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Pipeline Safety Stakeholder Communications

Pipeline Safety Connects Us All

PIPA Recommended Practices
Recommended Practices - Expanded Version [condensed version]
No Title and Practice Statement Local Government Property Developer/Owner Transmission Pipeline Operator Real Estate Commission
Baseline (BL) Recommended Practices
BL01 "Obtain Transmission Pipeline Mapping Data"
Local government agencies responsible for land use and development planning or the issuance of development permits should obtain mapping data for all transmission pipelines within their areas of jurisdiction from PHMSA's National Pipeline Mapping System or from the transmission pipeline operators and show these pipelines on maps used for development planning.
Yes      
BL02 "n/a - Recommendation is incorporated into other practices."
       
BL03 "Utilize Information Regarding Development around Transmission Pipelines"
Transmission pipeline operators should provide information about their pipelines to local governments and property developers/owners who are planning development around their pipelines. Local government authorities regulating development should use this information to establish requirements regarding land use and development around transmission pipelines.
Yes   Yes  
BL04 "Adopt Transmission Pipeline Consultation Zone Ordinance"
Local governments should adopt land development procedures requiring property developers/owners to consult with transmission pipeline operators early in the development process, so that development designs minimize risks to the populace living or working nearby and are consistent with the needs and legal rights of the operators.
Yes      
BL05 "Define Transmission Pipeline Consultation Zone"
Local governments should define a "consultation zone" to provide a mechanism for communication between property developers/owners and operators of nearby transmission pipelines when new land uses and property developments are being planned.
Yes      
BL06 "Implement New Development Planning Areas around Transmission Pipelines"
Local governments should consider implementing "planning areas" to enhance safety when new land use and property development is planned near transmission pipelines.
Yes      
BL07 "Understand the Elements of a Transmission Pipeline Easement"
Property developers/owners should have an understanding of the elements of and rights conveyed in a transmission pipeline easement.
  Yes    
BL08 "Manage Land Records"
Land use agreements between pipeline operators and property owners should be documented and managed and, when necessary, recorded.
  Yes Yes  
BL09 "Document and Record Easement Amendments"
Easement amendments should be documented, managed and recorded.
  Yes Yes  
BL10 "Implement Communications Plan"
Transmission pipeline operators should develop and implement effective communications plans when communicating acceptable transmission pipeline right-of-way uses and activities to property developers/owners and other stakeholders.
    Yes  
BL11 "Effectively Communicate Pipeline Risk and Risk Management Information"
Transmission pipeline operators should identify barriers to effectively communicating with stakeholders and use communication techniques designed to overcome those barriers and effectively engage stakeholders to communicate with them regarding pipeline risks and how the operator manages such risks.
    Yes  
BL12 "Notify Stakeholders of Right-of-Way Maintenance Activities"
Transmission pipeline operators should notify affected stakeholders of right-of-way maintenance activities, including vegetation management.
    Yes  
BL13 "Prevent and Manage Right-of-Way Encroachment"
Transmission pipeline operators should communicate in a documented and timely manner with property developers/owners to prevent or rectify unacceptable encroachments or inappropriate human activity within the transmission pipeline right-of-way.
    Yes  
BL14 "Participate to Improve State Excavation Damage Prevention Programs"
All pipeline safety stakeholders should participate in the work of organizations seeking to make improvements to state excavation damage prevention programs, especially efforts to reduce exemptions from participation in one-call systems.
Yes Yes Yes  
BL15 "Enhance Damage Prevention Practices near High-Priority Subsurface Facilities"
Transmission pipeline operators should implement enhanced damage prevention practices within the transmission pipeline right-of-way to ensure that pipeline operators and excavators meet on-site prior to excavation activity near high-priority subsurface facilities.
    Yes  
BL16 "Halt Dangerous Excavation Activities near Transmission Pipelines"
Transmission pipeline operators should have procedures and established contacts with local enforcement personnel in order to act appropriately to halt dangerous excavation activities that may damage their pipelines and potentially cause an immediate threat to life or property.
Yes   Yes  
BL17 "Map Abandoned Pipelines"
When a transmission pipeline operator abandons a transmission pipeline, information regarding the abandoned pipeline should be maintained and included in the information provided to the one-call center.
    Yes  
BL18 "Disclose Transmission Pipeline Easements in Real Estate Transactions"
As part of all real estate sales contracts, each state should require the disclosure of known transmission pipeline easements on the property.
      Yes
New Development (ND) Recommended Practices
ND01 "n/a - Recommendation is incorporated into other practices."
       
