(Retired) Gas Leak Prevention Act.

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

The World Assembly,

Understanding that more development is needed to guarantee that proper procedures and measures are followed as soon as possible to ensure that major gas leaks and disasters are detected and avoided,

Further recognizing that the possible financial cost of avoiding gas leaks, in the long run, does not exceed the long-term repercussions for animal and plant life, consumer health and safety, and the economy,

With concern that feasible industrial activity without adequate operational and infrastructural provisions and investigations hampers the efficiency and potency of worldwide institutions to notice and be properly informed of gas leaks and other environmental crises, furthermore

In order to avoid dissimulation by nations on a routine basis while ensuring that industrial employees transmitting accurate information or opinions are not chastened, the following is to be established:

1. A gas leak is defined as an unintentional release of a harmful gas (including, but not limited to, any unassorted mixture of flammable fossil gas, any non-flammable gases that can cause flammable things, highly oxidizing but not flammable gas, heavier-than-air non-flammable gas that can suffocate living things, poisonous gas, and town gas) or similar gaseous product from a pipeline or other containment into any place where the gas should not be present for the purposes of this resolution.

2. Mundane training. All manufacturing and industrial personnel must be trained to recognize gas leaks and observe general safety measures near gas lines, with qualified professionals obtaining the information and training they need to do preventative maintenance when it is required.


1. Recognizing that without the necessary information and training, an incident might occur in which gas leaks pose a health and environmental risk.
   
   
2. Further ensuring that only qualified professionals may be permitted to do preventative maintenance in order to ensure the total health and safety of all workers and people.

3. Enhanced measures. Every industrial and manufacturing facility must have adequate equipment and preventative measures to ensure that no gas leaks escape the premises and to help make sure that they do not occur in the first place.


1. The following are some of the prophylactic actions that may be taken:
1. habitual checking of machines and pipes routinely,
   
   
2. assuring that all gas lines and pipes are often checked (with regard to condition and damage),
   
   
3. quick access to a means of switching off the gas supply,
   
   
4. prompt means of escape with minimal damage, and
   
   
5. restricting and prohibiting employees and others from smoking or drinking near pipes.

4. Heightened approach. If a large gas leak occurs outside of a facility, quick action must be done to avoid additional harm to environmental life. This may entail isolating a contaminated area and prohibiting mobility within and around it.

5. Repair readiness. All manufacturing and industrial sites must have or develop a back-up strategy for capturing and concealing large gas leaks, as well as repairing any damage caused by the leaks.

Co-authored by North of Americas.

[Minskiev]

I'm not 100% sure if you can reference Bhopal. Instead I'd just generalize to Gas Leak Prevention Act.

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

I'm not 100% sure if you can reference Bhopal. Instead I'd just generalize to Gas Leak Prevention Act.

Thank you for the response! I changed the name to what you suggested.

[Bears Armed]

I'm not 100% sure if you can reference Bhopal. Instead I'd just generalize to Gas Leak Prevention Act.

OOC: I'm 100% sure that they can't.That's why the version actually submitted with that reference in its title was declared illegal. I'm glad to see that the author has brought this here for review, as I suggested, rather than just re-submitted it with a changed title.

[Tsaivao]

Ambassador Manhu Sentai Laogai quickly does a light flap of his wings, blowing wind in your direction as a sign of approval. "We find that the intent behind this proposal is quite amiable, and we are eager to assist in providing a stronger piece of legislation, as there are some problems with this legislation that could make it unpalatable to others."

OOC: First off, you may want to fix the formatting of those nested lists. You can do that like so:

Code: Select all

[list=1]
[*] This is a clause!
[list=a]
[*] This is a sub-clause
[*] This is also a sub-clause
[list=i]
[*] Sub-sub clause? Yes please![/list][/list]
[*] New clause, new life.
[list=1]
Sub-clause for good measure, except without a bullet/number[/list][/list]

1. This is a clause!
   
   1. This is a sub-clause
   2. This is also a sub-clause
      
      1. Sub-sub clause? Yes please!
2. New clause, new life.
   
   Sub-clause for good measure, except without a bullet/number

More information can be found in this dispatch, as well as other codes for future use.

