What is it?
The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) is a geographic information system (GIS) database that contains the locations and selected attributes of natural gas transmission lines, hazardous liquid trunklines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities operating in onshore and offshore territories of the United States. NPMS was established through a joint government-industry effort of OPS, other federal and state agencies, and the pipeline industry.
The NPMS was created from mandatory submissions of pipeline and LNG facility data by pipeline operators. OPS added data on the locations of other geographic features throughout the U.S., including:
- High Consequence Areas as defined in the liquid pipeline Integrity Management Rule (195.450):
- High Population Areas and Other Populated Areas (defined by the Census Bureau)
- Drinking Water and Ecological Unusually Sensitive Areas (defined by State resource agencies)
- Commercially Navigable Waterways (defined by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
- Natural Disaster Hazard Zones for Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Landslides, and Floods
- State, County, and Zip Code Boundaries
- Boundaries of Federal Lands, Military Bases, and Congressional Districts
- Major Bodies of Water and Roads
- Towns and Cities
- USGS Topographical Quad Maps
How is it used?
Different NPMS information resources are available to assist pipeline operators, state pipeline regulators, OPS, and the public. These resources support the following activities:
- OPS and state inspections of operator Integrity Management programs (using online and offline mapping applications giving the locations of liquid pipelines and High Consequence Areas).
- State regulator development of GIS (using downloaded data on pipeline locations and High Consequence Areas in the state).
- Liquid pipeline operators’ identification of pipeline segments that are subject to the Integrity Management rule (using downloaded data on the locations of High Consequence Areas).
- Queries by members of the public to find out which hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline companies operate pipelines in a specific county or zip code (using a query facility from the NPMS web site).
Where Can I Learn More?
To get more information about pipelines in your area, including maps, visit PHMSA’s National Pipeline Mapping Syste. PHMSA is pleased to introduce and offer the NPMS Public Map Viewer. This application enables you to view the NPMS data one county at a time. You may zoom in to a map scale of 1:24,000. Please remember: NPMS data is for reference purposes only and should never be used as a substitute for contacting your one-call center prior to excavation activities. Please call 811 or 1-888-258-0808 to contact your local one-call center before digging.
Date of Revision: 060107