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Call Before You DigBefore you dig or excavate, contact the Texas One-Call Center at 
Pecan Pipeline Company is proud to be a member of Texas Excavation Safety System, Inc. (TESS). The following information is provided courtesy of TESS. Pipelines...Your Quiet NeighborThere are more than 200,000 miles of petroleum pipeline and 300,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in the United States. According to the National Transportation Safety Board statistics, pipelines are the safest method for transporting these products. Pipelines have a safety record unparalleled by any other mode of transporting energy products. A greater risk to the environment and the general public exists when these products are transported by other methods. Natural gas provides about 24 percent of all the energy used in the United States and gas utilities serve more than 60 million customers. Since Americans consume more than 700 million gallons of petroleum products per day, pipelines are an essential component of our nation’s infrastructure. Pipelines are made of steel, often covered with protective coating and buried underground. They are tested and maintained using cleaning devices, diagnostic tools, and cathodic protection. Each company has an integrity management plan and you may contact them directly for more information.Many pipeline companies perform systematic patrols along their pipeline route to insure the security and integrity of their lines. These patrols are conducted via air and on the ground, at regular intervals. Trained inspectors look for potential danger to pipelines, such as construction activity, and signs of possible leaks. Pipeline companies communicate regularly with emergency officials and work with local police and fire departments in case of an emergency. Even though it is extremely unlikely that a leak will occur, this information will prepare you in the event a leak or spill does occur. The safety guidelines on this website will provide you with important information if you suspect a problem. Pipeline companies take seriously the safe operation of their infrastructures which includes protecting your property and the environment. Because of this diligence, incidents are very rare. Written agreements or easements between landowners and pipeline companies allow pipeline companies to construct and maintain pipeline right-of-way across privately-owned property. If you are not aware of pipelines on or near your property, check for pipeline markers posted on your property, along your property, and elsewhere in your neighborhood. You may also check your property record at your County Clerk’s Office. Pipeline MonitoringModern pipelines are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week to insure the integrity and security of these lines. Sophisticated computers, alarms, meters and satellite technology may be used to control and monitor pipeline systems. These systems are designed to detect changes in pressure and flow, and will be activated if a leak is detected. Some pipelines contain automatic shut-off valves that will immediately isolate a leak.Utility MarkersFor your safety, markers show the approximate location of pipelines and identify the companies that own them. Markers may be anywhere along the right-of-way or directly over the pipeline. The pipeline may not follow a straight course between markers. While markers are helpful in locating pipelines, they are limited in the information they provide. They provide no information, for example, on the depth or number of pipelines in the right-of way. The markers can be found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railway. These markers display the material transported in the pipeline, the name of the pipeline operator and a telephone number where the pipeline operator can be reached in the event of an emergency. You should be aware of any pipeline markers in your neighborhood and if possible, write down the name and phone numbers appearing on the pipeline markers in case of an 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 sign or right-of-way marker. If you live or work near a pipeline, how can you tell where a pipeline is located? Look for these signs:
Call Before You Dig!Before you dig or excavate, contact the Texas Please call 48 hours before you start your project, whether landscaping, building fences or a major construction project. Pipeline companies will mark the location of their lines at no cost to you. Pipeline and utility markers may not show the exact location of buried lines. Failure to call before excavation is the leading cause of damages to buried pipelines. For more information, visit www.digtess.org. What to Do if You Dig and Disturb or Damage a Pipeline or Natural Gas LineEven 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 imperative that the pipeline owner inspects and repairs any damage to the line or related apparatus. The law requires all damages to be reported to the facility owner. Do not attempt to make repairs to the line yourself.High Consequence AreasIn accordance with federal regulations some areas near pipelines have been designated as High Consequence Areas. For these areas supplemental hazard assessment and prevention programs know as Integrity Management Programs have been developed. If a pipeline operator has High Consequence Areas information about these plans may be available though their company’s website or by contacting the operator’s corporate offices.Can I build or Dig on a Right-of-Way?Pipeline right-of-ways 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 high shrubs on the right-of-way. Do not dig, build, store, or place anything on or near the right-of-ways without first having the pipeline company’s personnel mark the pipeline or stake the right-of-ways and explain the company’s construction guidelines to you.We Need Your HelpThe Nation’s infrastructures, including pipelines, are a matter of National Security. If you witness 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 operators’ numbers listed on this brochure. Threat advisories may be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s website www.dhs.gov.National Pipeline Mapping SystemFor information about pipelines operating in your area, you may contact the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) www.npms.rspa.dot.gov. 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 www.ops.dot.gov or the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) www.rrc.state.tx.us, 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. |
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