Anyway, back to in-character, ahem.

IC: "Let's start with the first clause"

1. Mundane training. All manufacturing and industrial workers and employees must be taught and given the chance to learn about gas leaks and how to avoid them in the first place.

"This could present an issue: how many really need to know about this issue? Many industrial workers will probably never interact with gas lines, and many employed in manufacturing or industrial firms may not have the capabilities to understand or utilize the material. I think you could reconcile this to training all workers to recognize gas leaks and general workplace safety around gas lines; leave the preventative maintenance training to the qualified personnel."

a. With a gas leakage being defined as...

"It's generally good practice to put your definitions in a clause on their own before the other mandates; for example, put '1. Defining a "gas leak" as an...' It's a minor nitpick, I know, but it will help your proposal look more organized."

ii. assuring that all gas lines and pipes are frequently monitored,

"Going into more depth on how frequent and intensive the monitors should be done would be a good idea. By 'monitored' are we meaning constant pressure tests and leak examinations? Are we meaning total examination and inspections of pipes all the time? Are we meaning just sticking a pressure valve on the end and checking it once every couple hours? Please go into more depth on this, and do keep in mind that gas lines can often be hundreds of kilometers long through underground corridors that would make extensive inspection very expensive over time (if, however, you just mean one of the more lax definitions of 'monitoring' then please clarify that)"

...quick action must be done to avoid additional harm to human and environmental life...

"Please remove human, if you would. The present company here would like to remind everyone that gas leaks affect sapient alien birds too..."

Further recognizing that the possible financial cost of avoiding gas leaks, in the long run, does not exceed the long-term repercussions for animal and plant life, consumer health and safety, and the economy.

"This should probably be moved to the clauses up above your mandate, for better organization."

"Overall, as stated, we applaud the effort and intentions behind this legislation, and we are eager to see another draft to put our full support behind it."

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

Ambassador Manhu Sentai Laogai quickly does a light flap of his wings, blowing wind in your direction as a sign of approval. "We find that the intent behind this proposal is quite amiable, and we are eager to assist in providing a stronger piece of legislation, as there are some problems with this legislation that could make it unpalatable to others."

Thank you so much for the advice and ideas! I'm going to go re-work things and add in some of your changes!

[Outer Sparta]

I see you have submitted it. You clearly didn't wait for more feedback to help with your draft.

[Berhakonia]

Are nations who have moved pass the use of natural gas exempt from any of the clauses presented in this bill?

Also, wait for more feedback before submitting.

I may be interested in supporting this bill.

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

I see you have submitted it. You clearly didn't wait for more feedback to help with your draft.

Are nations who have moved pass the use of natural gas exempt from any of the clauses presented in this bill?

Also, wait for more feedback before submitting.

I may be interested in supporting this bill.

First and foremost, thank you both for taking the time to respond to my post! I apologize if I made a mistake here. Personally, I thought the proposal was ready to be submitted... If it's better for me to take it down and wait for further input and replies, I'll do so. This is my first time writing and attempting to pass anything...

In response to your query, wouldn't countries that aren't reliant on or use natural gas be exempt in the first place? Also, how should I incorporate that into the proposal if not?

All nations also use pipes, no? Natural gas can and does still move freely through them and can be an issue without proper treatment?

[Berhakonia]

I see you have submitted it. You clearly didn't wait for more feedback to help with your draft.

Are nations who have moved pass the use of natural gas exempt from any of the clauses presented in this bill?

Also, wait for more feedback before submitting.

I may be interested in supporting this bill.

First and foremost, thank you both for taking the time to respond to my post! I apologize if I made a mistake here. Personally, I thought the proposal was ready to be submitted... If it's better for me to take it down and wait for further input and replies, I'll do so. This is my first time writing and attempting to pass anything...

In response to your query, wouldn't countries that aren't reliant on or use natural gas be exempt in the first place? Also, how should I incorporate that into the proposal if not?

