(a) Each operator
shall establish written procedures to minimize the hazard resulting from a gas
pipeline emergency. At a minimum, the procedures must provide for the
following:
(1) Receiving, identifying, and
classifying notices of events which require immediate response by the
operator;
(2) Establishing and
maintaining adequate means of communication with appropriate fire, police, and
other public officials;
(3) Prompt
and effective response to a notice of each type of emergency, including the
following:
(A) Gas detected inside or near a
building;
(B) Fire located near or
directly involving a pipeline facility;
(C) Explosion occurring near or directly
involving a pipeline facility; and
(D) Natural disaster;
(4) The availability of personnel, equipment,
tools, and materials, as needed at the scene of an emergency;
(5) Actions directed toward protecting people
first and then property;
(6)
Emergency shutdown and pressure reduction in any section of the operator's
pipeline system necessary to minimize hazards to life or property;
(7) Making safe any actual or potential
hazard to life or property;
(8)
Notifying appropriate fire, police, and other public officials of gas pipeline
emergencies and coordinating with them both planned responses and actual
responses during an emergency;
(9)
Safely restoring any service outage; and
(10) Beginning action under section 6-77-165,
if applicable, as soon after the end of the emergency as possible.
(b) Each operator shall:
(1) Furnish its supervisors who are
responsible for emergency action a copy of that portion of the latest edition
of the emergency procedures established under subsection (a) as necessary for
compliance with those procedures;
(2) Train the appropriate operating personnel
to assure that they are knowledgeable of the emergency procedures and verify
that the training is effective; and
(3) Review employee activities to determine
whether the procedures were effectively followed in each emergency.
(c) Each operator shall establish
and maintain liaison with appropriate fire, police, and other public officials
to:
(1) Learn the responsibility and
resources of each government organization that may respond to a gas pipeline
emergency;
(2) Acquaint the
officials with the operator's ability in responding to a gas pipeline
emergency;
(3) Identify the types
of gas pipeline emergencies of which the operator notifies the officials;
and
(4) Plan how the operator and
officials can engage in mutual assistance to minimize hazards to life or
property.
(d) Each
operator shall establish a continuing educational program to enable customers,
the public, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in
excavation related activities to recognize a gas pipeline emergency for the
purpose of reporting it to the operator or the appropriate public officials.
The program and the media used must be as comprehensive as necessary to reach
all areas in which the operator transports gas. The program must be conducted
in English and in other languages commonly understood by a significant number
and concentration of the non-English speaking population in the operator's
area.
