Pipeline Safety Stakeholder Communications

ND07 "Define Blanket Easement Agreements When Necessary"

Practice Statement Upon request by the landowner, a transmission pipeline easement agreement may be defined to an acceptable, reasonable, and safe width and explicit location. State statutes or local government regulations may require easements to be defined prior to the approval of rezoning, subdivision plats and development permits.

Audience(s): Local Government, Property Developer and Owner, Transmission Pipeline Operator

Practice Description

Some legacy transmission pipeline easements did not explicitly define the location or size of the easement or the location of the transmission pipelines within the easement. Some agreements did not describe the types of land use activities that could or could not occur on the right-of-way. In some states, these "blanket easements" may give the transmission pipeline operator the right to put a replacement pipeline anywhere on the property within the boundaries of the original easement grant.

The lack of clarity of an easement can lead to conflicts among stakeholders regarding the land use, the location of the transmission pipelines and easement, and the respective rights and obligations of both the land owner and transmission pipeline operator. By defining easement locations prior to approving rezoning, subdivision plats and development permits, confusion is avoided regarding which lands are burdened by the easement rights of the transmission pipeline operator. Mortgage companies may also require the easement be defined prior to providing a mortgage. Some states require the easement owner of blanket easements to define the easement to a specific location when requested by the landowner. Additionally, most transmission pipeline operators have a process for defining the easement to a specific location when requested.

The amended easement should be recorded at the appropriate statutory office (i.e. county recorder, parish clerk).

Navigate to Other Practices:
• Baseline (BL) Recommended Practices: BL01 BL02 BL03 BL04 BL05 BL06 BL07 BL08 BL09 BL10 BL11 BL12 BL13 BL14 BL15 BL16 BL17 BL18
• New Development (ND) Recommended Practices: ND01 ND02 ND03 ND04 ND05 ND06 ND07 ND08 ND09 ND10 ND11 ND12 ND13 ND14 ND15 ND16 ND17 ND18 ND19 ND20 ND21 ND22 ND23 ND24 ND25 ND26 ND27 ND28
• Table of Recommended Practices