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Emergency officials and local government information regarding pipeline safety
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Local governments, including governing councils, fire departments, emergency management divisions, planners and public facility managers, are key players in pipeline safety. New federal and state rules require pipeline companies to communicate regularly with local government officials regarding the wide range of issues associated with gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, such as: | |
| Pipeline Safety E-mail Alerts! Receive timely information about pipeline safety issues, pipeline incidents and other news. |
| The state's pipeline safety program would like know whether you have received any information from pipeline operating in your jurisdiction and whether you are satisified with its content and presentation. Below is some information that will help you be more aware about the pipelines in your community. | |
| Natural Gas Utilities Communities served by natural gas have small diameter natural gas pipelines running throughout the area. Here are the natural gas utilities and their service areas in Washington:
Cascade serves approximately 210,000 customers in 91 cities in Washington and Oregon situated. Major Washington cities include: Bellingham, Bremerton, Yakima and Walla Walla. Counties served include: Adams, Benton, Chelan, Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Kitsap, Mason, Skagit, Snohomish, Walla Walla, Whatcom and Yakima. (service map) Northwest Natural serves approximately 600,000 customers in western Oregon and southwestern Washington, including Battleground, Bingen, Camas, La Center, North Bonneville, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal, and White Salmon. Counties with service include Clark, Skamania and Klickitat.(service map) Puget Sound Energy serves more than 700,000 natural gas customers in six counties: King, Snohomish, Thurston, Lewis, Kittitas and Pierce. (service map) City-owned utilities: The cities of Buckley, Ellensburg and Enumclaw own and operator natural gas utilities. They also are regulated for pipeline safety by the UTC. |  | Liquid pipelines and high-pressure gas pipelines There are over 2,500 miles of hazardous liquid and high-pressure gas pipelines operating in Washington. To learn more about what pipelines in your area, consult these resources: Pipelines listed by city Pipelines listed by county (Liquid and high-pressure natural gas pipelines listed) Pipelines of certain counties online Small gas pipeline systems Small gas pipeline systems, particularly those not operated by pipeline companies, can pose a safety risk. Public institutions which operate fairgrounds, public housing facilities, medical complexes, transit stations, parks and convention systems, need to be conscious of the condition of any underground gas pipeline systems serving their facilities. The UTC pipeline program offers free technical assistance and is currently conducting a study of publicly-owned gas pipeline systems. Learn more or contact Tim Sweeney. Free maps The pipelne safety program has developed maps for emergency officials and local governments showing the location and route of hazardous liquid and high-pressure gas pipelines running through their communities in relation to streets, schools and other local facilities. These maps are printed in sturdy, weather-resistant atlases but also are available on computer CDs. We can also arrange to transfer the location information as GIS data. E-mail for maps: dcullom@wutc.wa.gov |
An excellent training package prepared by the National Association of State Fire Marshals Organization
An online Pipeline 101 course by the American Petroleum Institute and Association of Oil Pipe Lines
Emergency Official Web page by the federal Office of Pipeline Safety
Local Official Web page by the federal Office of Pipeline Safety
Washington State Fire Marshal Web site
Pipeline companies should be contacting emergency officials (fire departments, law enforcement, emergency management agencies and other emergency response and public safety organizations) every year. However, if you need to communicate with a pipeline operator in your community, the UTC pipeline company page can help. Also, you view many of the inspection records online.
| | Local Government Websites on Pipelines |
Land use can affect pipeline safety, either by generating development that threatens the pipeline's safe operation or by putting citizens in areas which might be threatened in the event of a pipeline incident. The UTC, along with the Association of Washington Cities and Washington State Association of Counties, have developed a set of guidelines for local government planners and elected officials. Also, the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington is an excellent resource for pipeline safety information, including model local ordinances and model franchise agreements. | | City of Bellevue |
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Posted/updated: 01/05/2009
