The Distribution Public Awareness Council (DPAC) is a member-driven non-profit organization for natural gas distribution utility companies in the United States. DPAC started as a grassroots effort due to lack of representation for distribution companies within the pipeline industry. Members have a broad range of experience in many areas important to public awareness including damage prevention, communications, compliance, stakeholder engagement and industry involvement... DPAC members are interested in working collaboratively with their peers to address similar pipeline public awareness and community safety challenges and to share best practices for implementing and assessing the effectiveness of public awareness compliance programs required by 49 CFR 192.616. DPAC also provides a unique forum for members to develop consensus standards specific to distribution pipeline operators and to participate in the development of other industry standards for public awareness and community safety..