PRESS RELEASE

American Public Gas Association
201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE , Suite C-4
Washington , DC 20002  
Contact: John Erickson
Phone: (202) 464-0834
Email: jerickson@apga.org

For Immediate Release    

November 9, 2005 - The American Public Gas Association (APGA) announces the launch of the APGA Security and Integrity Foundation (SIF), a non-profit organization created to help small utilities, propane operators, and master meter operators with their security and pipeline safety challenges. Under a cooperative agreement with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the SIF will focus resources on enhancing the abilities of these gas utility operators to prevent, mitigate and repair damage to the nation's small gas distribution infrastructure. “The improvements we have required are a significant challenge for large companies. We need to do everything we can to help smaller companies comply,” said Stacey Gerard, PHMSA Acting Assistant Administrator/Chief Safety Officer.

In the last few years, new safety and Operator Qualification (OQ) standards have been applied to gas utilities. In addition, in today's uncertain world, there are new threats of deliberate actions to disrupt gas systems. The costs of OQ compliance and preparation for potential disruptions are placing more financial demands on all systems, especially smaller ones. Smaller operators include small utilities with limited personnel and financial resources and master meter systems such apartment complexes, trailer parks and other businesses that have many focuses in addition to gas systems. Gerry Lee, APGASIF'S OQ Program manager, says “these smaller operations find it very difficult to afford the time or resources to get the required training. This is why the SIF formed.”

Initial SIF efforts will focus on providing education, training, materials, services and products specifically designed to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of small distribution system and master meter system operators. The SIF will also focus on increasing small operators' compliance with DOT Operator Qualification (OQ) requirements.

According to Bert Kalisch , President of APGA and the SIF, “Small operators can now receive the best training possible for the lowest cost.” Specifically, the SIF has initiated a project to provide training and operator qualification to 1,000 small system operations and maintenance personnel in the coming 12 months. This is just the first of many programs the SIF will provide to bring industry best practices to small systems with limited resources.

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The American Public Gas Association is the national association of approximately 600 municipally and publicly-owned local distribution systems in 36 states.

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