NYS Department of Public Service hosted a collaborative meetings regarding gas gathering lines. The first meeting was held at Corning Community College, 1 Academic Drive, Corning, NY, on December 5, 2017. Additional meetings have been scheduled in the Town Tonawanda, NOCO Pavilion, 450 Ensminger Road, Tonawanda, NY, for Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm. Staff presented the following presentation for discussion:

• Combined Gathering Line Jurisdiction and Rules Final.pdf

Operator Qualifications Technical Conference

NYS Department of Public Service hosted a technical conference on Operator Qualification (OQ) rules. This conference was held at The Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, NY, October 4-5, 2017. Topics presented for discussion included:

• Overview of Current Issues and Findings from OQ Program Audits, Presented by DPS Staff Panel
• OQ Plan and Implementation Audit Results Slides.pdf
• Customer Outreach – Service Line Inspection and Best Practices, Presented by Erin O’Dell-Keller, DPS Staff
• Natural_Gas_Service Lines_Inspection Requirement 10-17.pdf
• Expectations and Requirements of OQ Programs, Presented by NYS and other Eastern Region (ER) Program Managers


• History of OQ and Continuous Improvements, Presented by Robert Miller – Former NAPSR National Chair/Arizona Program Manager/Veriforce
• OQ History Presentation.pdf
• Security Considerations for Online Testing, Presented by Paul Armstrong, Northeast Gas Association
• NGA OQ Security Presentation - Oct 5, 2017.pdf
• Effective Training and Evaluation Programs and Ensuring Compliance, Presented by Geoff Isbell and Mayra Maese, Energy WorldNet
• EWN Compliance.pdf
• Best Practices, Presented by joint NYS, ER, and LDC Panel
• OQ Best Practices Draft 20171005.pdf

2016 Pipeline Safety Seminar

NYS Department of Public Service, in conjunction with USDOT PHSMA Training and Qualifications, hosted a Pipeline Safety Seminar to discuss relevant issues impacting and affecting pipeline safety. The seminar was held at The Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua, NY, September 13-15, 2016. Topics included:

• Dig Safely, Presented by Kevin Hopper, Dig Safe NY
• A Focus On Safety_9_14_16.pdf
• Regulatory Update, Presented by Leticia Santos, PHMSA T&Q
  
  
  
  
• Incident Investigation, Presented by Paul Metro, Pennsylvania PUC
• Incident Investigation Presentation.pdf
• Outreach and Education, Presented by Erin O’Dell-Keller, NYS DPS
• Natural Gas Safety _Public Awareness 9-16.pdf
• Pipeline Inspection Technology for Enhanced Pipeline Safety, Presented by Timothy Easton
• Cost Management and Deferrals, Presented by Michael Rieder, NYS DPS
• September 14 Safety Seminar - Rieder.pdf
• Remote Monitoring Using Advanced Ultrasound Technologies for Buried Pipelines, Presented by Robert Leary
• Gas Technology Institute Methane Detection Research, Presented by Kristine Wiley
• Utility/First Responder Communication, Presented by Ben Wheeler, NYS OFPC
• Operator Qualifications with DPS Staff Panel Assistance, Presented by Leticia Santos, PHMSA T&Q
• OQ and OQ NPRM_GAS_seminar_2016 .pdf
• DIMP, SMS, Risk Model Working Group, Presented by Chris McLaren, PHMSA
• PHMSA NY Pipeline Safety Seminar_09.14.2016.pdf
• Eastern Region Accident Investigation Coordinator, Presented by Mike Yazembowski, PHMSA ER