Transmission Pipelines and Land Use A Risk-Informed Approach -- Special Report 281 (2004) / Chapter Skim
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4 Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
4 Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Pages 66-76
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From page 66... ...
Liquids pipelines have the best safety record of any mode, where transport options exist, for moving petroleum and other hazardous liquid products. Human casualties, property loss, and environmental damage resulting from pipeline incidents are infrequent, but when they do occur the consequences can be significant.
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From page 67... ...
According to OPS data, during the 3-year period 1999 through 2001, an annual average of 148 reportable hazardous liquids transmission pipeline incidents1 occurred, resulting in 2 deaths, 11 injuries, and $97 million in property damage. During the same time period, an annual average of 73 reportable natural gas transmission pipeline incidents occurred, resulting in 6 deaths, 10 injuries, and $20 million in property damage.
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From page 68... ...
Local governments can establish rules governing structures and uses in the vicinity of pipelines. FERC prescribes the width of new natural gas transmission pipeline rights-of-way.
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From page 69... ...
Although land use regulation is vested in state police powers granted to cities and counties by their respective state legislatures, the states generally have not been active in encouraging local governments to take transmission pipelines into account in their planning and regulation of land use and development. OPS sets all safety regulatory standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of interstate pipelines and has authority to take safety enforcement action against interstate pipeline operators.
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From page 70... ...
In a few instances where land use measures are in effect, local governments use setbacks to protect the public from pipeline incidents. Since most communities have no land use protections in place relative to transmission pipelines, schools, apartment buildings, and hospitals are sometimes built near a transmission pipeline.
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From page 71... ...
This approach, however, considers the potential consequences of an event without accounting for its probability, is based on a natural gas pipeline failure rather than a liquids pipeline failure, and does not attempt to weigh the risk-reduction benefits of such a measure against the considerable cost that such a provision would entail. The basic informational tools needed by local governments to adopt effective local land use measures with regard to pipeline safety are missing.
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From page 72... ...
Appropriate land use measures utilized by local governments could bolster and complement a pipeline company's efforts to protect the right-of-way and preclude uses that could pose a public safety risk. In addition, over time, subsequent property owners, their tenants, or the public may be unfamiliar with the terms of the agreement and may engage in activities within the easement area that are inappropriate and that could threaten the integrity of the pipeline.
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From page 73... ...
Land use decisions and control of activities and development near transmission pipelines may be undertaken by the pipeline operator; safety regulators; national, state, and local officials; and the property owners. Appropriate land use measures taken by local governments could bolster and complement a pipeline company's efforts to protect the right-of-way and preclude uses that could pose a public safety risk.
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From page 74... ...
It is feasible to use a risk-informed approach to establish land use guidance for application by local governments. Various forms of risk-informed management of pipeline safety are already in wide use within the pipeline industry.
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From page 75... ...
Land use policies relevant to transmission pipelines are made at all levels of government and need to be based on an unbiased, scientific analysis of the risk posed by pipelines to their immediate surroundings. Local governments generally lack the resources and incentives to undertake such a broad-based effort on their own.
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From page 76... ...
The process for developing risk-informed land use guidance should (a) involve the collaboration of a full range of public and private stakeholders (e.g., industry and federal, state, and local governments)
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