1. U. S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

2. Pipelines and Risk Management: How Safe is Safe?
Jeff Wiese
Program Development Director

3. Framework We are an energy hungry Nation
Energy supplies basic human needs and drives physical and economic mobility
Our hunger for energy is growing
Centers of energy production/importation are few and far between
Centers of energy consumption are many and widespread
Pipelines connect these centers and move virtually all natural gas and 2/3 of our liquid energy supplies
Pipelines present the safest form of transportation for these energy resources

4. Framework (cont.)
Pipelines move much needed, but inherently hazardous energy supplies that have associated risks
Risk = Likelihood x Consequence
Neither unimportant – but BOTH must be considered
Pipeline risks are generally well known and clearly can be successfully managed if systematically managed
Risks are trending downward despite growth in use and nearby communities
Risk management (intervention) strategies must be customized AND layered
E.g., public risks v. industry risks
Trending information requires normalization
We are working to sharpen the quantitative and geographic focus on pipeline risk and communicate it

5. What Do We Know About These Risks

31. PHMSA Goal Safe, Clean, and Reliable Energy Transportation Through Our Nation’s Pipeline System

32. Key Strategy Manage the Risk and Integrity of Our Pipelines

33. PHMSA’s Approach
Better understand both the likelihood and consequence of identifiable risks
Build or improve existing layers of protection customized to mitigate these identifiable risks
Use data and risk to focus PHMSA attention and limited resources
Use systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating pipeline risks

34. PHMSA Uses A Variety of Tools to Ensure and Improve Performance
Technical Standards for Design, Construction, and Operation
DOT Regulations
Risk Management

35. PHMSA Has Significantly Improved its Ability to Identify Risks
Better Understanding of the Environments that Pipelines Traverse
Improved Reporting by Operators
Statistical Analysis of Events and Causes
Analysis of Operator and Individual Pipeline System Performance
We are Working to Improve Communication of Risk and Performance

36. PHMSA Uses a Variety of Intervention Strategies to Prevent Accidents, Mitigate Consequences, and Ensure Reliability
Regulations and National Consensus Standards
Education and Communication
Partnerships – e.g., States, CGA, NASFM, etc
Inspections – Programmatic and Field Verification
Enforcement
Executive Performance Reviews
Research and Technology Development

37. The End
Thanks