PRCI

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May 31, 2011

PRCI Participates in the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline Safety Forum

On April 18, 2011, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood held a Pipeline Safety Forum with the goal of accelerating the rehabilitation, repair, and replacement of critical pipeline infrastructure with known integrity risks. This forum brought together pipeline safety experts, researchers, industry representatives, State partners, other Federal agency officials, and members of the public to share their expertise, experience, research, and ideas. Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) moderated the session on technical challenges facing the oil & gas pipeline industry.

The Forum was held in response to the unfortunate incidents in 2010 in the oil & gas transmission industry. There were three panels discussing the various issues facing the industry. Secretary LaHood stated that he was pleased to see such a strong participation from the industry and through a government – industry partnership we will be able to develop a program that will reassure the public that our nation’s pipeline infrastructure is safe and reliable.

The first panel discussed the current issues facing the industry, the second looked at the technical challenges, and the final began to lay out the steps needed to move the industry forward. One of the consistent messages from all three panels was that there was a need for additional technical advancements to enable the industry to continue to provide a safe and reliable pipeline infrastructure. Both the Natural Gas and Hazardous Liquids industry concurred with this observation. Later in the day Jeff Wiese, Associate Administrator for the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), commented that funding for research from the industry and government, including $8 million through PRCI and $8 million government funding annually, as anemic and there was an opportunity for greater funding. As part of the discussion about increased funding was also the question of identifying the key opportunities and ensuring that we are actively addressing those.

These discussions dove tail very well with the recently PRCI Board approved strategic plan for 2012-2017. PRCI is well positioned to begin addressing the critical needs of the industry. PRCI is the research leader for the industry and as the industry begins to identify what is needed to ensure pipeline integrity and public safety, PRCI will be at the forefront. Pipelines continue to be the safest form of transportation and with the goal of zero incidents, there is more that we need to do to develop the solutions for the industry.

For additional information on the Forum please visit http://phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum.

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