| Questions 165-168 refer to the
following information. 1. The One-Call System In most states, natural gas industry-supported laws require contractors and private landowners to call the local One-Call number before beginning any kind of digging. With forty-eight hours' notice, a pipeline operator will locate the pipeline and mark it clearly. Any damage at all to a pipe-even the slightest scratch could lead to a leak later on. Whether One-Call has become the law in your state or not, you can help keep pipelines safe by calling the number on the right-of-way markers before you dig. 2. Leak Detection Most pipelines are operated twenty-four hours a day from a control station, using telephone, satellite, or microwave communications systems. Computers are widely used to monitor conditions along the line every ten to sixty seconds, sounding an alarm if they detect any abnormality or sudden change in pressure. In the event of an alarm, valves can be closed and nearby pipeline crews dispatched within minutes. 3. Emergency Response Preparedness Although leaks occur infrequently and rarely result in a fire, readiness for any emergency is a crucial responsibility for pipeline companies. Federal and state laws supported by the natural gas industry require pipeline companies and local police and fire departments to maintain a coordinated plan of response and to practice for an emergency by staging drills. These drills and personnel training programs emphasize the need for immediate action and for cooperation between the various rescue agencies and the pipeline company. 4. Public Awareness The One-Call system, state-of-the-art leak detection equipment, and emergency response procedures have all been put in place with one thing in mind-the safety of you, the public. Please visit the website of the Natural Gas Association to find out more about our safety procedures, tips for using natural gas safely in your home, and information on what to do if you see someone tampering with pipeline right-of-way markers. |