Transmission Pipelines and Land Use A Risk-Informed Approach -- Special Report 281 (2004) / Chapter Skim
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2 Potential Land Use Approaches to Pipeline Safety and Environmental Management
2 Potential Land Use Approaches to Pipeline Safety and Environmental Management
Pages 33-50
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From page 33... ...
Of principal concern are strategies to manage land use and the proximity of people to pipelines to help prevent severe accidents caused by the disturbance of pipelines and to minimize damage when accidents occur. A brief description of the safety and environmental issues that arise in managing existing pipeline rights-of-way is included.
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From page 34... ...
In some cases, the dimensions of the rights-of-way are not mentioned. Rights-of-way have traditionally been established by pipeline operators for the purposes of constructing, inspecting, and repairing pipelines in an economical manner.
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From page 35... ...
Although this discussion has focused on private landowners, the permitting process for the use of public lands usually has many similar features. In contrast, for interstate natural gas transmission pipelines, there is a federally granted power of eminent domain to establish rights-of-way.
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From page 36... ...
Information from federal pipeline safety regulators, representatives of pipeline companies, and local officials provided to the committee over the course of its meetings indicated a few examples of actions taken by local governments. For instance, some only allow the lowest-density development around transmission pipelines and locate walking paths, bike paths, and recreational areas along pipeline rights-of-way.
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From page 37... ...
Local government zoning and other land use regulations attempt to separate industrial facilities from residences and other sensitive facilities and apply performance standards to provide protection from industrial harm (e.g., Chapin 1965; O'Harrow 1981; Rolf Jensen & Associates 1982; Schwab 1989)
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From page 38... ...
Establishing an appropriate setback would not be a simple task. Consider the following: · Rights-of-way/setbacks for high-pressure natural gas transmission and hazardous liquids pipelines would have to be wide to minimize risk as a result of a high-consequence event and therefore could be costly if interpreted as a regulatory "taking" requiring compensation to property owners.
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From page 39... ...
, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering shared responsibility in preventing damage to underground utilities. Collective Action -- CGA The Common Ground Task Force, sponsored by the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)
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From page 40... ...
. In carrying out its task, the Common Ground Task Force formed a steering team, a linking team, and nine task teams -- planning and design, one-call center, locating and marking, excavation, mapping, compliance, public education and awareness, reporting and evaluation, and emerging technologies -- each of which developed a set of best practices.
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From page 41... ...
. CGA has also entered into a cooperative agreement with OPS, initiated the CGA Regional Partner Program, assisted OPS in closing seven outstanding National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, played a role in incorporating the establishment of three-digit dialing into the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, and finalized development of the CGA Damage Information Reporting Tool to serve as a national repository for underground damage data.
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From page 42... ...
Government Requirements for Pipeline Operators: Land Use Surrounding land uses and population densities are incorporated in some existing regulations of pipeline operations. For example, 49 CFR 192, which applies to natural gas pipelines, defines area classifications on the basis of population density in the vicinity of a natural gas pipeline and specifies more rigorous requirements as human population density increases.
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From page 43... ...
Liquids pipelines do have depth of cover requirements based on the nature of the area, but class locations are not part of the liquids pipeline safety regulations. Despite the lack of risk-based technical guidance for making land use decisions near transmission pipelines, the committee noted that much can be learned from hazard mitigation management techniques and strategies that have been adopted by state and local governments, some of which might be effective in managing pipeline risks.
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From page 44... ...
Localities deal with these possible consequences by requiring property owners to flood-proof their property or take other damage mitigation measures to protect life and property. Thus, the federal flood insurance program is a land use pro gram based on the management of risk.
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From page 45... ...
Small changes occur in active agricultural fields, and the greatest changes occur when forested areas are cleared to accommodate construction activities. During operation of the transmission pipeline, the portion of the land atop the pipeline is typically maintained in a grassland community to
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From page 46... ...
For example, threatened or endangered species habitat or unique wetlands, if disturbed by construction activities, could adversely affect wildlife populations that rely on these sensitive habitats. Rights-of-way can also act as disturbance corridors for the movement and spread of invasive species.
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From page 47... ...
Many pipeline operators consider right-of-way management to be a maintenance task with structural goals but no ecological goals. A growing body of information is available on how to restore damaged ecosystems (see www.ser.org)
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From page 48... ...
Government and industry could collaborate in the development of such guidance. REFERENCES Abbreviations API American Petroleum Institute CGA Common Ground Alliance FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OPS Office of Pipeline Safety TRB Transportation Research Board Adams, L
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From page 49... ...
2000. Direct Relevance to the Natural Gas Industry of the Habitat Fragmentation/Biodiversity Issue Resulting from the Con struction of New Pipelines.
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From page 50... ...
1993. Observations on the Effects of Construction of Natural Gas Pipeline Right-of-Way on Wetland Vegetation and Birds.
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