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2010 Iowa Pipeline Safety Educational Conference Des Moines, IA June 22, 2010. the voice and choice of public gas. APGA. ~1000 community-owned LDCs ► 36 states ► >5M Customers ► ~21,000 Employees ► ~120,000 Miles of Main System ranges: 12 meters to ~500,000. Priority #1.
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2010 Iowa Pipeline Safety Educational Conference Des Moines, IA June 22, 2010 the voice and choice of public gas
APGA • ~1000 community-owned LDCs ► 36 states ► >5M Customers ► ~21,000 Employees ► ~120,000 Miles of Main • System ranges: 12 meters to ~500,000
Priority #1 The Safe and Reliable Delivery of Affordable Natural Gas at Just & Reasonable Rates
One Thing Coal was King in the 19th Century Oil in the 20th Natural Gas in the 21st ?
111th Congress • Financial Reform • Build America Bonds (BABs) • Pipeline Safety • Climate Change • NGVs
111th Congress 6. Section 5 Reform 7. Energy Efficiency 8. LIHEAP 9. Environment 10. R&D 11. Smart Grid
Financial Reform • Legislative • Clearing • Fiduciary Duty • Regulatory • CFTC
BABs • Build America Bonds • A method for prepays? • Budget neutral • 25% - 26% • APPA
Pipeline Safety • Legislative • Reauthorization • Regulatory • DIMP
Climate • Legislative • Comprehensive? • Regulatory • EPA
Section 5 Reform • §5 Natural Gas Act • ~FPA §206 • Support from FERC • Support from Form 2
Energy Efficiency • Legislative • Source v Site • Regulatory • DOE / HUD / C&S
NGVs • Nat Gas Act • Natural Gas Fuel Tax Credit • HK Motors
LIHEAP • $5.1B • $7.6B
Environment • Legislative • Clean Water • Regulatory • EPA
R & D • Legislative • Regulatory
Smart Grid • Legislative • Regulatory
EPA: Fugitive Emissions • APGA supports the 25K metric ton threshold • Of ~1,000 munis, >50% have fewer than 5,000 customers, annual revenues of less than $1 million and 5 or fewer employees • Using annual report data from 1,372 LDCs for CY 2007 estimated emissions using EPA’s emission factors was 14,662,873 metric tons • 97 operators over 25,000 metric tons • Applying 25,000 metric ton threshold, EPA eliminates the burden on 93% of LDCs while still keeping about 90% of the emissions
Current Safety Issues • Distribution Integrity Management • Control Room Management • Public Awareness • Operator Qualification • New Construction • Compression Couplings • Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization
DIMP • Pleased with the final rule • Concerns w/Draft inspection forms • Pilot inspection: Mesa, AZ this summer • SHRIMP • An online DIMP development tool • > 100 systems have signed up to date • Improvements are already underway
Control Room Rule • NOT pleased with the final rule • Two compromises agreed to at 2008 TPSSC were not reflected in the final rule: • Limited to persons who monitor AND control • Limit fatigue management to controllers on shifts (e.g. staffed 24/7) • Trust that states will enforce the rule (not the preamble) using reason when applied to specific LDC personnel
Public Awareness • APGA participates in the RP 1162 revision process • APGA GOAL used by nearly 200 systems for effectiveness assessment • June 20th is the deadline for the first effectiveness assessment • APGA GOAL still accepts new systems
Operator Qualification • The SIF continues to qualify employees (small utilities, master meter & propane) in 52 OQ tasks • NAPSR participation in the SIF program is critical to its success • The SIF is exploring possible roles related to qualification of new construction tasks and construction inspectors
New Construction • APGA does not oppose making new construction tasks subject to OQ • Survey of members indicates most treat new construction under OQ • APGA participated in April 20th workshop and will work with NAPSR on the issues outlined that day
Compression Couplings • DIMP requires reporting failures • Some clarification of what type of couplings is needed • APGA suggests a government / industry group similar to PPDC be formed to evaluate data trends
Reauthorization • APGA prefers clean bill with no new mandates for rules • If they arise— • We oppose: • Mandatory EFV installation on commercial, industrial and multi family • Extending user fees to distribution piping • We support <30% SMYS transmission lines be covered under DIMP
APGA & NAPSR • Share the common goal of perfect pipeline safety • Share an understanding of the range & diversity of size of distribution operators • Share an understanding of how regulations affect small systems • Should continue to work together to further our mutually-shared goals
Fall Elections • Mid-term is referendum • Mood: Anti-everything • Started with Lehman • R status quo not a winner • Anger is real • How will it be channeled
2010 Iowa Pipeline Safety Educational Conference Des Moines, IA June 22, 2010 the voice and choice of public gas