How can I tell if there's a pipeline near my home?

With all of the recent media attention pipelines have been getting from explosions or spills, it is natural to wonder if your home is near a pipeline. Luckily, the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration provides some insight as to how you can tell if you're living in the same general vicinity as a pipeline.

People worry about hidden pipelines all around their town, especially since most pipelines are buried underground. However, the fact of the matter is that if a pipeline is underground, there are various markers and signs all along the pipeline route to let you know it is there. They will always be in bright colors that are hard to miss, like yellow and orange. The markers can be found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway, railway, or waterway, and at other prominent points along the route. If you look closely, you will also see that the markers provide the name of the pipeline operator, a telephone number where they can be reached if there is an emergency and the type of material that the pipeline is transporting.

One of the most common causes of pipeline accidents is digging where the pipeline is located, so they try to keep them well-marked so companies or individuals don't start any kind of excavating projects in the area.

If you or a loved one were injured by a dangerous pipeline in Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas, contact The Girards Law Firm for a free consultation at 888-333-9709.