Pipeline Clearance FAQs
General Pipeline Clearance Information
Vegetation Clearance Guidelines
Duke Energy follows effective guidelines for vegetation clearing within rights of way. This allows adequate access to complete inspections, to perform corrosion maintenance and to address pipeline damage and other emergency situations.
Property type determines Duke Energy’s approach to vegetation clearance:
- Maintained Areas – Rights of way the property owner has regularly mowed and/or landscaped for property aesthetics, including locations where the property owner has planted bushes to create noise barriers or barrier walls.
- Non-Maintained Areas – Rights-of-way areas where the property owner has not attempted to use the space occupied by the pipeline and easement. The majority of natural gas pipelines are found in non-maintained areas.
- Riparian Areas – Rights-of-way areas near creek crossings, wetlands or where directional drill technology has been used under creeks, streams and rivers. Directional drilling is a method for installing underground utilities in which special assemblies are used to drill at any angle and around obstacles. Vegetation clearance techniques may vary in Riparian Areas.
- Special Areas – Areas where directional drill technology has been utilized not under waterways specified by the Environmental Protection Agency or equal.
- Maintained areas are those within the right of way that the property owner regularly mows and/or landscapes. These include locations where the property owner has planted bushes to create noise barriers or barrier walls.
Maintained areas are those within the right of way that the property owner regularly mows and/or landscapes. These include locations where the property owner has planted bushes to create noise barriers or barrier walls.
Three options for clearing regularly maintained areas are listed below:
- Option 1: Duke Energy’s Gas Engineering Department will inspect the property to determine if current vegetation could hinder inspection, maintenance or accessibility of the pipeline. Vegetation considered harmful to the integrity of the pipeline will be removed. Other vegetation may remain as long as it doesn’t interfere with inspection, maintenance or accessibility. The property owner will receive a notification letter prior to clearing. The vegetation contractor will clear the right-of-way width as defined in the final notification letter to the property owner. The diagram below illustrates a possible agreement where a trail zone would be maintained through vegetation practices.
- Option 2: The full width or agreed-to width is cleared with the property owner’s consent.
- Option 3: Special clearing arrangements may apply to any agreements made with the purchase of the rights-of-way area or they may be restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency during the permitting application or by any agreements made but not covered by options 1 or 2. This arrangement could include small established trees that will not mature above 15 feet in height, gardens or extensively landscaped areas. The diagram below illustrates a possible agreement where a trail zone would be maintained through vegetation practices.
- Non-maintained areas around pipelines are areas where the property owner has not made an attempt to use the space occupied by the pipeline and easement. The majority of natural gas pipelines are found in non-maintained areas.
Non-maintained areas around pipelines are areas where the property owner has not made an attempt to use the space occupied by the pipeline and right of way. The majority of natural gas pipelines are found in non-maintained areas.
The clearance contractor will most likely mow the full width of the right-of-way corridor, which can be found in the right-of-way agreement.
Vegetation control may not be required on land that is used for cultivated agriculture, pastures or prairie grass. Vegetation control practices also will conform to any regulatory restrictions related to the removal of trees impacted by migratory birds, Indiana bats and other endangered species.
- Riparian areas are located near creek crossings, wetlands, streams and rivers.
- Special areas are directionally drilled areas not located under waterways specified by the Environmental Protection Agency or its equal. Directional drilling is a method of drilling for installing underground utilities in which special assemblies are used to drill at any angle and around obstacles.
- When a property owner contacts the contractor with concerns about what will be cleared, Duke Energy will try to resolve the dispute through several means of communications and information exchanges, but reserves the right to exercise the right-of-way agreement without landowner permission.
Safety Precautions
Natural gas is lighter than air. When natural gas escapes from a pipeline, it rises and dissipates into the atmosphere.
Signs of a natural gas leak include:
- An unusual, sulfur-like odor
- Blowing or hissing sound
- Dust blowing from a hole in the ground
- Continuous bubbling in wet or flooded areas
- Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area
Propane is heavier than air. When propane escapes from a pipeline, it turns into a vapor and travels along the surface of the ground.
Signs of a propane leak include:
- An unusual, sulfur-like odor
- Blowing or hissing sound
- Dust blowing from a hole in the ground
- Continuous bubbling in wet or flooded areas
- Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area
- A dense white cloud of fog over a pipeline
Do:
- Alert others and leave the area immediately – heading upwind and/or uphill
- From a safe location, call Duke Energy toll free at 800.634.4300
- Call 911
Do not:
- Try to determine the location of the leak
- Try to stop the leak
- Use any mechanical or electrical tools or devices in the area of the leak or suspected leak
- Use anything in the area of the leak or suspected leak that may create a spark, including a cell phone