How can you tell where a pipeline is located?
Since pipelines are buried underground, line markers like the ones shown here are used to indicate the approximate location of a pipeline at points along its right-of-way. Pipeline markers can also be found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railroad.
Though helpful, pipeline markers are limited in the information they provide. Markers are placed near pipelines, but not necessarily on top of them. Marker signs do not provide information on the exact location, depth, diameter or number of pipelines they mark. In addition, a pipeline may not follow a straight line between adjacent markers.
What does a pipeline marker tell you?
By law, a pipeline marker must provide the approximate location of a pipeline(s), identify the material transported, identify the pipeline operator, and the operator's 24-hour emergency telephone number.
For your safety, markers show the approximate location of pipelines and identify the companies that operate them. Markers may be anywhere along the right-of-way or directly over the pipeline. The pipeline may not follow a straight course between markers. While markers are helpful in locating pipelines, markers are limited in the information they provide. Markers provide no information, for example, on the depth or the number of pipelines in the right-of-way. Markers may commonly be found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railway. These markers indicate the material transported in the pipeline, the name of the pipeline operator, and a telephone number where the pipeline operator can be reached in the event of an emergency. You should be aware of any pipeline markers in your neighborhood and if possible, write down the name and phone numbers appearing on the pipeline markers in case of an emergency (1-800-722-7098). Pipeline markers are important for the safety of the general public. It is a federal crime for any person to willfully deface, damage, remove, or destroy any pipeline sign or right-of-way marker.
It is a federal crime to remove or deface a pipeline marker sign.
Pipeline marker signs such as those pictured above are important to public safety. They are so important, in fact, that Congress in 1988 passed a law making it a federal crime to willfully deface, damage, remove or destroy any pipeline sign or right-of-way marker that is required by federal law (49CFR 190.229(d)).