Pipeline Safety

With the passage of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 (PSIA), the United States Congress mandated that specific requirements be implemented for ensuring the integrity of liquid and natural gas pipeline systems throughout the United States. This legislation, and subsequent regulations codified by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), require pipeline operators to develop programs to improve how they manage the integrity of their pipeline systems.

Southern Star has developed its Integrity Management Program (IMP) to more effectively perform safety-related activities such as testing and inspections, repairs, and maintenance of the pipeline system. Furthermore, our program is critical in determining the prioritization and timeline of pipeline integrity work while also standardizing the manner in which Southern Star continually monitors and documents the work associated with the integrity of the pipeline, specifically within High Consequence Areas (HCAs).

An HCA is a location that is defined by pipeline safety regulations as an area where pipeline releases could have greater consequences to health and safety or the environment. HCAs are generated when the Potential Impact Circle (PIC) of the pipeline encompasses 20 or more buildings intended for human occupancy or an identified site.

The PIC is the circle within which the potential failure of a pipeline could have significant impact on people or property.

An identified site is one of the following:

• An outside area or open structure that is occupied by 20 or more persons on at least 50 days in any 12-month period. The days need not be consecutive. Examples include but are not limited to, beaches, playgrounds, recreational facilities, camping grounds, outdoor theaters, stadiums, recreational areas near bodies of water
• Religious facilities, office buildings, community centers, general stores, or other buildings of this nature, that are occupied by 20 or more people on at least five (5) days a week for 10 weeks in a 12-month period (the days and weeks need not be consecutive)
• Schools, day-care facilities, retirement facilities, prisons, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, or other facilities occupied by persons who are confined, are of impaired mobility, or who would be difficult to evacuate.

Southern Star's IMP (Integrity Management Program) includes the following elements:

• Identification of High Consequence Areas
• Baseline Assessment Plan & Performing Integrity Assessment
• Remediating Conditions
• Continual Evaluation and Assessment
• Preventive & Mitigative Measures
• Performance Plan
• Management of Change
• Quality Assurance
• Internal & External Communications

Southern Star is committed to continuing to operate safe and reliable pipelines. Senior Management fully supports the processes and procedures contained in our IMP and has directed employees to meet the goals and objectives of the program.