Page 190 - Pipeline Risk Management Manual Ideas, Techniques, and Resources

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Table 7.18 Sample scoring of population density (20 pt scale) Odors
Special activities such as flaring, pigging, painting, and
General population categoty Poinis cleaning
Barriers to animal movements and other natural activities
Commercial IO Rainwater runoff/drainage from facilities
High density IO VisuaUaesthetic impact.
Industrial IO
Residential 10
Rural 5 These non-spill impacts are normally considered in the
design phase of a new pipeline. Sensitivity to such issues in the
Specialpopulation categor7, Points design phase can save large remediatiodmodification costs at a
later stage. Because these consequences can be fairly accu-
Apartmentsitownhomes IO rately predicted, the non-spill impacts can be seen more as
Hospital IO anticipated damages than risks. Risk assessment plays a larger
Multifamily, trailer park 8 role where there is more uncertainty as to the consequences.
Residential backyards 9 Another non-spill environmental risk category that is not
Residential backyards (fenced) 9 directly scored in this module is the risk of careless pipelining
Roadways 5
School 9 activities. There are many opportunities to cause environmental
harm through misuse of common chemicals and through
improper operation and maintenance activities. In pipeline
ronments. Ideally, an operation will have no adverse impact operations, some potentially harmful substances commonly
whatsoever on the natural surroundings-air, water, and used include
ground. Realistically, some trade-offs are involved and an
amount of environmental risk must be accepted. It is practical Herbicides
to acknowledge that, as with public safety risks, environmental Pesticides
risks cannot completely be eliminated. They can and should Paints
however, be understood and managed. As with other pipeline Paint removers
risk aspects, it is important to establish a framework in which Oils/greases/fuels
all environmental risk factors can be quantified and analyzed, Cleaning agents
at least in a relative fashion. Vehicle fluids
The assessment of environmental risk is best begun with a Odorants
clear understanding of pertinent environmental issues and the Biocideskorrosion inhibitors.
pipeline company’s position with regard to that understanding. A
company will often write a document that states its policy onpro- Some activities generate potentially dangerous waste prod-
tecting the environment. This document serves to clarify and ucts, including
focus the company’s position. The policy should clearly state
what environmental protection is and how the company, in its 0 Truck loading/unloading
everyday activities, plans to practice it. The policy is often a state- Pigginghnternal cleaning
ment of intent to comply with ail regulations and accepted indus- Hydrotesting
try practices. A more customized policy statement will more Sandblasting
exactly define environmentally sensitive areas that apply to its 0 Valve maintenance.
pipelines. Here the phrase unusually sensitive is implied because
every area is sensitive to some degree to impact from a pipeline Even common excavating can disrupt natural drainage,
failure. A comprehensive policy will also address the company’s allow water migrations between previously separated areas,
position with regard to environmental issues that do not involve a promote erosion, and hinder vegetation and related wildlife
pipeline leak. These issues will be defined later in this section. propagation. As evidence of an operator’s seriousness about
Assessing the environmental risk is the object of this discus- environmental issues, the evaluator can examine these common
sion. Environmental risk factors will overlap public safety risk practices and procedures to gauge the environmental sensitivity
factors to a large extent. of the operation.
The most dramatic negative environmental impact will usu- It is worth noting that pipeline construction can and has been
ally occur from a pipeline spill. However, some impact can designed to incorporate environmental improvements. An
occur from the installation and the long-term presence of the example is a pipeline river crossing project that included as an
pipeline. The pipeline can cause changes in natural drainage ancillary part of the scope the installation of special rock struc-
and vegetation, groundwater movements, erosion patterns, and tures that facilitated a nine fold increase in fish population [8 11.
even animal migratory routes. The presence of aboveground Other examples can be cited where natural habitats have been
facilities can impact wildlife (and neighbors) in a variety of improved or other environmental aspects enhanced as part of a
non-spill ways, such as these: pipeline installation or operation.
Noise (pumps, compressors, product movements through D3. Environmental sensitivity
valves and piping, maintenance and operations activities)
Vibrations For the initial phases of risk management, a strict definition
Vehicular traffic of environmentally sensitive areas might not be absolutely