Public Officials and Pipeline Safetypstrust.org/docs/InterviewFindings.pdf · Public Officials and...
Transcript of Public Officials and Pipeline Safetypstrust.org/docs/InterviewFindings.pdf · Public Officials and...
PublicOfficialsandPipelineSafety
“Communi(esneedtobemorepro‐ac(ve.Ifthereisapipelinethentherearethingsthat
arenotappropriatetobetooclose.”
‐BentonCounty,WACountyCommissioner
ExploratoryInterviews
• SelectrepresentaBvecommuniBeswith:– Heightenedawareness– Lowawareness
• CheckassumpBons
• GetiniBalfeedbackonConsultaBonZones(CZs)
• Usefindingstodeveloplarge‐scalesurvey
CityofBoiseandAdaCounty,Idaho
• NotprimedwithpreviouseducaBon/outreach• Growingfast• Smallspillin2000
CityofKennewickandBentonCounty,Washington
• PrimedwithpreviouseducaBon/outreach• Growingfast• Publicofficialwithpipelinesafetyexperience
ChoosingRespondents• TogetdifferentperspecBvesonCZsandthepotenBalbarriersandbenefitsweaWemptedtospeakwithplanningstaffmembers(2)andelectedofficials(1)fromeachlocaBonwithapotenBaltotalof3interviewsperlocaBon.
• IniBalconversaBonswithPlanningDirectors/AdministratorsindicatedthatdepartmentswererelaBvelysmallwithstaffonthesamepageasfaraspipelinesandcommunityplanning.Therefore,weonlyspokewithoneplanner(DirectororAdministrator)perloca(on.
ContacBngrespondents
• AWemptsweremadethroughemailsandfollow‐upphonecalls
• Planningstaffrespondedwelltoemail
• Electedofficials(asidefromBentonCounty)proveddifficulttocontact
• Allinterviewswereconductedoverthephone
Respondents(6*)
• CityofBoise– PlanningDirector✓– Electedofficial*
• AdaCounty – PlanningandZoningAdministrator✓
– Electedofficial*
• CityofKennewick– AssistantPlanner✓– Electedofficial✓
• BentonCounty– PlanningManager✓– Electedofficial✓
*Totalexpectednumberofinterviewsis8.TheinterviewwiththeCityofBoiseelectedofficalisscheduledfor4/7/10.ContactwithanelectedofficialfromAdaCountyissBllinprogress.
InterviewFindingsPart1.CheckingAssumpBons
• AllcommuniBesshowedhighgeneralawarenessofpipelinesandpipelinelocaBons.
• Everycommunitywasexperiencinggrowthnearortowardpipelines.
• Allrespondentsindicatedtheyhadwell‐markedpipelines.
• PlanningstaffdirectdevelopersandthoseapplyingforpermitstouseOneCall.
InterviewFindingsPart1.CheckingAssumpBons(con’t)
• PlanningDepts.hadsystemssetuptoalertplanningstaffofthepresenceofpipelines:
• AllhadGIScapabiliBesandmapsavailabletostaff• Alldepts.IncludedpipelinecompaniesinpermitapplicaBondistribuBon.
• Nonerequiredsign‐offfrompipelineoperators
• Electedofficialsshowedsolidconfidenceintheirplanningstaffanddepartments.
InterviewFindingsPart2.FeedbackonCZs
What’syourini(alreac(ontotheideaofadop(ngConsulta(onZones?
• “Idon’thavealotheartburnaboutthat.”‐AdaPlanningAdministrator:
• “Idon’tthinkwehaveanyissueswiththataslongaswehavetheinforma(onaboutwherethesepipelinesare,whichcurrentlywedo.”‐BentonPlanningManager
• “Ithinkthatwouldbefine,wewouldn’thaveaproblemwiththatatall.Wekindofdothatrightnowwithirrigators,werequirethemtomeetwiththeWaterMaster.”‐BoisePlanningDirector
• “I’mnotopposedtothat.”‐Bentoncountyelectedofficial• “Idon’tthinkthatwouldbeaproblem.”–Kennewickelected• KennewickPlanningAssistantstatedthattheirdepartmentis
alreadytalkingaboutdoingsomethingsimilar,“Wecertainlyrecognizethehazardsinnothavingeveryoneonboard.”
InterviewFindingsPart2.FeedbackonCZs(con’t)Likelihoodofadop(ngConsulta(onZones?
• AllplanningstaffandelectedofficialsinterviewedindicatedthattheyfeltadopBonofCZswouldbearelaBvelysmoothprocess.
• “Wealreadydocountlesszoningandpolicyamendmentscodifyingthiswouldbenoproblem.”–AdaPlanningAdmin
• InBentonCountyconversaBonshavealreadystartedondoingthiswithotheruBliBes,includingpipelinesdidn’tseemtobeatoughsell.
• “Wecoulddothat.”Headded,“especiallyifitwasjustthebig,majorlines.”–BoisePlanningDirector
• “Wearedoingalotofthatalready.”–KennewickPlanningAssistant• “Itwouldnotbemuchofanissue,thePlanningDepartmentcould
doit.”–Bentonelected• TheCityofKennewick’selectedindicatedthatshedidn’tthinkit
wouldrequirethatmuchaddiBonalstaffBmeandthatshedidn’tseeitasa“burdenonanyone.”(Note:Sheisalsoadeveloper)
InterviewFindingsPart3.BarriersandBenefits
BarriersSummary:• Respondentswantnoblanketchangesfromthetopdown(e.g.statemandate);communiBesshouldbeworkedwithonanindividualbasistoadoptchangesatthelocallevel.
• ThedistanceoftheZoneneedstobeexplained,as660feetfeltexcessivetoseveralrespondents.Mostlocalpublicofficialsdealwithbuffersinthe50‐200footrange,660isbeyondwhatmanycommuniBesanddevelopersareusedtodealingwith.
• TheremaybesomepushbackifadopBonisseentoslowdowngrowthorthepermihngprocess.Theremayalsobesomepropertyrightspushbackdependingonwhatis“allowed”withinthe660feet.
• PlannerswereconcernedthattheynotloseauthoritytoapproveordenyapermittoaprojectasaresultofCZs.
InterviewFindingsPart3.BarriersandBenefits(con’t)
BenefitsSummary:• AllrespondentssawthepublicsafetybenefitofCZsandfelt
itshouldbeemphasized.• RespondentsindicatedthattheproacBveapproachofCZs
wasaposiBve.• AllofthesecommuniBesalreadyconsiderandinvolve
pipelineoperatorsinthepermihngprocess,adopBngCZsdidnotseemlikeanextraburden.
• AllcommuniBesindicatedtheyhadgoodrelaBonshipswithpipelineoperators.
• RespondentsfeltsampleordinancesandguidanceontheMRSCwebsitewouldbehelpful.
GeneralConclusion• AdopBonofCZsinthesecommuniBescouldbearelaBvelysmoothprocessif…– thepublicsafetybenefitswereemphasized.– theaddedrequirementsdidnotnoBceablyorsignificantlyslowdownthepermit/developmentprocess.
– planningstaff,developersandconsBtuentsbeWerunderstoodtheneedfora660footbuffer.
“Wecouldhavethisthrough[thepoli(calprocess]in3months.”–BoisePlanningDirector
Nextsteps…• Developsurvey– Focusonplanningdirectors/administrators
• Conductsurvey– Onlinedelivery,follow‐upemailsand/orphonecallstoensureacceptablereturnrate
• Analyzesurveyresults• Developprogramelementsfromsurveyresults
• Testprogramwithfocusgroups