ND02 "Gather Information for Design of Property Development near Transmission Pipelines"
In designing a proposed property development the property developer/owner should use all reasonable means to obtain information about transmission pipeline facilities in the area of the proposed development.
  Yes Yes  
ND03 "Review Acceptability of Proposed Land Use of Transmission Pipeline Right-of-Way Prior to Design"
The property developer/owner should review preliminary information about acceptable land uses on a transmission pipeline right-of-way prior to the design of a property development.
  Yes    
ND04 "Coordinate Property Development Design and Construction with Transmission Pipeline Operator"
When property development is planned within the consultation zone (reference PIPA Recommended Practice BL05), the property developer/owner and the transmission pipeline operator should communicate to ensure possible impacts of pipeline incidents and maintenance needs are considered during development design and construction.
  Yes Yes  
ND05 "n/a - Recommendation is incorporated into other practices."
       
ND06 "Require Consideration of Transmission Pipeline Facilities in Land Development Design"
Whenever development is proposed on property containing transmission pipeline facilities, local governments should require that the submitted land development plans address in detail the steps necessary to safely integrate the transmission pipeline into the design of the project.
Yes Yes    
ND07 "Define Blanket Easement Agreements When Necessary"
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.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND08 "Collaborate on Alternate Use and Development of Transmission Pipeline Right-of-Way"
Property developers/owners, local governments and transmission pipeline operators may collaborate on alternative use of the transmission pipeline right-of-way and related maintenance.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND09 "Provide Flexibility for Developing Open Space along Transmission Pipeline Rights-of-Way"
Local governments should consider allowing site planning flexibility in the development of commercial, industrial or residential property whenever a transmission pipeline is located in, or in close proximity to, the proposed development.
Yes      
ND10 "Record Transmission Pipeline Easements on Development Plans and Final Plats"
Local governments should require all recorded development plans and final plats to clearly show the location of transmission pipeline easements and identify the pipeline operators.
Yes Yes    
ND11 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Parking Lots and Parking Structures"
Parking lots and parking structures should be preferentially located and designed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and to reduce potential interference with transmission pipeline maintenance and inspections.
Yes Yes    
ND12 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Roads"
Roads and associated appurtenances should be preferentially located and designed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and reduce the potential of interference with pipeline operations and maintenance.
Yes Yes    
ND13 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Utilities and Related Infrastructure"
Utilities (both above and below ground) and related infrastructure should be preferentially located and designed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and to reduce the potential of interference with transmission pipeline maintenance and inspections.
Yes Yes    
ND14 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of Aboveground Water Management Infrastructure"
Storm water and irrigation water management facilities, retention ponds, and other above-ground water management infrastructure should be preferentially located and designed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and to reduce the potential of interference with transmission pipeline operations and maintenance.
Yes Yes    
ND15 "Plan and Locate Vegetation to Prevent Interference with Transmission Pipeline Activities"
Trees and other vegetation should be planned and located to reduce the potential of interference with transmission pipeline operations, maintenance, and inspections.
Yes Yes    
ND16 "Locate and Design Water Supply and Sanitary Systems to Prevent Contamination and Excavation Damage"
Individual water supplies (water wells), small public/private water systems and sanitary disposal systems (septic tanks, leach or drain fields) should be designed and located to prevent excavation damage to transmission pipelines, interference with transmission pipeline maintenance and inspections, and environmental contamination in the event of a transmission pipeline incident.
Yes Yes    
ND17 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk in New Development for Residential, Mixed-Use, and Commercial Land Use"
New development within a transmission pipeline planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) should be designed and buildings located to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and to provide adequate access to the pipeline for operations and maintenance.