All nations also use pipes, no? Natural gas can and does still move freely through them and can be an issue without proper treatment?

You can specify that the provisions of this bill do not apply to nations who have 0% reliance on natural gas or pressurized air of any form, I think.

[Outer Sparta]

I see you have submitted it. You clearly didn't wait for more feedback to help with your draft.

Are nations who have moved pass the use of natural gas exempt from any of the clauses presented in this bill?

Also, wait for more feedback before submitting.

I may be interested in supporting this bill.

First and foremost, thank you both for taking the time to respond to my post! I apologize if I made a mistake here. Personally, I thought the proposal was ready to be submitted... If it's better for me to take it down and wait for further input and replies, I'll do so. This is my first time writing and attempting to pass anything...

In response to your query, wouldn't countries that aren't reliant on or use natural gas be exempt in the first place? Also, how should I incorporate that into the proposal if not?

All nations also use pipes, no? Natural gas can and does still move freely through them and can be an issue without proper treatment?

I would suggest you withdraw it and keep on working your draft to make it better.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Given "natural gas" is not defined, I'm going to assume that includes (especially with the "similar gaseous product") all naturally occurring atmospheric gases at minimum, which are commonly used by various industries including manufacturing, such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, argon, acetylene, neon, water vapour (it is a gas! and steam is heated water vapour), methane, ethane, propane, butane, and there probably are others but those came to mind easily.

Useful link.
Another useful link.

If you meant "natural gas" as an "unassorted mixture of flammable fossil gases" then you should have defined that. But then the question arises what exactly are "similar gaseous product"s? Biogas? Any flammable gas? What about oxygen? It's not flammable itself but makes other things flammable. What about highly oxidizing but not flammable gases? What about heavier-than-air non-flammable gases that can still suffocate you? What about poisonous gases?

Also, how would you recognize the leakage of, say, nitrogen? Most of the atmosphere is already nitrogen at least in real life. Your only indicator would be the dropping of relative amount of oxygen, and unless you have a source of oxygen (or fresh air) immediately at hand, there's not much you can do about it. (That's why, when moving liquid nitrogen bottles from storage, people aren't allowed to travel with them in the elevator, because in a confined space you could suffocate without noticing it. Any movie or TV show that shows people doing this, is ignoring health and safety requirements. The more you know. )

And finally, isn't much of this still already addressed by GA #7, Workplace Safety Standards Act? And the rest by GA #298, Reducing Spills and Leaks?

[Bears Armed]

OOC: Given "natural gas" is not defined, I'm going to assume that includes (especially with the "similar gaseous product") all naturally occurring atmospheric gases at minimum, which are commonly used by various industries including manufacturing, such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, argon, acetylene, neon, water vapour (it is a gas! and steam is heated water vapour), methane, ethane, propane, butane, and there probably are others but those came to mind easily.

And then -- maybe still used in some NS nations -- there's also 'town gas' ('coal gas', 'producer gas''?), a mixture of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen formed by passing steam over hot coal, that was widely used for lighting/heating/cooking before 'natural gas' resources were extensively tapped... That's the artificial gas in contrast to which "natural gas" (in the UK, also known as "North Sea gas" when first introduced) originally was called "natural".

[Potted Plants United]

OOC: Given "natural gas" is not defined, I'm going to assume that includes (especially with the "similar gaseous product") all naturally occurring atmospheric gases at minimum, which are commonly used by various industries including manufacturing, such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, argon, acetylene, neon, water vapour (it is a gas! and steam is heated water vapour), methane, ethane, propane, butane, and there probably are others but those came to mind easily.

And then -- maybe still used in some NS nations -- there's also 'town gas' ('coal gas', 'producer gas''?), a mixture of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen formed by spraying water onto hot coal, that was widely used for lighting/heating/cooking before 'natural gas' resources were extensively tapped...

