PIPELINES & PIPELINE FACILITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Every day, more than two million miles of pipelines across the United States safely transport natural gas, gasoline and other products that fuel our modern lives. Understanding where these pipelines and pipeline facilities are located, the potential hazards and how to identify and respond to a potential leak will help keep your family, your employees and your community safe. 

Kinder Morgan’s pipelines transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, CO2 and other products.  We take pipeline safety measures to ensure public safety and safe pipeline operations.

Call 811 Before You Dig

If you're planning a project involving digging or any type of ground disturbance including, building a fence, planting a tree or installing a swimming pool, it's important to call 811 or your local One-Call Center before you dig to have underground utilities located and marked. 

811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Having utilities located and marked is a free service and protects you, your family and your property during digging and excavation projects.  Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center’s website before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.

In many states, you are required by law to call 811 or your local One- Call center, at least two to three business days before starting a digging or ground disturbance project to have pipelines and underground utilities properly marked.  

Remember, you should always call 811 at least two working days before digging, wait to have the lines marked, dig with care and immediately report any dents, scratches or damage to a pipeline or underground utility to the utility owner.

Locating Pipelines and Pipeline Facilities


While you should always call 811 or your local One-Call Center before you dig to identify the exact location of a pipeline or pipeline facility, there are additional resources to help you identify the approximate location of pipelines. 

Pipeline markers, like the ones pictured, are located along pipeline routes, at road and railroad crossings, and at all above-ground pipeline facilities. These markers identify the general area where a pipeline is located and specify the type of product transported, the operator's name and an emergency contact number. The markers do not identify the exact location or depth of the pipeline and should never be used to identify a pipeline's location before excavating.

It is a federal crime to damage, remove or destroy a pipeline marker.

Another way you can locate pipelines is through the National Pipeline Mapping System. This system is maintained by the federal government and provides maps that show the approximate location of the transmission pipelines in your community. Government and safety officials can access additional information and download electronic files to import into emergency preparedness GIS mapping systems. 

Recognizing and Responding to a Pipeline or Pipeline Facility Leak


Although rare, pipeline leaks can be dangerous and require caution and immediate action. It's important to be able to recognize the signs of a potential pipeline leak and know how to respond to protect people, property and the environment. 

Signs of a potential pipeline leak can include*:
  • Dead vegetation, stains or liquid on the ground near the pipeline, dirt being blown into the air, fire at or below ground level, dense white cloud or fog, or frozen ground near the pipeline
  • Colorful sheens on water surfaces, bubbles coming from bodies of water
  • Hissing or roaring sound    
  • Strong petroleum scent, mild fragrant odor (Ethanol), or other pungent odor such as sulfur (rotten eggs or garlic-like); Natural Gas may also be odorless
*Not all signs need to be present to indicate a leak.  
               
If you suspect a leak or a leak occurs, you should: 
  • Leave the area immediately in an upwind direction and warn others to stay away
  • If near a school, evacuate students and staff from the area immediately as outlined in the school's emergency response plan
  • Do not light a match, start an engine, use a telephone or cell phone or turn on/off any electrical appliances, and avoid potential ignition sources, which may cause an explosion or fire
  • Once you are a safe distance away from the potential leak use a telephone or cell phone to call 911 and Kinder Morgan
  • Do not drive into an area where you suspect a leak, and do not touch or operate pipeline valves
  • Avoid making contact with escaping liquids or vapors as potential hazards may include eye, skin and respiratory irritation and the product may be highly flammable

Protecting Pipelines, Pipeline Facilities & Right-of-way

While we have 24-hour safety and security procedures in place to keep our assets safe, we also depend on government and safety officials and the people who live and work near our pipelines to notify us about potential damage, right-of-way issues or suspicious activity.

The right-of-way is the land over and around a pipeline, typically 25 feet on either side, in which both Kinder Morgan and the landowner have a legal interest. To ensure the safety of the pipeline, there are some restrictions regarding what right-of-ways can be used for. For example, placing buildings or structures, or planting trees and shrubs, are considered unauthorized usages (also known as encroachments) as it might interfere with the safe operation of the pipeline. 

We conduct regular maintenance to trim trees and remove shrubs or structures that are on the right-of-way or prohibit us from clearly viewing the pipeline route during aerial or foot patrols.

You can help us protect our pipelines by always calling before you dig and reporting suspected damage, including scrapes or dents that occur during excavation. It is important that any damage is inspected and repairs are made if needed. If pipelines are not promptly repaired, the damage could result in future leaks or a serious accident.

We also ask that you contact us if you notice right-of-way encroachment. You can learn more about how you can help us maintain a safe right-of-way here.
Kinder Morgan in Canada   Kinder Morgan in Mexico
Kinder Morgan currently owns and operates the Utopia Pipeline System, which begins in Harrison County, Ohio and extends approximately 270-miles to Windsor, Ontario. In 2019, Kinder Morgan sold the U.S. portion of the Cochin Pipeline and its 70 percent interest in Kinder Morgan Canada Limited to Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

Learn more about Kinder Morgan in Canada.		   Kinder Morgan's Mier-Monterrey Pipeline stretches from the International Border between the United States and Mexico in Starr County, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico. 

Learn more about Kinder Morgan in Mexico.
Kinder Morgan's Public Awareness Program, developed under the guidance of federal public awareness, damage prevention and integrity management regulation is a single administered program for all applicable business units or entities.