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AWC Grant Project Report

AWC Grant Project Report. Jim Doherty Legal Consultant Municipal Research & Services Center Seattle November, 2010. Project Participants. AWC – Association of Washington Cities WSAC – Washington Association of Counties PST – Pipeline Safety Trust

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AWC Grant Project Report

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  1. AWC Grant Project Report Jim Doherty Legal Consultant Municipal Research & Services Center Seattle November, 2010

  2. Project Participants • AWC – Association of Washington Cities • WSAC – Washington Association of Counties • PST – Pipeline Safety Trust • WUTC - Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission • NWGA – Northwest Gas Association • MRSC – Municipal Research & Services Center

  3. Project Components Posted a web page http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/PubSafe/transpipes.aspx • Took the message out to the local governments A dozen presentations around the state Lots of Print and Electronic Communications

  4. Provide Direct Assistance We offered to travel to jurisdictions to meet with local elected officials and staff We offered to help them by assisting with the drafting of procedural or substantive regulatory ordinances

  5. Reaction? • Verbal support - • Gee, nice presentation and info! • Promises that they would follow up and take action But very little action (so far)

  6. Did San Bruno Wake Them Up? Not a single call following the California rupture!

  7. What’s Going (or NOT going) On? • Planning Departments in cities and counties have been decimated by layoffs and funding cuts • Only required projects (state mandated planning efforts) and routine tasks • Or separately funded projects

  8. In Process? • Is it too early to see the full impact of our efforts? • Are some jurisdictions awaiting the issuance of the PIPA report?

  9. ** THE PIPA REPORT ** • Will the release of the report provide the legitimacy for local governments to address the issue? • We can hope so.

  10. Every Cause Needs a Champion • The Achaeans had Achilles, the Trojans had Hector (for a while) • In every community we need to get either a member of the legislative body, a persuasive planner, or a VERY EFFECTIVE local citizen to push the issue.

  11. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly • We now have good, well thought out options to offer to local governments • Many local governments are currently in a defensive mode, unwilling or unable to take on new initiatives • The pipelines are underground and most people are not concerned until they see flames and hear sirens

  12. Next Steps? • Continue with same pattern: educate & seek to motivate, provide $$$ to prime the pump • Elicit support from industry and get industry more involved with local government planning (acknowledgement of risk?) • Can PHMSA take a bolder role in the process?

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