Pipeline Safety
Our Commitment
Southern Star monitors our pipeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We ensure the safe and reliable operation of our pipeline through routine inspections, computer monitoring systems, corrosion protection, maintenance, regular employee training and more.
If you have any questions, you can call Southern Star’s Public Awareness Team at (888) 885-6008 or e-mail us at PublicAwareness@southernstar.com.
Our pipeline is designed, tested, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with all applicable federal and state requirements including the statutes governing the operations of natural gas companies and all rules and regulations adopted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as well as our FERC approved tariff.
If you have any ethical questions or concerns about Southern Star, please call (800) 662-3870.
More Than Just a Job
Pipeline accidents often happen when people are unaware of the location of the pipeline or other utilities before starting their work. To help prevent these accidents, it’s important to always contact 811 before you dig. This applies to both homeowners and professional excavators. By calling 811, you can initiate the process to have underground pipelines and utilities marked at no cost. Whether you’re planting a new tree in your backyard or starting a major project near a pipeline right-of-way, always call 811 before you dig.
How Do You Know Where a Pipeline Is Located?
Most pipelines are buried underground to protect them from the elements and minimize interference with surface uses. Pipeline rights-of-way are clearly marked by pipeline signs that indicate the approximate – NOT EXACT- location of the pipeline. Every pipeline marker contains information identifying the company that operates the pipeline, the product transported, and a phone number that should be called in the event of an emergency.
Markers do not indicate pipeline burial depth, which will vary. Markers are typically seen where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railway. You will also find them at water crossings, fence lines and property boundaries. It is a federal crime for any person to willfully deface, damage, remove, or destroy any pipeline marker. There are multiple types of pipeline markers that vary in shape, size and color.
The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) can be a great resource for tasks such as emergency response and smart growth planning, but it does not take the place of calling 811 before any excavation. Click here visit NPMS.
How Do You Recognize A Pipeline Leak
Sight
Natural gas is colorless, but vapor and “ground frosting” may be visible at high pressures. A natural gas leak may also be indicated by bubbles in wet or flooded areas, distinct patches of dead vegetation, dust blowing from a hole in the ground or flames if the leak is ignited.
Sound
Volume can range from a quiet hissing to a loud roar depending on the size of the leak and pipeline system.
Smell
An unusual smell or gaseous odor will sometimes accompany pipeline leaks. Natural Gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless unless commercial odorants or Mercaptan are added. Gas transmission/gas gathering pipelines are odorless, but may contain a hydrocarbon smell.
In the Event of a Pipeline Leak
- Turn off any equipment and eliminate any ignition sources without risking injury.
- Leave the area by foot immediately. Try to direct any other bystanders to leave the area. Attempt to stay upwind.
- From a safe location, notify the pipeline operator immediately and call 911 or your local emergency response number. The operator will need your name, your phone number, a brief description of the incident, and the location so they can initiate the proper response.
- DO NOT cause any open flame or other potential source of ignition such as an electrical switch, vehicle ignition, burning match, etc. Do not start motor vehicles or electrical equipment. Do not ring doorbells to notify others of the leak. Knock with your hand to avoid potential sparks from knockers.
- DO NOT come into direct contact with any escaping liquids or gas.
- DO NOT drive into a leak or vapor cloud while leaving the area.
- DO NOT attempt to operate any pipeline valves yourself. You may inadvertently route more product to the leak or cause a secondary incident.
- DO NOT attempt to extinguish a petroleum product or natural gas fire. Wait for local firemen and other professionals trained to deal with such emergencies.
Emergency Response
Southern Star has an established emergency response plan in the rare case that a pipeline failure should occur. Potential hazards that may be associated with pipeline failure include line rupture, release of natural gas, fire, and explosion.
Our operations personnel are well-prepared to respond appropriately and manage an emergency. We work closely with and cooperate with local emergency responders to provide education about our pipeline operations and how to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.
In case of a pipeline emergency, Southern Star personnel will respond immediately with the following actions:
- Activate our response plan
- Ensure the safety of the public, our customers, and our team
- Support first responders and the appropriate public officials and provide essential resources
- Provide information regarding the status of the event
Land Use Development
Southern Star easements are generally 66 feet wide, unless specifically noted otherwise in the applicable easements. As such, the standard encroachment drawings provided on this site assume a 66-foot total right-of-way width, or 33-feet on each side of the pipeline and are provided only as a guide to assist in planning your project. To verify the right of way width in the area of your project, please contact the land representative nearest you.
Please be aware that Southern Star’s engineering department must review and approve plans for any work within our rights-of-way at least 60 days before the beginning of actual work on the project. A specific encroachment agreement may be required prior to you beginning to work within Southern Star’s right of way. Your land representative will be glad to visit with you regarding that agreement.
Provided here is a toolkit outlining the standards and procedures to be followed when planning land use development on or near Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline rights-of-way.
The handbook is intended for use by city and county planners, engineers, developers, land surveyors and anyone involved in the initial stages of land development. If Southern Star is included in the initial planning stages, project delays can be avoided and safe development practices in the vicinity of pipelines can be attained.
The toolkit is designed to make you aware of the most common standards and procedures Southern Star typically requires to protect its facilities in areas of changing land use. However, each proposed development or activity requires a case-specific evaluation by a qualified Southern Star representative. Again, the sooner you involve Southern Star in your project, the better.
Land Use Toolkit
- Land Use Development and Right of Way Handbook
- Right of Way Clearing & Vegetation Management
- Standard Width of Right-Of-Way
- Timber Bridge Pg. 1
- Timber Bridge Pg. 2
- Overhead Power Lines
- Underground Power & Fiber Optic
- Foreign Pipeline Crossing
- Underground Phone and Cable
- Standard Road Crossing
- Special Road Crossing
- Bored Utility Crossing
- Underground Electric & Fiber Optic Crossings
Land Department
FERC Citizen Guides
From the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:
Safety Brochures
If you are a member of one of the audiences below, please take a minute to review the information in your relevant pipeline safety brochures and High Consequence Areas (HCA) brochures:
High Consequence Areas (HCAs)
