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Pipelines: Your Safety Leader

Millions of people all across the country share the same neighbor. This neighbor does not intrude where it’s not wanted and simply goes about its business helping all of us every day. Pipelines are the energy lifelines of many of our daily activities from driving our children to school, heating our homes, to buying groceries at the store delivered by trucks run on diesel.

The US has the largest network of energy pipelines of any nation in the world. There are more than 200,000 miles of oil pipelines and 300,000 miles of natural gas pipelines all across the country. These lines are tucked under our streets, through neighborhoods and communities traveling below farmland, forests, and deserts. Since Americans consume more than 700 million gallons of petroleum products per day, pipelines are an essential component of our nation’s infrastructure. Without them our roads and highways would be overrun with trucks trying to meet this demand. Pipelines are the safest most reliable manner for transporting crude oil and other liquid petroleum products according to National Transportation Safety Board statistics. And just like any good neighbor, pipeline companies are ever mindful of the safety of those around them.

Their hope is to continue to be a quiet neighbor

Many pipeline companies regularly inspect their rights-of-way using air, foot, or vehicle patrols. These trained inspectors look for potential danger to pipelines such as construction activity, and signs of gas or liquid leaks. These inspections along their pipeline route are to insure the security and integrity of their lines.

Pipeline companies keep in touch on a regular basis with emergency officials and work with local emergency responders along pipeline rights-of-way in case of an emergency, sometimes even training with fire departments or hazardous materials units. Even though a leak or spill is extremely unlikely, pipeline companies provide information like that which you will find on the following pages that will prepare you in the event that it does occur. Their hope is to continue to be a quiet neighbor and provide you with this important information to help if you suspect a problem in your area. Pipeline companies take the safe operation of their infrastructure seriously, which includes protecting your family, your property and the environment. Because of this diligence, incidents are very rare.

Be aware of pipeline markers in your neighborhood

For your safety, pipelines are marked by above ground signs to provide an indication of their presence, approximate location, material carried and the name and contact information of the company that operates the pipeline. Markers may be anywhere along the right-of-way (a strip of land usually about 25 to 150 feet wide that contains a pipeline) or directly over the pipeline itself. These markers are generally yellow, black and red in color. The pipeline may not follow a straight course between markers.

While markers are helpful in locating pipelines, they do not provide information such as how many pipelines are below or the depth of the lines. The primary function of these markers is to identify the location of the pipeline generally as an alert to those who might be working along the pipeline corridor for another utility or during the construction of homes or businesses nearby. You should be aware of any pipeline markers in your neighborhood. As the saying goes, “Know your neighbors.” Write down the name and phone numbers appearing on the pipeline markers in case of emergency.

Pipeline markers are important for the safety of the general public. It is a federal crime for any person to willfully deface, damage, remove or destroy any pipeline signs or right-of-way marker.

High Consequence Areas…

In accordance with federal regulations some areas near pipelines have been designated as High Consequence Areas. For these areas, supplemental hazard assessment and prevention programs, known as Integrity Management Programs, have been developed. If a pipeline operator has High Consequence Areas, information about these plans may be available through their company’s website or by contacting the operator’s corporate offices.

So what exactly do all these pipelines transport? There is a wide range of products traveling through the thousands of miles of pipelines, everything from gas for your car to oxygen for hospitals. Many of these products can be highly flammable, or harmful if inhaled, cause eye or skin irritation, and possibly difficulty breathing. Some of the materials could cause environmental damage. Because of these potential hazards it is important for our neighbors to be able to recognize a pipeline leak.

Pipeline Operator’s Actions during an Emergency

In the unlikely event there is an accident or leak, when the pipeline operator is notified, they immediately dispatch personnel to the site to help handle the emergency and to provide information to public safety officials to assist in their response to the emergency. Pipeline technicians will also take quick action such as starting and stopping pumps or compressors, closing and opening valves, and similar steps to minimize the impact of the situation. These responders are heavily trained throughout the year to ensure their neighborhood is returned to its well-being.

Call before you dig

One of the greatest single challenges to safe pipeline operations is the accidental damage caused by excavation, construction, farming activities – or even homeowner construction and maintenance. Before you dig or excavate, contact the One-Call Center by simply dialing 811 from anywhere in the United States. Please call before you start your project, whether landscaping, building fences or a major construction project. Pipeline companies and other utilities will mark the location of their lines at no cost to you. Pipeline and utility markers may not show the exact location of the buried lines. When excavating near pipelines, many companies will require that they have a pipeline company representative on-site to inspect and protect the underground pipeline. Failure to call 811 before excavation is the leading cause of damages to buried pipelines. One simple call can help keep you out of harm’s way.

What to do if a Pipeline is Damaged or Disturbed

Even if you cause what appears to be only minor damage to the pipeline immediately notify the pipeline company. A gouge, scrape, dent or crease to the pipe or coating may cause a future rupture or leak. It is critical that a cut or broken tracer wire be repaired. It is imperative that the pipeline owner inspects and repairs any damage to the line or related apparatus. Many states have laws requiring damages to be reported to the facility owner and/or the One-Call center by dialing 811. Do not attempt to make the repairs to the line yourself. If a line is ruptured or leaking call 911. Contact the pipeline company as quickly as possible. Pipeline marker signs show the pipeline company’s name, emergency telephone number and pipeline contents.

Can Owners Build or Dig on a Right-Of-Way?

Pipeline rights-of-way must be kept free from structures and other obstructions to provide access to the pipeline for maintenance, as well as in the event of an emergency. If a pipeline crosses your property, please do not plant trees or large shrubs on the right-of-way. Do not dig, build, store, or place anything on or near the rights-of-way without first having the pipeline company’s personnel mark the pipeline or stake the rights-of-way and explain the company’s construction and easement requirements to you.

We Need Your Help

The Nation’s infrastructures, including pipelines, are a matter of National Security. If you witness a suspicious activity on a pipeline right-of-way please report it to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible, or you may call the pipeline operator’s numbers. Threat advisories may be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s website www.dhs.gov/dhspublic.

National Pipeline Mapping System

For information about pipelines operating in your area, you may contact the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). This database of pipeline operators and the location of their lines was designed for the public to have access to contact information for pipeline companies operating in your area. Visit www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov for more information. If you would like to know which specific companies listed are near your address please contact our Regulatory Services Department toll free at 1-877-280-8636. Other resources may be found at Office of Pipeline Safety http://ops.dot.gov, the Partnership for Excellence in Pipeline Safety www.safepipelines.org or at www.pipeline101.com. For more information on safe excavation go online and visit www.commongroundalliance.com.

Awareness is the key to preventing pipeline accidents. You can contribute to the safety and security of your neighborhood by knowing where pipelines are, how to recognize unauthorized activity or signs of a leak, as well as how to respond in the case of a pipeline accident. Pipeline companies continue to strive to be a good neighbor and just like any good neighborhood watch program, neighbors look out for each other. Join in with the pipeline companies to keep our families safe.