Shell Pipeline Company Receives Common Ground Alliance President's Award

SAN DIEGO, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the nation's leading organization focused on protecting underground utility lines and the safety of people who dig near them, awarded Shell Pipeline Company LP the prestigious "President's Award" during their annual meeting. The first annual President's Award is presented to an individual, company or association who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in underground damage prevention.

"Shell Pipeline Company epitomizes the essences of the CGA President's Award through its leadership and innovation in efforts made to protect people, property and the environment," stated Bob Kipp, CGA President. Shell Pipeline Company President Mary Mujica, and other Shell staff, were on hand at the meeting to receive the award.

"Last year was a year of significant progress for the Common Ground Alliance and Shell is honored to be recognized for its role with the 2009 President's Award," said Mujica. "CGA is the damage prevention voice for its members. Shell is committed to continuing to support CGA and to share best practices, promote public safety and protect the environment. This award is a testament to the hard work of Shell Pipeline employees."

Aside from becoming the CGA's first Platinum Sponsor in 2007, Shell Pipeline Company aggressively promoted the 811 National Call Before You Dig number through various public awareness activities in 2009.  

"Arguably the single most visible promotion for 811 was Shell's donation of logo space on the deck lid of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick during the last race of the season at Homestead," stated Kipp. Media impressions from the event topped 300 million with more than 1.2 million dollars in advertising equivalency value. "Simply stated, Shell Pipeline Company put the horsepower behind the 811 public awareness campaign," said Kipp.

In addition to Shell being recognized with the corporate award, C. Gweneyette Broussard, Sr. Legislative and Regulatory Representative for Shell, was the recipient of the CGA Ron Olitsky/Member of the Year Award. Broussard has been a CGA Member since the organization's fruition and has worked tirelessly to drive positive change in the industry and educate the public about pipeline safety. She is actively involved in CGA's efforts to identify best practices and she was instrumental in organizing the 811 public education campaign associated with the 811 deck lid placement at the Homestead Race in Miami.

This award is presented in honor of Ron Olitsky of Underground Service Alert, who served on the CGA Board since the organization's establishment and during the development of the Common Ground Study of One Call System and Damage Prevention Best Practices in 1999. Ron's dedication to the CGA and to damage prevention was a true priority until his untimely passing in 2005.

The award will be granted to the CGA member whose dedication and service to the CGA went above and beyond the call of duty during a given year, and he/she might be considered the "most valuable player."

About Common Ground Alliance

CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 1,400 individuals, organizations and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at http://www.commongroundalliance.com.

About 811

Everyone who calls 811 is connected to a local one-call notification center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to the local utility companies. A professional locator will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of all underground utility lines with spray paint or flags. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.

A quick and easy call to 811 before digging helps protect people from unintentionally hitting underground pipelines, cables and utility lines, which can put both the person who digs at risk and cause service interruptions to entire communities. Every digging job requires a call - even small projects like planting trees or shrubs.

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SOURCE Common Ground Alliance