OOC: To be honest, if they meant flammable fossil gases with "natural gas", then that would pretty much fit the definition of "similar gaseous product", but if going by "natural gas" meaning "naturally occurring gas", then it funnily enough wouldn't...

(Also, just personally, I am now wondering how England as a whole didn't just blow up or suffocare entirely around Victorian times. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen???)

[Bears Armed]

And then -- maybe still used in some NS nations -- there's also 'town gas' ('coal gas', 'producer gas''?), a mixture of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen formed by spraying water onto hot coal, that was widely used for lighting/heating/cooking before 'natural gas' resources were extensively tapped...

OOC: To be honest, if they meant flammable fossil gases with "natural gas", then that would pretty much fit the definition of "similar gaseous product", but if going by "natural gas" meaning "naturally occurring gas", then it funnily enough wouldn't...

(Also, just personally, I am now wondering how England as a whole didn't just blow up or suffocate entirely around Victorian times. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen???)

There were deaths, but carbon monoxide isn't very explosive and leaked hydrogen tended to escape upwards -- and get diluted to below the concentration [relative to the air's oxygen & carbon monoxide levels) at which it would explode -- rather than build up around its sources, so that Carbon monoxide poisoning was the main threat... and that remained a problem when burning (what the British call 'paraffin' & Americans call 'kerosene') instead, anyway. So, the main option was coal, which had its own health/environmental problems attached...

And what do you mean, "Victorian"? At least one on the houses in which my mother lived as a child still relied on this gas for lighting (and coal for heating & cooking, with no mains electricity: operating a radio needed a lead-acid battery, as now used mainly in cars, which was taken to the local 'garage' [USA: 'service station'] once a week for charging up) in the 1930s.
In fact, although I myself grew up with electric lighting and with electricity in use for most household appliances -- and coal fires used only rarely -- I can remember the changeover from 'coal gas' to 'north sea gas' for cookers taking place at some point in the late '60s or early' 70s....

_________________________________________________________________

OOPS! The steam was used only to push gasses through the producing system, their actual generation relied just on 'destructive distillation' of the coal.

[Araraukar]

And what do you mean, "Victorian"?

OOC: Because back then health and safety was... somewhat nonexistent compared to what we've got now.
I also just watched a 4-parter BBC documentary series about the great inventions of Victorian era, so that was topmost in my mind.

Random interesting fact about burnable natural gas; Chinese used brine to transport that gas into houses for purposes of gas lighting in 500 BC using bamboo "pipes".

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

OOC: Given "natural gas" is not defined, I'm going to assume that includes (especially with the "similar gaseous product") all naturally occurring atmospheric gases at minimum, which are commonly used by various industries including manufacturing, such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, argon, acetylene, neon, water vapour (it is a gas! and steam is heated water vapour), methane, ethane, propane, butane, and there probably are others but those came to mind easily.

Useful link.
Another useful link.

If you meant "natural gas" as an "unassorted mixture of flammable fossil gases" then you should have defined that. But then the question arises what exactly are "similar gaseous product"s? Biogas? Any flammable gas? What about oxygen? It's not flammable itself but makes other things flammable. What about highly oxidizing but not flammable gases? What about heavier-than-air non-flammable gases that can still suffocate you? What about poisonous gases?

Also, how would you recognize the leakage of, say, nitrogen? Most of the atmosphere is already nitrogen at least in real life. Your only indicator would be the dropping of relative amount of oxygen, and unless you have a source of oxygen (or fresh air) immediately at hand, there's not much you can do about it. (That's why, when moving liquid nitrogen bottles from storage, people aren't allowed to travel with them in the elevator, because in a confined space you could suffocate without noticing it. Any movie or TV show that shows people doing this, is ignoring health and safety requirements. The more you know. )

And finally, isn't much of this still already addressed by GA #7, Workplace Safety Standards Act? And the rest by GA #298, Reducing Spills and Leaks?

GA #7 is a bit sloppy and doesn't go into as much detail about gas leakage as it could; my proposal does. GA #298 is more concerned about the environment. Is it appropriate for me to express my gratitude for them while also stating that I am expanding on them?

