Project safety

We seek to ensure project facilities are designed, constructed and operated safely by properly trained employees, and that they comply with all applicable rules and regulations established by government authorities and community standards.

Design and construction

Our pipeline system is designed and built in accordance with the pipeline safety standards established by industry experts and the Department of Transportation (DOT). Safety measures include:

Design: Modern technologies and materials are used to support building safety into the project from the start.

Construction: The pipeline facilities are monitored by qualified inspectors during construction to meet quality standards and comply with applicable codes and standards.

Welding: Welders on the project are required to pass qualification tests. Welds on the piping will be required to pass visual and non-destructive tests before the facility is placed into operation.

Strength Testing: Before being placed into operation, the pipeline and station piping will be hydrostatically tested (pressurizing a pipeline with water to a level that exceeds the stress at which the pipeline will operate). This procedure will enhance the strength and integrity of the pipe before being placed into service.

Environmental protection during construction

Before construction begins, construction personnel will receive environmental training focused on their responsibilities. Construction activities will fully comply with the requirements and provisions of the environmental permits issued for the project, including the requirements of FERC's Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation and Maintenance Plan (Plan) and Wetland and Waterbody Construction and Mitigation Procedures (Procedures). We will employ environmental inspectors separate from the construction crew and contractors to oversee and enforce adherence to environmental requirements. These environmental inspectors will have the authority to shut down construction, if necessary, for environmental compliance.

Safety systems and monitoring at compressor stations

Safety systems will be installed at compressor stations, including Emergency Shutdown Systems. While the facilities are in operation, employees will monitor the flow of gas and equipment 24 hours a day, 365 days a year using a specialized computer system. This system gathers pipeline pressure data, volume, flow rates, and the status of pumping equipment and valves. An alarm warns the operator on duty whenever conditions change, and the condition is investigated. Both automated and manual valves are strategically placed along the pipeline system to enable the pipeline to be shut down immediately and sections to be isolated quickly, if necessary, allowing operators to address any event at the station quickly.

Inspections

Periodic inspections of the facilities will help us detect and address potential issues. Inspections include surveys for detecting signs of leaks or other flaws. Visual inspections of the pipeline right-of-way (ROW) are conducted regularly by air and/or ground. Because it often crosses private property, operating within it requires mutual respect, transparency and a commitment to being a good neighbor. Above-ground marker signs are displayed along the ROW to alert the public and contractors to the pipeline's existence.

Operator Qualifications Program

Operation and maintenance personnel must meet industry qualification standards. Our operators are trained and capable of performing safety and maintenance tasks, recognizing abnormal operating conditions, and responding to those conditions.

Public Awareness Program

Our public awareness program is designed to prevent third-party damage to our pipelines. Residents and business owners who live along the pipeline ROW are mailed safety brochures to inform them of their proximity to pipelines and inform them of pipeline markers. Additionally, we are a member of numerous One-Call Centers that serve as clearinghouses for excavation activities close to pipelines and other underground utilities. A national "call-before-you-dig" number-811-was established by federal law in 2007. Emergency preparedness and planning measures are in place if a pipeline incident occurs. We also conduct emergency response drills and work closely with local first responders to support emergency preparedness.

More safety information

• Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
• Southern Gas Association
• Department of Transportation – Office of Pipeline Safety

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