Compliance and Pollution Events and Environmental Impacts and Assessments (U.S. Focus)

You will learn how to

• Explain the background of US environmental legislation, especially the National Environmental Policy Act, and similar legislation around the world
• Describe some of the history and politics behind the creation of environmental policy
• Compare and contrast US environmental policy and legislation with that of other energy producing nations
• Explain how US environmental legislation is implemented by regulating agencies
• Describe the major aspects of environmental assessments and environmental impact studies
• Describe the impact of environmental protection laws on pipeline design, permitting, construction, and operations
• Describe the process in producing an EIS – Environmental Impact Statement in compliance with NEPA
• Describe from historic cases studies how:
• Accidents and incidents drive development of codes and regulations in the pipeline business
  • Role of media reporting and public perception of incidents may drive responses both short and long term
  • Events affect the general public, the operator, the industry and regulators
  • Being a linear facility often of considerable length and in multiple jurisdictions, renders control of pipeline facilities more difficult
  • Transparent and exposed pipeline activities are subject to public scrutiny