Public Officials

Please Review the Information Below

Public Officials

You have pipelines in or near your community. Please take advantage of the information and links provided to further inform you about existing facilities and share that knowledge with your colleagues.

Learn about pipelines in your community. If you are a public official who oversees, or makes decisions about issues that may impact a pipeline right-of-way. The following information is very important to know about pipelines in your community:

 

  • How to contact an operator.
  • Actions to ensure open communication.
  • Emergency response preparedness.
  • Land-use planning.

Pipelines are everywhere. Pipelines run down city streets and onto private properties in order to supply homes and businesses with natural gas. They gather crude oil and natural gas from populated and rural locations. Driving, walking, or riding over a pipeline daily is very likely. Look for pipeline markers and note the company name and emergency phone number.

What is OKIE811?

OKIE811 is the “call before you dig” non-profit corporation providing utility locate notification and damage prevention services on behalf of more than 1,250+ underground facility owners and operators who are members of OKIE811. One of these services includes operating a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week contact center to process requests for utility locates prior to to digging. OKIE811 also provides damage prevention services which includes regional and statewide damage prevention and excavation safety programs, public education programs, 811 awareness programs and onsite excavation saftey workshops.

The United States has the largest pipeline network in the world that delivers the raw materials that are processed into fuel that powers our lives. The safest and most cost-effective transportation for these products is through pipelines. Pipeline operators are subject to many Federal and State regulations, as well as industry standards. These regulations and standards deal with all phases of pipeline operations.

developing communities

Developers and Public Officials can work together to verify that lands slated for development have accurate locations of nearby pipelines. 

Developers, Public Officials and Pipeline Operators can work together to ensure this accuracy that new developments do not encroach on pipeline right-of-ways. Community growth has had a tremendous impact on the pipeline industry.

 

Pipelines that were once buried in sparsely populated areas can now be found in urban locations as land development expands with new neighborhoods, schools, businesses and industrial areas. With this growth, more people are working and living in the vicinity of pipelines, making safety and even higher priority.

Because land development in the proximity of any pipeline can result in unintentional injuries, fatalities or property and environmental damage, PIPA has developed recommended practices for protecting communities and transmission pipelines and for communicating with stakeholders. These recommended practices provide information on existing transmission lines and potential risks that can help communities during development planning.

Safe Communities

To maintain safe, reliable operations of our pipelines and facilities, we implement many preventive measures and procedures such as the following:

  • Preventive Maintenance programs
  • Pipeline Monitoring
  • Aerial and/or Ground Surveys
  • Cathodic protection to inhibit corrosion

Pipeline operators have developed and implemented Integrity Management plans which provides a process for monitoring, managing, and mitigating risks along the pipeline system. Natural gas operators have implemented a High Consequence Area (HCA) plan for environmentally sensitive areas, urbanized and populated areas, impaired mobility areas, and navigable waterways.

pipeline right of way

In addition to pipeline markers designating the general location of pipelines, transmission pipelines can also be found at the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) web site: www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov.

NEVER utilize the NPMS web site in place of calling 811 prior to starting an excavation project.

Pipelines are buried and located in what is called the Right-of-Way. Typically, ROWs are clear of any structures and/or trees and allow access to pipeline operators for maintenance, inspection and testing. Encroachment upon ROW inhibits an operator’s ability to respond to pipeline emergencies, eliminate third party damage, provide ROW surveillance, perform routine maintenance, and perform required federal/state inspections. Any encroachments found on a ROW will be removed at the cost of the property owner, so please remember to call 811 before you dig.

emergency responders assist us by handling the following

traffic control

Evacuation

Securing the incident site

Providing Medical Aid

Keep the surrounding area cool with water spray and prevent further ignition of combustible material.

Providing Search and Rescue

Allow any fire that may be present to burn out.