Pipeline Safety

This pipeline will be one of the safest natural gas pipelines ever built in the United States – meeting or exceeding current federal regulations and industry standards

Quick Facts:

• The proposed pipeline will be built from advanced, modern steel that is highly resistant to physical impact. In fact, the pipe is so strong that only 3 out of 100,000 backhoes in North America could pierce it. These machines are so massive, both in terms of size and weight, that they can only be found in mining regions, not urban areas.
• Today, most buildings and bridges are designed with a safety factor of 1.5 to 2. The proposed 30-inch pipeline will be designed with safety factors of 2.5. Unlike buildings or bridges, the strength of the pipeline is physically proven by rigorous testing, beyond what is required by codes and regulations. The pipeline is buried underground with at least three feet of earth or asphalt covering, further enhancing the level of protection. Some sections of the pipe will be installed substantially deeper, even going under existing utilities.
• The pipeline is protected from corrosion with advanced coating material and a technology called “cathodic” protection. The pipeline is also monitored and inspected by a state-of-the-art device called an “in-line tool” to detect any integrity problems.

On an ongoing basis, numerous activities take place in ensuring the safe operation of the pipeline. These include:

• Frequent vehicle and on-foot patrols along the pipeline to check for abnormal conditions on the right-of-way or any activities by third parties in the vicinity of the pipeline that could cause concern.
• A state-of-the-art Gas Control Center that monitors the pipeline – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Remote Control Valves that will be closed quickly in the event of a problem
• Above- and below-ground pipeline identification markers and decals
• A robust pipeline integrity management program featuring in-line inspection tools and cathodic protection to prevent corrosion.
• Regular communications with landowners and businesses along the pipeline, as well as with emergency response personnel.

Full Compliance and More

• Spectra Energy is extremely vigilant and proactive with its integrity management programs as required by the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)– implementing rigorous safety measures across our entire system.

Causes of Incidents

• Third-party excavation damage continues to be a leading cause of pipeline incidents. Our pipeline design incorporates multiple measures of warning and safeguards to mitigate against this type of activity. Additionally, our operating staff actively participates in emergency preparedness training and participates in all applicable One-Call / Call-Before-You-Dig programs in New Jersey and New York.