framework for developing a public awareness program, but each operator must develop a distinctive program customized for its pipeline infrastructure and targeting its local communities.
Who must comply?
RP 1162 applies to all operators of gas and hazardous materials pipeline infrastructures. These include interstate and intrastate transmission pipelines, local distribution systems, and gathering systems.
What is a public awareness program?
Public awareness programs are outreach and communications campaigns intended to inform and educate the public about pipeline safety. RP 1162 sets two primary objectives for public awareness programs:
- Public awareness of piplines
- Pipline emergency prevention and response
The RP identifies four stakeholder audiences who must be addressed by public awareness programs:
- Affected public
- Local public officials
- Emergency officials
- Excavators
What steps are required to comply?
- Operators must first identify all piplines to be included in the program.
- Stakeholder audiences must be determined for each pipline.
- Informational materials about specific piplines and general pipeline safety, appropriate to recognized audiences, must be produced and distributed.
These efforts are required to be documented, evaluated, and regularly upgraded by the operator.
