1. Atmos Energy Pipeline Safety
Brian L. Jackson
Compliance Manager
Atmos Energy Corporation
Mid-Tex Division, Dallas, Texas

2. Atmos Energy Operations

3. Cross-Functional Administration
Utility Operations Council (UOC)
UOC Communications Committee
RP 1162 Team
20 Members
AGA/SGA Surveys Team
Industry Requests Team
Policy-making and decision-making authority
Management Committee CEO, CFO, Sr. VP of Utility Operations, General Counsel, and Sr. VP of HR

4. Damage Prevention Activities
Damages decreased 18% companywide (883) from 2008 to 2012, while locate requests remained steady at about 1.4 million a year for 2008 and States with effective enforcement saw significant drops in damages per thousand locates. Programs: Repeat Offenders – If an excavator hits our facilities repeatedly, we contact the owner to seek ways to reduce damages cooperatively. Excavator Training – As part of liaison activities, we hold more than 400 meetings a year about calling 811, leak recognition and pipeline safety rules. Media Campaigns – We support national and state coalitions that air radio and TV commercials about calling 811, work with home-improvement stores and equipment rental businesses, and publicize National 811 Day, August 11. Positive Response – is offered by all states we serve even though it is only required in Texas and Virginia.

5. Public Awareness Activities
Eight state regulatory authorities audited our RP 1162 program during Audit Results: Expanded and clarified our documentation and revamped some practices Added a State Public Awareness Program Administrator for each state Increased by 275% contacts with public officials, particularly school principals, public-works managers and highway and street superintendents Improved surveying activities to help assess stakeholder audiences Boosted ad spending 40% to reach more members of the affected public

6. 2010 Survey of Affected Public
About half (51%) of all respondents were aware of pipeline locations, with more than three out of five (60%) aware of pipelines.
Respondents had a high awareness of “smell” (90%) and “hissing” (84%) as signs of a possible natural gas leak.
A significant difference in awareness of “smell” between different ethnicities was eliminated
Awareness of “fire/explosion” hazard increased to 80% in 2010.
Eight of ten (83%) say they will call 911 in the event of a gas leak, and nearly that number (78%) say they will call 811 before digging in the future.

7. Continual Improvement
RP program expenditures exceeding $1.7 million annually
Plan to survey all four stakeholder groups continually for consistency and “actionable” data (rather than every two, three or four years)
More damage-prevention efforts and innovative new communications
In-depth benchmarking with peers and other operators
QA/QC measures to strengthen our program
Systemwide investments between $770 million and $790 million in and between $3.7 billion and $3.8 billion from 2012 to 2016 on pipeline modernization, replacements and maintenance for safety and reliability