I too believe that my definition should be revised; I'll make the necessary changes...

Sorry for the errors!

[Araraukar]

Is it appropriate for me to express my gratitude for them while also stating that I am expanding on them?

OOC: No, don't. Make your proposal as free-standing as possible, but do take into account that you can't contradict and shouldn't overly duplicate what those resolutions have.

Sorry for the errors!

No need to apologize, that's what drafting is for - catching and correcting errors and inconsistencies.

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

Is it appropriate for me to express my gratitude for them while also stating that I am expanding on them?

OOC: No, don't. Make your proposal as free-standing as possible, but do take into account that you can't contradict and shouldn't overly duplicate what those resolutions have.

Sorry for the errors!

No need to apologize, that's what drafting is for - catching and correcting errors and inconsistencies.

Hopefully, the definition has improved. Do you have any thoughts for how to repair it if not?

[Outer Sparta]

OOC: Given "natural gas" is not defined, I'm going to assume that includes (especially with the "similar gaseous product") all naturally occurring atmospheric gases at minimum, which are commonly used by various industries including manufacturing, such as hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, argon, acetylene, neon, water vapour (it is a gas! and steam is heated water vapour), methane, ethane, propane, butane, and there probably are others but those came to mind easily.

Useful link.
Another useful link.

If you meant "natural gas" as an "unassorted mixture of flammable fossil gases" then you should have defined that. But then the question arises what exactly are "similar gaseous product"s? Biogas? Any flammable gas? What about oxygen? It's not flammable itself but makes other things flammable. What about highly oxidizing but not flammable gases? What about heavier-than-air non-flammable gases that can still suffocate you? What about poisonous gases?

Also, how would you recognize the leakage of, say, nitrogen? Most of the atmosphere is already nitrogen at least in real life. Your only indicator would be the dropping of relative amount of oxygen, and unless you have a source of oxygen (or fresh air) immediately at hand, there's not much you can do about it. (That's why, when moving liquid nitrogen bottles from storage, people aren't allowed to travel with them in the elevator, because in a confined space you could suffocate without noticing it. Any movie or TV show that shows people doing this, is ignoring health and safety requirements. The more you know. )

And finally, isn't much of this still already addressed by GA #7, Workplace Safety Standards Act? And the rest by GA #298, Reducing Spills and Leaks?

GA #7 is a bit sloppy and doesn't go into as much detail about gas leakage as it could; my proposal does. GA #298 is more concerned about the environment. Is it appropriate for me to express my gratitude for them while also stating that I am expanding on them?

I too believe that my definition should be revised; I'll make the necessary changes...

Sorry for the errors!

If you can make yours be in a certain angle that doesn't duplicate the other concerned resolutions, then you are good. If not, then that cannot be done.

[Tsaivao]

Are nations who have moved pass the use of natural gas exempt from any of the clauses presented in this bill?

Also, wait for more feedback before submitting.

I may be interested in supporting this bill.

This point was brought up during the Volcano bill a while back. Basically the legislation would still apply, and you'd still be compliant to it, but you wouldn't have to really do anything. You would look for natural gas lines to maintain, find none, and then so long as you followed other provisions then you wouldn't need to do much else.

[Araraukar]

Hopefully, the definition has improved. Do you have any thoughts for how to repair it if not?

OOC: I will try to get back to you shortly. Right now about to head out the door in 5 minutes.

[Eco-Paris Reformation]

I feel as if though nothing more can be revised or added. I'm going to finally submit this on Wednesday. If anyone has anyone last minute suggestions, then that would be greatly appreciated!

[Outer Sparta]

I feel as if though nothing more can be revised or added. I'm going to finally submit this on Wednesday. If anyone has anyone last minute suggestions, then that would be greatly appreciated!

I feel you should still wait for more feedback. My concerns still lie whether or not you've definitively covered your angle without duplication, and also if existing legislation is enough.

[WayNeacTia]

"Seems more like an OHS issue, than some matter of international urgency if you ask me."

Wayne