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RSPA
8-03
Contacts:
James Mitchell
Damon A. Hill
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
DOT
Investment in Pipeline Safety Research Reaches $5.8 million
The
U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration
(RSPA) today announced grants for three research and development (R&D)
projects to improve the safety and reliability of pipelines.
The awards, totaling $540,000, raise the investment in pipeline R&D
by RSPA's public/private pipeline research program to $5.8 million since the
program began last year.
"These
grants help fulfill President Bush's and Secretary Mineta's goals of improving
transportation safety and increasing our investment in a research and
development program that produces results," said Samuel G. Bonasso, RSPA
Acting Administrator. "Our
comprehensive public/private pipeline safety research program is designed to
build the confidence of the American people in the safety of our pipeline
industry - a goal that holds even more promise since the enactment of the
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002."
The
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires RSPA to identify innovative
technologies that will enhance pipeline transportation safety in three to five
years.
This
marks RSPA's second set of awards for R&D projects that will enhance
pipeline operations, controls and monitoring solutions.
RSPA previously awarded $627,000 in funding for related projects in
February. RSPA has issued three
broad agency announcements (BAA) for pipeline R&D and has awarded
approximately $2.8 million for 13 research projects.
Another $3 million in funding has been provided by industry.
RSPA
expects to present awards for its third BAA by September 2003 for research
projects to improve pipeline materials and extend the integrity and lifetime of
installed pipelines and their various components. Additional information on this BAA can be found at http://www.rspa.dot.gov/baa03baa0001.pdf.
The
awards announced today will fund the following projects:
*
Battelle Corporation of Columbus, OH, and INGAA Foundation of Washington, DC, to
develop a process that will assist RSPA in determining the value of various
pipeline construction practices ($70,000);
*
CC Technologies of Dublin, OH, and Pipeline Research Council International of
Washington, DC, to develop guidelines for pipeline operators that will enable
users to mitigate possible hydrogen-induced damage, as well as
disbondment of the protective coating and/or blistering of pipelines
($80,000);
*
FINO AG of Hildesheim, Germany, Pipeline Research Council International of
Washington, DC, Southern California Gas Company of Los Angeles, Questar Gas
Company of Salt Lake City, and TransCanada Pipelines Limited, Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, to enhance the current NoPig Pipeline Inspection System for "non-piggable"
small diameter pipelines to be used on larger diameter pipelines to identify
pipeline anomalies and to find defects ($390,000). A pipeline "pig" is
an automated device that is used in inspecting, dimensioning, or cleaning
pipelines.
RSPA
has public responsibilities for the safe and secure movement of hazardous
materials to industry and consumers by all transportation modes, including the
nation=s pipelines; rapid response to emergencies by government agencies;
training for transportation safety professionals; and applying science and
technology to meet national transportation needs.
For
additional information visit us on the web at: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/rd; or
contact James.Mitchell@rspa.dot.gov or Damon.Hill@rspa.dot.gov.
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