Terms and Definitions
The verbal forms used to express the provisions in this document are as follows.
Shall: As used in a standard, “shall” denotes a minimum requirement in order to conform to the standard.
Should: As used in a standard, “should” denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the standard.
May: As used in a standard, “may” denotes a course of action permissible within the limits of a standard.
Can: As used in a standard, “can” denotes a statement of possibility or capability.
The following definitions include the definitions from the RP and others.
Align: Two or more parties have a common understanding, agree upon defined goals and objectives of engagement, and work to achieve them through their actions.
City gate station: A primary pressure reduction point for the high-pressure pipelines that transfer gas to distribution systems. The basic function of these stations is to link high-pressure transmission pipelines to distribution pipe systems. NOTE A city gate station usually performs three primary functions: a) It reduces the pipeline pressure to operating pressure of the utility pipe system. b) It measures the volume of gas delivered to the utility. c) Odorant is added to natural gas to enable the detection of gas. [Source: American Gas Association (AGA), Leading Practices to Reduce the Possibility of a Natural Gas Over-Pressurization Event]
Contractor: Individuals who work for an organization the operator hires temporarily. Contractors aren’t directly employed. Those outside the company may not differentiate between an employee and a contractor; therefore, contractors indirectly represent the operator.
Emergency officials: Persons whose jobs (either paid or volunteer) are to plan for and respond to hazardous incidents that either have caused or may cause harm to persons, property, and/or the environment, such as fires and liquid spills.
Environmental justice: The fair treatment, representation, and meaningful involvement of stakeholders with the goals of equal enjoyment of the environment, safe and healthy lives for present and future generations, and reducing and preventing disproportionate harm to vulnerable populations.
Equity: Recognition that people live under different circumstances and therefore may require different resources and special efforts to adequately engage with and participate in pipeline safety.
Fair treatment: No person or group of people bear(s) a disproportionate share of negative environmental or human health effects resulting from pipelines, and stakeholders are provided meaningful involvement in pipeline projects and operations.
Federal Government: Officials responsible for federal government oversight of pipeline infrastructure; employees of the federal government that are engaged in: — pipeline permitting, regulation, and/or emergency planning and response; — management of lands and waters with pipeline easements; and — representing constituents and creating legislation relating to pipelines.
Flexibility: An operator can adjust the framework to address the number and variety of stakeholders and the nature of any particular engagement, given local conditions, throughout the life cycle of an asset. Flexibility for stakeholders means they can request and receive information in a time, place, or manner that is convenient for them. Flexibility can also mean that a stakeholder may engage across the entire life cycle or only during certain times when they feel engagement is necessary.
Good faith: Requires an honest belief or purpose, faithful performance of duties, and observance of fair dealings.
Inclusivity: The practice or policy of providing equal access to engagement opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
Landowners and tenants: Individuals, companies, organizations, Tribes and governments with ownership or tenancy rights to real property that have easements containing pipelines, are being considered for an easement, or are adjacent to easements.
Local government: Elected and appointed officials or staff, including those persons who have been elected for a public office and oversee managers, departments, or agencies, as well as appointed officials and staff working for elected officials and in local government departments such as public works, planning, public health, public safety, environment, recreation, and others.
Management [noun]: Person or group of people, as defined by the pipeline operator, who directs and controls all or part of a facility, location, department, or other function; has fiscal responsibility for the organization; and is accountable for compliance with legal and other applicable requirements. NOTE For some pipeline operators, top management (3.20) and management are the same. [Source: API RP 1173, First Edition]
Management system: A framework of elements that an organization uses to direct and control work to achieve its objectives in an intentional and continual manner. [Source: API RP 1173, First Edition]
Maturity: A point at which an element or sub-element has become embedded into the processes of an organization and planned activities are completed and planned results are achieved regularly, without gaps. Maturity is a term of art used in assessing management systems. [Source: Based on API RP 1173, First Edition]
Meaningful involvement: Stakeholders have access to the decision-making process about pipelines that affect their communities, natural and cultural resources, environment, or health, including an opportunity to participate in discussions, request and receive information, and share their perspectives with operators who listen and respond appropriately.
Outcome: Programs (and projects) include goals and objectives. Considerations should also be made to include outcomes which deliver value. For example, a goal may be to feed all school kids breakfast. The objective may be to provide them with cereal, milk and sliced oranges at 8 am. The outcome would be the kids are no longer hungry and ready to learn. Outcomes are difficult to measure but are powerful when considered.
Pipeline life cycle: Stages include preconstruction; construction; operation; conversion of service; incident management; idling; decommissioning; or abandonment.
Public: Relating to or involving people in general, rather than being limited to a particular group of people.
Scalability: The level of detail in each pipeline operator’s engagement program should be appropriate for the size and location of their operations and potential risk to the public and the environment. For stakeholders, “scalable” means that engagement can be adjusted to the size of their organization or community and collaborations between stakeholders with similar interests.
Stakeholder: Individuals, including communities and populations and their representatives, potentially affected by a pipeline who have an interest in that pipeline.
State government: State elected or appointed officials and departments including but not limited to state level emergency officials, public utility commissions, health departments, environmental departments, and homeland security.
Top management: A person or group of people who direct and control the organization at the highest level. [Source: API RP 1173, First Edition]
Tribal Nation: A governing body of a Tribe, Band, Pueblo, community, village, or group of Native American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians.