The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires each gas utility and pipeline operator to evaluate the effectiveness of its public awareness programs and make improvements where necessary. Operations and communications experts from the American Petroleum Institute (API), America American Public Gas Association (APGA), Interstate Natural Gas Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and American Gas Association developed API Recommended Practice (RP) 1162 to provide guidance for what constitutes an effective public awareness program. A final rule published on May 19, 2005, incorporated RP 1162 by reference into pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR Part 192) and required operators to create written public awareness plans following RP 1162 guidelines by no later than June 20, 2006. RP 1162 may be viewed in the American Petroleum Institute IBR Reading Room at https://publications.api.org.
As a resource for our members, APGA developed a model distribution public awareness plan shortly after the finalization of the rule. The model plan was developed by Safety and Compliance Evaluation, Inc. (SCE) and includes all the requirements in RP 1162 that address distribution public awareness issues. Users are encouraged to update, if necessary, and customize this plan for their own use, use any portions of the plan or use none of it as they determine what is necessary to remain in compliance with the regulations.