Repairing Our Cities’
Aging Pipelines
Pipeline Safety Trust Conference 2015
Rob McCulloch – Director, Infrastructure Programs
A coalition of 10 of the country’s largest labor
unions and 5 of America’s most influential
environmental groups
AFL-CIO
BlueGreen Alliance unites nearly 16M members
and supporters working for a clean energy
economy.
AFL-CIO representing 11M+ American workers
Repairing our Cities Aging
Pipelines – RECAP
• Frontline gas workers - unions involved in pipeline
installation, operations, maintenance, fabrication:
• United Association/UA – distribution, upstream
pipefitters & welders
• Utility Workers Union of America – distribution,
storage, transmission, clerical
• Steelworkers (USW) – distribution, supply chain
• AFL-CIO – supply chain
• Environment advocates - climate, pollution goals
“A safer gas system wastes less gas and
creates less pollution – efforts to reduce
pollution and waste result in a safer system.”
RECAP Goals
• Create safer workplaces and communities
by supporting workforce efforts and
improve industrial practices
• Modernize a critical part of energy
infrastructure w/ focus on aging, leak-prone
pipes and equipment (i.e. 110K+ miles of
bare steel, cast iron…aging plastic next
challenge)
• Recapture lost natural gas which
consumers and businesses pay for –
‘keep gas in the system’
• Reduce emissions to lower climate impact
– pound for pound, uncombusted methane
at least 25x as powerful as carbon dioxide
PHMSA TAG Programs
Minnesota 2013-2014
Industry best practices (LDAR), identify
workforce challenges, opportunities
Indiana 2014-2015
Plastic pipe issues, leaks due to
material/welds/corrosion higher, workforce,
Operator Qualification challenges
California 2015-2016
Educate, support implementation of new
state policy to speed distribution
repairs/upgrades
Minnesota TAG
• Convening frontline gas workers (MN Pipe Trades),
unions (USW), community/environmental groups,
utilities, MN safety/pipeline agencies; final at MN
AFL-CIO convention
• Best practices regarding LDAR (leak detection &
replacement) undertaken by Twin Cities utilities,
potentially serving as a model for other markets
• 5.7x increase in leaks detected, 90% fewer
unfound leaks, 26% fewer customer calls
• Better leak detection = leaks found earlier
when smaller and less hazardous
• Workforce development challenges, opportunities
for training and retention of gas utility workers.
• Focus on pipe trades as viable career paths at
all levels of education
• 43 miles of cast iron replacement under
current programs = 500 MN jobs created
Indiana TAG
• Convened Vectren, NiSource frontline gas
workers (USW Locals 12775, 12213; IBEW
Local 1373), UA, community/enviro groups,
workforce development – final at Inter
Union Gas Conference (nat’l gas workers)
• Plastic pipe – older generation plastic (60’s
and 70’s) brittle, cracking, leaking; will need
replacement in years to come but not as well
tracked, mapped, inventoried
• Workforce – OQs longer but not as good;
not testing practical skills. Unions lead on
safety, training – how to play a larger role?
• Hiring/aging – generation gap between new
workers and retiring workers, need to attract
next generation of pipe workers – ‘the new
economy is the old economy’
Distribution pipe reaching 50+ yrs
2,500
2,000
1,500
Cumulative
pipeline miles
(1000's)
1,000
500
0
1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's
2010's
2020's
2030's
2040's
Source: PHMSA
Additional RECAP Distribution Efforts
• California Methane Leakage Abatement Workforce Act – Law directs California
PUC to improve LDAR, pipe replacement, classifications/response
• Pro - 1st ever nat gas pipe policy that factors climate change impact
• Con – Undefined timeline for implementation; regional disparities
Illinois Natural Gas Safety and Reliability Act - TIRF approved in 2013 for
Chicago & statewide replacement of more than 1K miles of cast iron, uncoated
steel distribution pipe, smart meters outside buildings
• Pro - Create 500 direct jobs incl. vets hiring program (1K+ total jobs created)
• Con – Costs exceeding estimates > impact to consumers
• New Jersey EnergyStrong /filings - $2B over 5 years to replace 400 miles of cast
iron, 11,000 unprotected services, move metering stations above flood zones in
response to Hurricane Sandy; potential to create 2K jobs for state economy
Priorities at the federal level
PHMSA – successful rules/policies hinge on
continuing/expanding hiring staff, PHMSA reauthorization
• Stronger Operator Qualification (OQ) standards to ensure testing is consistent
• Plastic pipe in gas services – better tracking and design factors for newer PE, PA11, PA-12 plastic pipe
• Improved /faster accident notification
• Expanding the use of excess flow valves in applications beyond single residences
• Safety of gas transmission pipelines/improved integrity management
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy
• EPA – current draft federal rule (early 2016?) for upstream gas leaks; oppty for
distribution beyond Natural Gas Star (voluntary program for gas utilities); Control
Technique Guidelines (regional air quality standards)
• DOE – funding for natural gas distribution modernization pending under
Quadrennial Energy Review
Looking Ahead
Workers are a
key resource in
defining and
resolving issues
in the natural
gas pipeline
system
• Frontline gas worker voices key in guiding
state, federal policy – well suited to convey
impact of energy and utility policy on
workplaces, industrial practices, and
communities to public utility
commissioners, policymakers
• Share best practices effectively – identify
issues faced in different markets, make
practical solutions more accessible to all
• Invest in infrastructure and workers for
safe, efficient energy – ‘insource’ the best,
most advanced materials and equipment
• Hold industry accountable to communities,
workers, future generations
Questions, comments > robm@bluegreenalliance.org