2009 Issue 1

Natural Gas Material Safety Data Sheets Provide Overview of Chemical Properties & Hazards Natural gas is part of the Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Mixture chemical family. It is also

known as compressed gas (flammable), residue gas or sales gas and is rated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as a 4-Extreme

for fire. Because of the hazards associated with natural gas, pipeline operators provide Material Safety Data Sheets to familiarize emergency

responders with safe procedures for handling and working with natural gas during a pipeline emergency.

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a technical reference document that typically includes the product’s physical data such as the vapor density and

flammable range, as well as information regarding toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactiv-ity, storage, disposal, protective equipment and procedures for handling a product spill or release.

Kinder Morgan provides downloadable MSDS forms for natural gas and other products online at www.kindermorgan.com/public_awareness/AdditionalInformation/msds/default.cfm

Using A Community Drill To Enhance Your ReadinessPart 1 of a three-part "how-to" series focused on planning, hosting and implement-ing training exercises to enhance your community's emergency response capabilities.

Earlier this year, Missouri’s St. Charles County held a large-scale community-wide drill to enhance their emergency response readiness and test response capabilities. In total, more than 20 separate organizations and 200 individuals participated in the exercise including more than 20 including fire personnel, EMTs, police and nearly 60 volunteers.

During the St. Charles drill, emergency crews followed their disaster plan and observed how their Incident Command System (ICS) would work in a large-scale incident. Many described the success of the exercise not only as educational for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, but also for the government and safety officials who gained additional practice responding to high-stress situations that require sophisticated logistical coordination and communication.

Kinder Morgan and other pipeline operators regularly participate and often help plan drills like the one in St. Charles County in the communities where they operate. Community drills can include table top exercises or hands-on simulations using scenarios. If you have questions about planning a natural gas incident scenario for your community, contact www.kindermorgan.com/public_awareness/AdditionalInformation/RequestAdditionalInformation.cfm

First Responder Best PracticesThe Responder recently surveyed readers about best practices their department or agency employs to prepare to respond to a pipeline incident. Here are some of their responses:

“Close working relationship with fire department helps to ensure a unified response to emergencies.”

Wauconda Police Department, Wauconda, Illinois

“We attend all trainings that are made available to us, and we share information with those who are unable to attend. [We] work closely with our local Fire and Emergency Management

Departments to coordinate our response plans and work as a unified team in an emergency.” Grant County EMS, Ulysses, Kansas

“[We] use the newsletter and other provided materials to "table top" an event.”Bonham Fire Department, Bonham, Texas

SafetyInfo

“The Responder” is part of Kinder Morgan’s Public Awareness Program for emergency responders. More information is available atwww.kindermorgan/public_awareness.

Free Pipeline Emergency Online Training Available From PAPAThe Pipeline Association for Public Awareness (PAPA), a non-profit organization whose members include over 100 of the largest pipeline operators in the United States, recently launched over four hours of free emergency responder training focusing on the risk associated with a pipeline incident and recommended response protocol.

The online training, which includes emergency response scenarios, is designed to help emergency responders practice skills and refresh knowledge of pipeline emergency response.

To access the online training modules and practice your response skills using the scenarios, visit www.pipelineawareness.org/emergencyresponders, and click on “New Training Website for Emergency Responders.”

Pipeline Emergency Response Equipment Checklist: Does Your Organization Have The Tools To Respond?Although rare, natural gas pipeline incidents can be hazardous and require caution and immediate action. Be certain your emergency team is prepared for swift action by ensuring that your community has access to the following recommended equipment and reference information:

Combustible Gas Indicators (CGIs) for Natural Gas Instruments to detect H2S Instruments to monitor Oxygen Instruments to detect Carbon Monoxide (CO) Thermal imaging equipment (in the event of entrapment in enclosed structures) 800 trunking radios, cell phones/Nextel phones or other communication equipment Hand held fire extinguishers 2008 Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) Copy of the Natural Gas Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) and natural gas odorant if the pipeline transports odorized gas. Copies of response plans and procedures A list of pipeline emergency contacts, including Kinder Morgan

To download a copy of the natural gas MSDS, verify Kinder Morgan’s emergency contact number, link to DOT’s ERG or for more information on readying your community for a pipeline incident, visit www.kindermorgan.com/public_awareness/Government

PHMSA Offers Grants for Pipeline Safety Programs

PHMSA will award up to $50,000 per Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to community groups for engineering or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues and to promote public participation. May 29 is the deadline to apply, and no cost sharing is required to qualify.

For more information visit www.grants.gov and read about funding opportunity number DTPH56-09-SN-0003.