Natural gas is a naturally abundant gas found deep beneath the earth’s surface. It is odorless and colorless and produces very few emissions. It is also considered the cleanest fuel because of its clean-burning qualities.

 Natural gas is the most popular energy used for home heating. Its uses are expanding to electrical power generation, cooling and fuel transportation, due to its ease of use and its positive environmental qualities.

 The natural gas delivery system has the best safety record of all energy delivery systems. This flyer will provide you with important safety information about natural gas.

 U.S. Department of Transportation’s guidelines require your Gas Distribution Company to make you aware of certain safety recommendations regarding your underground natural gas piping. Gas Distribution Companies do not maintain gas piping past the customer’s gas meter. Piping beyond the customer’s gas meter is the responsibility of the customer. Buried customer piping, if not properly maintained, may be subject to corrosion and/or leakage. Your buried piping should be checked periodically to ensure continued safety and reliable operation. You (or the building owner) are advised to contact a licensed contractor to assist you in locating and inspecting your buried gas piping. Should an unsafe condition be discovered, repairs should be made immediately.

 

The Popular Choice

 According to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board, natural gas pipelines and mains are the safest method of transportation. Natural gas provides about 24 percent of all the energy used in the United States. Gas Utilities serve more than 60 million residential, commercial and industrial customers through underground pipelines.

 

The Safety Commitment

 It is extremely unlikely a gas leak will occur, but you should always be prepared. Natural gas is extremely flammable and if released and contacted by any source of ignition will ignite, and possibly explode.

 We are committed to protecting you, your property and the environment, and by implementing programs like these we are better equipped to detect the possibility of a leak happening prior to it actually occurring. These safety guidelines will provide you with important information to help you avoid dangerous activities that could lead to a gas leak, and what steps to take if a natural gas leak were to occur.

 Using the latest technology, security and industry practices, natural gas pipelines and mains are monitored to maintain service and safety. Natural gas companies execute many programs to ensure your safety, including:

• Design and construction, planning with local agencies

• Monitoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Integrity Management Programs for transmission pipelines

• Inspection and patrol, by aerial and foot

• Emergency Responder and Excavator Training Programs

• Public Awareness and Damage Prevention Programs

• Coordination and communication with police and fire officials

 

Pipeline Marker Information

 Pipeline markers are another important safety precaution. Since pipelines are buried underground, pipeline markers are used to help in their identification. Pipeline markers are found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railway. Be aware of any pipeline markers in your neighborhood. Write down the natural gas operator’s name and phone number in case of an emergency. While markers are helpful, they provide very limited information. Markers DO show: The approximate location of the pipelines - the product being transported - the natural gas operator’s name and the emergency phone number. Markers DO NOT show: The depth of the pipelines - the number of pipelines - the exact location of the pipelines.

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Information for Emergency Officials

Take whatever steps necessary to protect the public during a pipeline emergency. The following suggestions are offered only as a guide.

Secure the area around the leak.

• This could include evacuating people from homes, businesses, schools and other locations.

• This could include erecting barricades to prevent access to the emergency site.

Take steps to prevent ignition of a pipeline leak.

• This could include rerouting traffic, shutting off electricity and residential gas supply by qualified individuals.

• This could include preventing ignition sources from entering the emergency site.

Contact the natural gas operator.

• Contact the natural gas operator as quickly as possible.

• Pipeline markers provide the company name, phone number and product.

• Do not operate any valves; this action could escalate the emergency.

• The natural gas operator will dispatch personnel to help and aid the response to the emergency.

• The natural gas operator’s personnel will take the necessary actions, such as starting and stopping pumps, opening or closing valves, and                          similar steps to minimize the impact of the situation.

Pipeline companies will make their Emergency Spill Response Plan information available to Emergency Responders upon request.

 

911 Telecommunication

911 Dispatch personnel play a critical role in effective response to pipeline incidents. Knowing the companies, their contact information and the products transported in your respective jurisdiction is important for prompt and correct responses in the case of a pipeline incident. Dispatchers actions can save lives, direct the appropriate emergency responders to the scene, and protect our nations’ infrastructure from additional issues that can be caused by improper response.

USE YOUR SENSES