News Release
For more information contact: Abbie Hodgson, 785-271-3269
October 23, 2009
KCC to host Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Seminar
The Importance of Knowing Your System
Topeka, KS- The Kansas Corporation Commission's Office of Pipeline Safety, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Training and Qualifications group, will hold its annual Pipeline Safety Seminar beginning at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 27 through noon, Thursday, October 29 at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas.
The theme of this year's conference will be, "The Importance of Knowing Your System." The state of Kansas has an aging natural gas pipeline infrastructure, and the seminar will stress the importance of accurate records and in-depth system knowledge in order to minimize safety risks and assist in long range planning for the future success of the utility operation.
KCC Chairman Thomas Wright will deliver the keynote address Tuesday morning on the subject of avoiding catastrophic failures. A host of topics will be addressed in plenary and breakout sessions including new facility locating technology, testing customers' piping for leaks, and the Kansas Mutual Aid Program.
The annual seminar provides an opportunity for management, supervisory, technical and maintenance personnel of natural gas systems throughout the state to receive updates on the latest rules and regulations, learn about hot topics in the natural gas industry, and network with other operators and over 50 participating product vendors.
The seminar attracts more than 200 operators ranging from small municipal systems serving a handful of customers, to gas gatherers and private system operators, to operators of large systems such as Kansas Gas Service with approximately 700,000 customers. Many of the participants are not regulated by the KCC but are subject to state and federal pipeline safety regulations.
More information about the seminar including a full agenda is available at:
http://kcc.ks.gov/pipeline/2009_seminar/.