Yes Yes    
ND18 "Consider Transmission Pipeline Operation Noise and Odor in Design and Location of Residential, Mixed-Use, and Commercial Land Use Development"
Consider noise, odor and other issues when planning and locating developments near above-ground transmission pipeline facilities, such as compressor stations, pumping stations, odorant equipment, regulator stations and other pipeline appurtenances.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND19 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Industrial Land Use Development"
New industrial land use development within a transmission pipeline planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) should be designed and buildings located to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident and reduce the potential of interference with transmission pipeline operations and maintenance.
Yes Yes    
ND20 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Location, Design, and Construction of New Institutional Land Use Developments"
New development of institutional facilities that may be difficult to evacuate within a transmission pipeline planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) should be designed and the facilities located and constructed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident. Such facilities should also be located to reduce the potential of interference with transmission pipeline operations and maintenance activities. Emergency plans for these facilities should consider potential transmission pipeline incidents.
Yes Yes    
ND21 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Public Safety and Enforcement Facilities"
New development of emergency responder facilities within a transmission pipeline planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) should be designed and the facilities located and constructed to reduce the consequences that could result from a transmission pipeline incident. Such facilities should also be designed and located to avoid the potential of interference with pipeline operations and maintenance. Planning for these facilities should include emergency plans that consider the effects of a transmission pipeline incident.
Yes Yes    
ND22 "Reduce Transmission Pipeline Risk through Design and Location of New Places of Mass Public Assembly (Future Identified Sites)"
New development of places of potential mass public assembly within a transmission pipeline planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) should be designed and the facilities located and constructed to reduce the consequences of a potential transmission pipeline incident, the risk of excavation damage to the pipeline, and the potential of interference with transmission pipeline operations and maintenance. Planning for these facilities should include emergency plans that consider the effects of a potential pipeline incident.
Yes Yes    
ND23 "Consider Site Emergency Response Plans in Land Use Development"
Emergency response plan requirements should be considered in new land use development within a planning area (see PIPA Recommended Practice BL06) to reduce the risks of a transmission pipeline incident.
Yes Yes    
ND24 "Install Temporary Markers on Edge of Transmission Pipeline Right-of-Way Prior to Construction Adjacent to Right-of-Way"
The property developer/owner should install temporary right-of-way (ROW) survey markers or fencing on the edge of the transmission pipeline ROW or buffer zone, as determined by the transmission pipeline operator, prior to construction to provide a clearly defined boundary. The property developer/owner should ensure that the temporary markers or fencing are maintained throughout the course of construction.
Yes Yes    
ND25 "Contact Transmission Pipeline Operator Prior to Excavating or Blasting"
Anyone planning to conduct excavating, blasting and/or seismic activities should consult with affected transmission pipeline operators well in advance of commencing these activities. Excavating and blasting have the potential to affect soil stability or lead to movement or settling of the soil surrounding the transmission pipeline.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND26 "Use, Document, Record and Retain Encroachment Agreements or Permits"
Encroachment agreements should be used, documented, recorded and retained when a transmission pipeline operator agrees to allow a property developer/owner or local government to encroach on the pipeline right-of-way for a long or perpetual duration in a manner that conflicts with the activities allowed on the easement.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND27 "Use, Document and Retain Letters of No Objection and Conditional Approval Letters"
Transmission pipeline operators may use, document and retain "letters of no objection" in agreeing to land use activities on or near a transmission pipeline right-of-way. Such land uses may or may not be temporary.
Yes Yes Yes  
ND28 "Document, Record and Retain Partial Releases"
Partial releases may be used to allow some part of the transmission pipeline right-of-way to be released from certain easement conditions, and should be documented, recorded and retained.
  Yes Yes