Who Is EAPUOC? | What is EAPUOC? | EAPUOC Meetings |  Safety Seminar  
Community Awareness | What has EAPUOC Accomplished?

WHO IS EAPUOC?

The Edmonton Area Pipeline and Utility Operators' Committee (EAPUOC) is a not-for-profit, non-statutory, voluntary membership association engaged in activities to encourage and promote safety around buried pipelines and cables. EAPUOC also acts as a communication network to keep members in touch during emergencies. EAPUOC holds an emergency training exercise annually, and a public safety seminar is held every spring. More than 30 companies, municipalities and agencies, united in the cause of safety make up the Edmonton Area Pipeline and Utility Operators' Committee. They include:

Click to download a pdf version of this map
PIPELINE OPERATORS MUNICIPAL & REGULATORY UTILITY OPERATORS
WHAT IS EAPUOC?
EAPUOC was originally formed after a major petroleum pipeline rupture in 1979, "The Millwoods Disaster" that forced the evacuation of over 19,000 people. It was, at the time, Canada's largest peacetime evacuation. An inquiry by Alberta's Energy Resource Conservation Board (now the Alberta Energy & Utilities Board) determined third-party damage as the root cause. Fifteen recommendations were made. A request that the City, the AEUB and operators explore all aspects of pipeline planning, design and operation gave rise to the "Edmonton Area Pipeline Operators' Committee". It was soon realized that utility services should be included in the organization.
Pipeline Corridor in Millwoods
 EAPUOC's interests are primarily within the area outlined in the map at the top of this page. Members' responsibilities extend throughout Alberta and it's "sphere of influence" reaches outside of North America. It has been used as a model by others, including the National Research Council of the U.S. government which has cited it as an ideal.
MEETINGS

The year 2008 will be another busy one for EAPUOC. Our meetings are usually held at the Strathcona County Offices (2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park, AB).  Please click here for our meeting dates schedule. The executive rotation occurs at the January meeting.

COMMITTEE LISTS
Please click here for our committee lists.

 
2007 COMMUNITY AWARENESS REPORT
GRONK
GRONK at Parkinsons Run

2007 Report

Once again the community awareness committee  (CASC) had a busy year.  The Committee had two significant personnel changes in 2006.  Our longtime Damage Prevention Consultant, Bruce Wilson, had to retire for health reasons in 2005.  Bruce had a huge impact on the damage prevention process with EAPUOC during his long career and his contributions will be missed.  We contracted with Rick Pratt who many will remember from his previous work with EAPUOC.  Rick started in September and is already making an impact on our behalf.  Bruce Partington resigned his position as Chair of the Sub-Committee in June.  Bruce was Chair for over ten years and had a major impact on the development and growth of the committee.

GRONK once again had a busy year and participated in the following events:

  • Cerebral Palsy Amazing Race at Rundle Park
  • Mother Nature Day at the Story Land Valley Zoo
  • Edmonton Realtors Car Shrine and Road Race at Concordia University
  • St. Albert Children's Festival at St Albert City Hall
  • Oilers Tailgate Party/Barbecue at Sir Winston Churchill Square
  • Churchill Cup Mascot Rugby at Commonwealth Stadium
  • Monday Morning Madness at Northlands Park
  • Run for the Cure.at Sir Winston Churchill
  • Kites over Collingwood at Collingwood Sports Center
  • Scarecrow Festival at Northlands Agricom (Three Days)
  • Kids with Cancer Christmas Party at West Edmonton Mall

Thanks to all the folks who volunteered their time to take GRONK to all these events.

We also made a big change by canceling the Safety Seminar that we have held every April for the past 26 years.  Based on the questionnaires handed in, we felt that the group that we were trying to reach (the folks on the end of the shovel) was not attending the Seminar.  Most of the replies were from office types like engineers and safety officers. We felt that we needed to get to the frontline workers so we will be tasking our new Damage Prevention Consultant with arranging breakfasts, etc. with the main contractors to try to get our message out to the proper audience.

Rick Pratt has been busy visiting Edmonton area schools handing out coloring books and One-Call pens.  So far all comments have been favorable with some suggestions to upgrade the coloring book.  Rick is also making some headway with the City of Edmonton on setback policy and development notifications.

The Committee has updated the EAPUOC city map (thanks to Ed Plant) and is looking at updating the video in 2007.

We printed 8,000 Safe Dig Manuals in 2006 and sold almost 7,200.  We reviewed the Manual for the new EUB regulations and made some changes.  The NEB is not yet ready with theirs, so we are going ahead with the EUB only changes for the next printing. Thanks to all those who took the time to review and suggest changes.

 

WHAT HAS EAPUOC ACCOMPLISHED?

The AEUB's recommendations made as a result of the 1979 disaster dealt broadly with pipeline agreements and procedures, construction, operation, physical integrity, set-backs, communications, emergency response and education. These have been addressed with considerable success and continue to be the focus of activities.
Significant accomplishments include:

  1. Enhanced inspection, monitoring, operating and communication, with an EAPUOC member/industry telephone Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system for emergencies.
  2. An annual safety seminar for industries, responders and regulators.
  3. A "Manual of Safe Procedures" for pipeline and utility crossings.
  4. Improved procedures for location, prior approval of work and for safer seismic/ exploration work procedures.
  5. City of Edmonton emergency plans and training include close interaction with pipeline operators and neighbouring jurisdictions in both simulations and real emergencies.
  6. A broad range of public awareness and education activities, including attendance at public events and in-school sessions for elementary aged children.