Pipeline Safety – Embrace The Conflict
Every Conflict is an Opportunity for Positive Change
Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana – November 19th & 20th, 2015
Conference Agenda
DAY ONE – Thursday, November 19th
9:00 – 9:10Welcoming Comments – Grand Ballroom
Carl Weimer, Executive Director, Pipeline Safety Trust
9:10 – 9:30Opening Address – Grand Ballroom
Marie Therese Dominguez, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
9:30 – 10:15General Session – The Past Year in Review – Grand Ballroom
10:15 – 10:35Food For Thought Session – What are PHMSA’s Plans for all that New Money? – Grand Ballroom
Jeff Wiese, Associate Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Q & A – Jeff Wiese, Associate Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
10:35 – 11:00Break
11:00 – 11:30Food For Thought Session – Why are Enforcement Hearings Closed? – Grand Ballroom
Vasiliki Tsaganos, Deputy Chief Counsel, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Katie Townshend, Litigation Director, Reporters’ Committee on Freedom of the Press
11:30 – 12:45Breakout Session – Turning to the States – Would more state authority and oversight improve safety? – A look at the issues from the perspective of state and federal regulators – Grand Ballroom
Alan Rathbun, Pipeline Safety Director, Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission
Zach Barrett, Director of State Programs, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Toayoa Aldridge, Program Director, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Office of Inspector General
Breakout Session – Pipelines 101 – A primer for beginners – Evangeline Suite
12:45 – 2:00Buffet Lunch – Fleur de Lis and Courtyard
2:00 – 3:15Breakout Session – An Interactive Look at Meaningful Metrics – Can we find some that give an accurate picture of pipeline safety? Can we agree on what they are and how to measure them? – Grand Ballroom
Carl Weimer, Pipeline Safety Trust
Breakout Session – Who Pays For Pipeline Safety? Who Should? – Evangeline Suite
Graham Hill, Ice Miller Strategies / INGAA
3:15 – 3:30Break
3:30 – 4:45Breakout Session – What’s Wrong with Integrity Management? Discussion of the NTSB recent report on gas IM and agency and industry responses – Grand Ballroom
Chris McLaren, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Breakout Session – Case Study – One Community’s Attempt to Make Pipelines Safer – Evangeline Suite
Alamo Improvement Association – Roger Smith
Contra Costa County – Michael Kent
5:30 – 7:00Pipeline Safety Trust Board of Directors’ Reception for Attendees – Fleur de Lis Suite
DAY TWO – Friday, November 20th
8:00 – 9:00Breakfast – Foyer
9:00 – 9:20Keynote – Colette Honorable, FERC Commissioner – Grand Ballroom
9:20 – 10:20Breakout Session – Should natural gas “spills” be treated like oil spills? What is the industry doing to plug the leaks and avoid the need for additional regulations? – Grand Ballroom
Jonathan Peress, Environmental Defense Fund
Dr. Subu R Subramanian, Carnegie Mellon University
Breakout Session – New API Recommended Practices on Pipeline Cracking and Leak Detection – Evangeline Suite
Stuart Saulters, Policy Advisor, API
Ken Lee, Director, Engineering & Research, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
10:20 – 10:30Break
10:30 – 10:45Food For Thought Session – Should Pipelines Have Permits to Operate that are Reviewed Periodically? – Grand Ballroom
Sara Gosman, University of Arkansas School of Law, Pipeline Safety Trust Board Vice President
10:45 – 12:00Breakout Session – How Old is Too Old? Who Makes That Decision? – Grand Ballroom
Carl Weimer, Pipeline Safety Trust
Breakout Session – 2014 Technical Assistance Grant Showcase – Evangeline Suite
Tip of the Mitt, Jennifer McKay
Blue Green Alliance, Rob McCulloch
Jason Tieman, representing Greater Lafourche Port Commission, Louisiana
12:00 – 1:30Lunch – On Your Own
1:30 – 2:45General Session – The Cost/Benefit analysis that is part of Rulemaking – Grand Ballroom
John Gale, Director, Standards & Rulemaking, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Bill Byrd, President RCP, Inc.
Sara Gosman, University of Arkansas School of Law, Pipeline Safety Trust Board member