Agenda Packets - 1987/03/16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DOCKETS UNIT PAGE TWO MARCH 24, 1987 Proposal: Require operators to provide local jurisdictions, fire departments, and public safety agencies within one-half mile of pipelines, maps, inventories, and descriptions of transported substances, updated as appropriate. In addition, provide local fire departments and public safety agencies a copy of each operator's operations, maintenance and emergency manual. (HR262; Minn. Rep., Rec. 1.4). Response: The Notice states under this subheading that, "...liaison with public officials is required by CFR 192.615(c) and 195.402(c) (12) to plan responses in an emergency." During the time the WPL No. 2 - 8 inch pipeline has been under the control of WPL, no contact has been made by WPL with the City of Mounds View to establish liaison. In fact, testimony by a representative of WPL during the NTSB Hoard of Inquiry Hearing indicated that it is WPL's policy to establish liaison only with those governmental units having storage facilities or pumping stations within their. jurisdiction. Obviously, the Federal regulations are both unclear to the operators and unenforced by the UPS. Questions: (a) Should the Federal government mandate that operators provide the information regardless of whether a local jurisdiction or agency has requested it? Response: If the experience of Mounds View is any indication of the general inclination of the industry, and we believe it is, only when it is mandated will liaison be clearly established between pipeline operators and all local government jurisdictions along the route of their pipe lines. Also, a pipeline can be less than one-half mile outside of a jurisdiction's boundaries and not be known to that jurisdiction, but in an emergency have an impact upon that jurisdiction. (b) Could iocal jurisdictions or agencies that want the information obtain it under their own authority without Federal intervention?