Feds increased, but state cut gas-safety funding

Gas utility assessments cover pipeline inspections, but is funding enough to protect the public?

February 26, 2011|By Tim Darragh and Scott Kraus, OF THE MORNING CALL

• 
  KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING CALL

Fatal gas pipeline explosions in Allentown and Philadelphia this year are casting light on whether the nation's pipeline-inspection system, funded by state and federal assessments on gas utilities, is adequate to keep the public safe.

Pipeline safety became an increasing federal responsibility in recent years, after a deadly 1999 blast in Bellingham, Wash. Since then, Congress created a new federal agency to oversee pipeline safety and Washington has promised more money to states.

But as Washington shouldered more of the cost, assessing more fees on utilities to cover safety inspections, Pennsylvania cut back on its financial demands on utilities. So even as federal funding for safety inspections in Pennsylvania doubled between 2006 and 2010, the state cut its share by 30 percent.

Despite that cut, and thanks to the federal government's bolstering of safety-inspection funding, the total budget for inspections in Pennsylvania has grown about 4 percent a year since 2006.

SOURCE: The Morning Call

Assisting Stakeholders in Damage Reduction

Date: March 9, 2011 (Wednesday)

Time: 3:00 pm

Presenter: Louis Panzer, Public Services Manager , Arizona Blue Stakes, Inc.

Presenter: Kevin Hopper , Operations Manager , Dig Safely New York

Session Description

Panel Discussion   Every stakeholder has something to offer and something to gain by supporting education.  Often one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing even within states. This session will cover ways to engage stakeholders through damage reporting, consolidated efforts, low cost education and the benefits obtained through the sharing of information.

Read more about sessions & register HERE for the annual CGA Excavation Safety Conference!

CCGA- Canadian Common Ground Alliance

Check out the NEW Canadian Common Ground Alliance website- now live!

"The Canadian Common Ground Alliance is the voice of Canada's Regional Partner CGAs dedicated to working toward damage prevention solutions that will benefit all Canadians. This website is a portal to Canada's Common Ground Alliance Partners and provides routine updates to the damage prevention issues of national interest the CCGA is managing on behalf of our Regional Partners."

See their Upcoming events:

CGA Excavation Safety Conference

March 8, 2011 - Caribe Royale All - Suite Hotel and Convention Center- Orlando, Florida

Source: CCGA

CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo: 811 or 911...Change One Little Number and Your Whole World Changes

Presenter: Michael Callan , Callan and Company

Session Description

This program will talk about the work that is currently being done in emergency response to pipelines and explain the national programs from NASFM and PHMSA Pipeline Emergencies. Unfortunately the major cause of 911 calls for pipeline emergencies still is the failure of the excavators to dial 811. This presentation is a new approach to convince excavators for the need to make the call to 811 or else deal with the sad consequences of not calling 811 and then having to dial 911 for a Pipeline Emergencies. Read about more sessions & register HERE!

Mayor Lanny McPherson says "Call Before You Dig"

Some Russellville residents have been experiencing problems while putting up curbside mailboxes recently.

According to interim mayor Lanny McPherson, his theory that there may be issues concerning water lines while digging holes for the boxes has come to fruition.

As part of the United States Postal Service’s plan to make improvements in their delivery methods, certain areas of the city were expected to receive their mail from the curb by the end of November instead of on their homes. Historic areas were exempt from putting up the boxes.

It is anticipated that curbside mailboxes will help the post office become more efficient and keep their costs down on delivering mail. However, there are some residents that have attempted to dig a hole to place the box only to hit the utility line by digging too deep.

McPherson suggested people call 811 before digging. This number will connect you with Kentucky 811, a service that will contact the nearby utilities agencies who will then come out and mark where their lines are.

When you call 811, there will be an automated message that will direct you to a representative. You will need to provide your county and city, address and the nearest intersecting road.






Source: News- Democrat & Leader . com

2009 NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year Joey Logano to speak at CGA Conference

by Wendy Schaefer, Sunshine State One Call Communications Specialist 

Joey Logano, driver of the #20 Home Depot Camry, will give you a taste of what it’s like to mix


NASCAR racing and the 811 campaign at the CGA Annual Breakfast held in conjunction with 


the 2011 CGA Conference and Expo in Orlando. 

Mark-it! Madness, a committee of One Calls of America, implemented the Logano-811 


campaign three years ago, enabling participating states to have a celebrity spokesperson at a 


fraction of the cost. 

Logano has appeared in television, radio and print PSAs promoting the 811 message and has 


been featured on several one-call center websites. This year, ads will feature him in an 811-


branded fire suit. 

As the NASCAR season comes to a close, Logano celebrates another successful year, ranking 


sixth in the NASCAR power rankings. 

Source: CGA Monthly Update - November 2011

How To Locate Underground Power Lines

By Julius Vandersteen, eHow Contributor


Call 811 to locate underground power lines before you do any digging.

Although we are used to seeing electrical power lines high in the air, suspended between utility poles to deliver electricity through neighborhoods and business districts, there are also power lines located underground. If you are a homeowner or a contractor working on a project that involves digging in the ground, you have to know the location of any underground power lines before you commence excavation. The consequences of not knowing and inadvertently cutting into a power line include disruption of power service, injury and death. Call authorities before doing any digging, even if you are only planting a tree or shrub.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 1
   Go to Call 811's State-Specific Information website (see Resources).
2. 2
   Locate your state in the list, and click on the link to the state's rules and regulations to find out the specific details about digging in your area. Some states will let you submit an online digging request.
3. 3
   Call "811" on your telephone from anywhere in the United States a few days before digging is scheduled. Your call will automatically be routed to your local One Call Center.
4. 4
   Tell the operator the location of the site you intend to dig and what work you or your contractor will be doing. The operator will notify local utilities that will be affected. Within a few days, a person will come out to the site and mark the location of your underground power lines. There is no charge for this service. Once you see where the power lines are marked, you can dig safely.
   
   
   Source: eHow