[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 102 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28866-28867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13447]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-98-4029; Notice 3]
Pipeline Safety: One-Call Systems Study
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA); Office of
Pipeline Safety (OPS).
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a two-part public symposium RSPA will
conduct with the National Transportation Safety Board to report the
progress in various efforts currently underway in damage prevention of
underground facilities. Last year, RSPA established a study team to
evaluate existing damage prevention methods to reduce the risk of
damage to underground facilities, as called for by the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Members of the ``Common
Ground'' Study Team will discuss this report at this symposium. OPS
will discuss and take suggestions regarding criteria for awarding
authorized grants provided in TEA-21 to one call centers. RSPA will
also provide an update on current damage prevention projects, most
notably those dealing with public education. The Damage Prevention
Quality Action Team (DAMQAT), will report on the pilot test, results
from the ``Call Before You Dig'' public education campaign and the next
steps that will be necessary to make the campaign a nationwide effort.
DATES: The symposium will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 1999, from
9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
ADDRESSES: The symposium and ceremony will be held at the Marriott at
Metro Center, 775 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. Reservations
can be made by calling (202) 737-2200. A block of rooms is being held
under ``U.S. Department of Transportation/Damage Prevention Public
Meeting.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eben M. Wyman, (202) 366-0918, or by
e-mail (eben.wyman@rspa.dot.gov), regarding the subject matter of this
notice.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact
Eben Wyman at the address or phone number listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Report on Damage Prevention Best Practices
The morning session of this symposium will focus on the ``Common
Ground'' Damage Prevention Best Practices Study Team. RSPA's Office of
Pipeline Safety established this team to identify effective underground
facility damage prevention practices, consistent with TEA-21. Section
6105 of TEA-21 authorized DOT to undertake a study of damage prevention
practices associated with existing one-call notification systems. The
purpose of the study was to evaluate and identify damage prevention
practices that are most effective in protecting the public, excavators,
and the environment and in preventing disruptions to public services
and damage to underground facilities. RSPA established the Common
Ground Team to conduct the study. TEA-21 also authorized grant funding
for Fiscal Years 2000-2001, subject to appropriations. The grants will
be used as an incentive to improve operational efficiency and
reliability of one-call systems. Such improvements will bring increased
protection of all underground facilities and will benefit the general
public. RSPA will provide comments on planning for the grant program in
the afternoon session of this symposium, and RSPA and NTSB invite
comments and suggestions on how these grants should be allocated.
The Common Ground Study identifies and evaluates existing practices
related to damage prevention programs that are most effective in
protecting the public, excavators, and the environment and in
preventing disruptions and damage to public services and underground
facilities. Study Team participants represent a broad range of
utilities and distribution systems, highway departments, railroads,
excavators, municipal governments, trade associations and academia.
This report represents an unprecedented multi-industry, multi-
disciplinary collaboration working toward the goal of improving the
protection of all underground facilities.
The team will suggest many paths forward to continuous improvement
and emphasize the need for data collection and evaluation in order to
measure improvements. The team will discuss the criticality of
communication among all the parties to construction around underground
facilities and the need for collective responsibility for successful
excavation: careful planning and design, appropriate and timely one-
call center actions, accurate locating and marking, as well as careful
digging of the soil. The report focuses on how to challenge the full
spectrum of participants in the damage prevention process.
2. Presentation of National Public Education Campaign
The afternoon portion of the symposium will address other damage
prevention initiatives, especially public education programs. RSPA
established the joint government/industry Damage Prevention Quality
Action Team (DAMQAT), in October 1996. DAMQAT's mission is to increase
awareness of the need to protect underground facilities and to promote
safe digging practices. DAMQAT is composed of representatives from
federal and state government agencies, gas and hazardous liquid
pipeline trade associations, a contractor, a one-call systems
association, and the insurance and telecommunications industries. The
[[Page 28867]]
team launched a successful nationwide damage prevention public
education campaign in Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee that ran from
May through October 1998. By use of radio public service announcements,
trade press ads, bill inserts, public relations events, promotional
materials, and a training video, the campaign promoted education and
increased communication among all parties involved at a construction
site. DAMQAT's efforts increased stakeholder knowledge on underground
damage prevention, including use of one-call systems, and effective
ways to locate underground facilities at excavation sites. RSPA and
members of DAMQAT will provide information regarding their current
activities at the symposium.
3. Other Damage Prevention Initiatives
Aside from discussion of the grant provision contained in TEA-21,
other damage prevention and public education topics will be discussed.
These include other examples of what damage prevention programs might
look like. Examples are promotion of a nationwide toll-free number and
a decal program for excavation equipment. The nationwide toll-free
number is sponsored by One Call Systems International to facilitate
routing of phone calls when excavators do not have the center number or
there are multiple state one call centers. Peter King, Executive
Director of the American Public Works Association, will speak on the
pilot testing of a decal program, which promotes the placement of
pictograph decals, which include the toll free number, for new and
``after market'' equipment. These decals serve as the last line of
defense against facility damage. At the symposium, RSPA and NTSB will
solicit an open discussion of the best way to implement these
initiatives.
4. Recognition of Volunteers
RSPA and NTSB recognize the contributions of over 170 volunteers
who developed the report on best practices in damage prevention and who
served on the DAMQAT. A wide variety of interests and organizations
participated in these efforts, including six associations representing
underground facility owners and operators, three associations
representing contractors, two associations representing public
utilities and one call centers, two federal agencies within DOT, two
associations representing state pipeline and utility regulatory
agencies, an association of railroads, an association of contract
locators, and nine different state DOTs.
RSPA and NTSB encourages the public to attend and participate in
this public symposium.
Issued in Washington, DC on May 21, 1999.
Richard B. Felder,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-13447 Filed 5-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
