Greer CPW Cares About YOUR Safety!

While pipelines are a safe and reliable means of transporting natural gas, their location and protection from hazards should be considered when planning events, developing property, issuing permits, and other tasks performed by public offices.While unlikely, a pipeline leak or rupture can create a significant public safety hazard and Greer CPW would like to avail your department of any information it may need to maintain safe civic activities in the vicinity of pipelines. Please take a few minutes to review the included information, and for any additional information, please contact Greer CPW at the information below, or awareness@everlineus.com, with “Greer CPW” in the subject line.

Thank you,
Greer CPW

Pipelines in Your Vicinity

Greer CPW operates pipelines in your vicinity to move produced natural gas from where it is produced to where it is processed into pipeline quality gas. These pipelines are subject to federal (and state) safety regulations and are routinely maintained and inspected.

Important Information About Natural Gas Safety for Public Officials

  • Natural gas is either odorless or made to smell like sulfur or rotten egg through the addition of methyl mercaptan. There is no "safe" amount of gas smell; if odor is noticed, the area must be efficiently evacuated and 911 must be notified. If the pipeline operator is known, also notify the operator as soon as possible.

  • Natural gas is lighter than air, non-toxic and highly flammable. Inhalation or direct exposure may cause irritation and difficulty breathing or asphyxiation.

  • If uncontained, natural gas will rise and disperse into the air. If contained, it may form an explosive mixture with air.

  • In the event of a leak or rupture, Everline will respond in accordance with emergency procedures and will "make safe" the pipeline as soon as possible.

  • Natural gas pipeline fires may be led by pressurized gas remaining in the pipeline; efforts to extinguish the flames may be unsuccessful until fuel is exhausted.

  • Pipeline equipment (e.g. valves, reliefs) should NEVER be operated by anyone except the operator, even in an emergency.

  • Everline maintains liaisons with local first responders to provide training and guidance on natural gas emergencies.

  • Everline will communicate with public offices and officials directly or through Fire/Police incident command in the event of a pipeline-involved emergency.

Measures Taken to Ensure Pipeline Safety

Greer CPW constructs, operates, maintains, and inspects its pipelines in accordance with federal (and state) pipeline safety regulations. They are constructed to withstand higher pressure than that at which they are operated, and are inspected periodically to ensure they remain in acceptable condition for operation.

Important Pipeline Considerations for Public Offices

The following considerations may be helpful to public offices in the course of duty:

  • Pipelines are typically buried for much of their length and may not be permanently marked. The location or absence of a pipeline should never be based on the presence of markers.

  • Above-ground pipeline sites and rights-of-way for buried pipelines should never be blocked or encroached upon to ensure adequate access for maintenance and emergency response. Please consider the location of rights-of-way, easements and pipelines when approving permits.

  • The approximate location of transmission and hazardous liquids pipelines is available on the NPMS public map viewer at phmsa.dot.gov. Please note, there are many additional types of buried pipelines not included in the National Pipeline Mapping System.

  • Many underground facilities are not permanently marked or displayed in the NPMS viewer; contact 811 or local operators for additional information on buried facilities.

  • The depth of cover above a buried pipeline may vary and heavy ground loading above a pipeline may require additional protection. Contact facility operators to assess safety during heavy transport activities.

  • When planning civic activities in the vicinity of pipelines, please contact the operator(s) to discuss public and pipeline safety.

  • Areas with the greatest risk to human life, property and the environment should a natural gas transmission line fail are designated High Consequence Area (HCAs) by the federal pipeline safety code. Pipelines operating in HCAs are subject to additional measures to ensure the integrity of the pipelines.

  • Vandalism of pipelines or related equipment may present an imminent or latent safety risk; please promptly notify the operator(s) if you become aware of such activity.