The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced today that it is issuing $2,488,497 in grants to state entities, local communities, and non-profit organizations to address pipeline safety challenges related to damage prevention and to promote more involvement in local pipeline safety initiatives and awareness efforts.  The grants are being awarded to governmental entities and organizations spread across 24 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

“The grants we’re issuing today are more than just about protecting pipelines or promoting awareness, it’s about saving lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.  “States and localities know best what their unique challenges are and these grants will help them develop specific solutions to meet their individual pipeline safety needs.”

Of the grants issued today, PHMSA is awarding $1,499,939 in State Damage Prevention (SDP) program grants to 16 states and Puerto Rico.  Awarded annually, the grants are used to strengthen efforts in addressing pipeline failures attributed to activities such as excavation damage, one of the leading causes of pipeline accidents resulting in fatality or injury. The grants are also used to assist in establishing damage prevention programs where they do not currently exist. 

Since 2006, excavation damage has resulted in over 33 human fatalities, 144 injuries, and over $249 million in property damage nationwide.  PHMSA has awarded more than $13.6 million in SDP grants to 40 state entities since 2008 to encourage states to continue implementing the nine elements of an effective damage prevention program, outlined in the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006.  Program elements include the use of effective communications, partnerships, fair and consistent enforcement, training, and technology to help minimize the possibility of negative consequences resulting from inadvertent contact with underground pipelines.  The complete breakdown of the SDP grant recipients and awarded amounts are in Table 1 listed below. 

To accompany its SDP grants, PHMSA awarded a total of $988,558 in pipeline safety grants for technical assistance to 12 local community and non-profit organizations.  PHMSA’s Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program encourages local communities and non-profit organizations to help communities develop pipeline safety and education programs specific to their needs through technical assistance. 

The TAG awards provide funding for a broad range of activities, including improving or developing local pipeline emergency response capabilities, safe digging or damage prevention programs, pipeline safety information resources, community and pipeline awareness campaigns, and public participation in official proceedings that pertain to pipelines.

Since the TAG program’s inception in 2009, PHMSA has awarded more than $7 million to fund 166 individual technical assistance projects to help local communities and organizations address their pipeline safety needs. The complete breakdown of the TAG recipients and awarded amounts are in Table 2 listed below. 

Table 1: FY 2017 State Damage Prevention Grant Funding

Grantee                                Amount                                                        

Colorado 811                        $100,000

Connecticut Call Before

   You Dig, Inc.                     $97,920

Idaho Division of Building

   Safety                                 $90,000

Indiana Utility Regulatory

   Commission                       $100,000

Kansas Corporation

   Commission                       $90,033

Louisiana Department of

   Natural Resources              $80,000

Maryland Underground

   Facilities Damage

   Prevention Authority         $99,950

Michigan Public Service

   Commission                       $97,104

Minnesota Office of

   Pipeline Safety                   $100,000

Mississippi Public Service

   Commission                       $97,500

Missouri Public Services

   Commission                       $69,675

Nebraska State

   Fire Marshal                       $98,707

Nevada Public

   Utilities Commission         $85,000

New Jersey Board of

   Public Utilities                   $100,000

New Mexico Pipeline

   Safety Bureau                     $67,550

New York 811                       $30,000

Puerto Rico Department

   of Transportation and

   Public Works                      $96,500      

Table 2: FY 2017 Technical Assistance Grant Funding

Grantee                                                            State                       Award

Alamo Improvement Association                    California               $100,000

Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Foundation       Louisiana               $100,000

Brookings County                                            South Dakota         $9,000

Center for Rural Development                         Kentucky               $100,000

City of Vineyard                                               Utah                       $82,459

County of Chester                                            Pennsylvania          $44,662

County of Delaware                                         Pennsylvania          $75,000

Louisiana State Police                                      Louisiana               $100,000

North Central Florida Regional Hazardous

   Materials Response Team                              Florida                   $98,000

Permian Basin Regional Planning

   Commission                                                   Texas                     $100,000

Pipeline Safety Trust                                         Washington           $79,437

West Central Texas Council of Governments   Texas                     $100,000

Please visit http://phmsa.dot.gov for more information.