Pipeline Maps a tool for local government and the public Raymond Paul Association of Oil Pipe Lines

AOPL on Public Access to NPMS “We believe it is time that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Transportation Security Administration re-establish public access to the National Pipeline Mapping System and determine what non-sensitive information already submitted by pipeline operators to PHMSA may be made available to the public.” Association of Oil Pipe Lines, to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, March 16, 2006.

NPMS is valuable because… Pipeline industry wants the public to know where pipelines are in order to: prevent excavation damage help the public report abnormal occurrences limit encroachment facilitate planning development to avoid pipeline rights of way.

NPMS is valuable because… Maps are an excellent communications tool: viewer is able to see the pipeline as a real facility in recognizable geography attributes of the pipeline can be correlated with location (example: types of permits required for pipeline repair by location; emergency response details by location) a picture is worth a thousand words

NPMS is valuable because… PHMSA can use maps to provide information about pipelines primary responsibility for providing information lies with government data and information are official all pipelines participate at appropriate level commercial and security concerns addressed

NPMS is not the only source of pipeline location information Anyone can determine pipeline location with Pennwell maps in Texas, the Texas Railroad Commission website Locally, look for required line markers Use the state one-call system Google and Yahoo maps and aerial photographs

Restore public access to NPMS Pipeline location information is available Added risk is small Benefits are large Damage prevention Preventing encroachment Planning development Communicating with the public

Contact AOPL www.aopl.org Raymond Paul 202 408 7970 rpaul@aopl.org