Industry Priorities

Natural gas pipeline construction is becoming increasingly active due to the abundance of natural gas made available by the shale revolution. Pipelines make it possible to connect the producers of natural gas to the consumer. We make safety our first priority on each and every project to ensure a safe and reliable energy highway.

Some 300,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines provide a vital link between producers and consumers. Many people are unaware of the presence of this large pipeline network that is operating safely and reliably underground.

A brief History of Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines
Natural Gas; it heats our water, cooks our food, and warms our homes. It fuels our factories, powers some of our transportation and even generates the electricity that we use every day. We depend on it so much that we take it for granted.

In recent years, the shale revolution has gifted North America with abundant natural gas supplies, which has created the need for even more infrastructure.

Pipelines make it possible to deliver North America’s abundant natural gas reserves to fuel our homes, businesses and the American economy.

During the construction process, we inspect the pipeline and test it before it goes into service according to, and often exceeding, the highest federal and engineering standards.

Crews work safely every step of the way until the project is complete. However, our commitment to safety does not stop there.

In recent years, the shale revolution has gifted North America with abundant natural gas supplies, which has created the need for even more infrastructure.

Pipelines make it possible to deliver North America’s abundant natural gas reserves to fuel our homes, businesses and the American economy.

During the construction process, we inspect the pipeline and test it before it goes into service according to, and often exceeding, the highest federal and engineering standards.

Crews work safely every step of the way until the project is complete. However, our commitment to safety does not stop there.

The pipeline right-of-way, or the land 50 feet on either side of the pipeline route, is restored as closely as possible to its original condition and marked with signage to advise people that a pipeline is buried underground.Pipeline operating companies maintain and regularly inspect each pipeline after it is placed into service and throughout its lifetime to ensure safety and reliability.

Landowners have rights in the planning process prior to, during and after construction. Stakeholder input plays a major role in the decision making process when determining the eventual route of a new pipeline.

The right-of-way is maintained by the pipeline operating company, but the land is returned to the landowner for their use after construction is completed—given that they do not build permanent structures on the pipeline right-of-way.

Operators continue to provide information to landowners once the pipeline is in service. 

We live and work in these communities and have committed to having a long-term relationship as your neighbor. INGAA members affirmed its commitments to landowners in a document called ‘America’s Natural Gas Transporters’ Commitment to Landowners’.

1 “Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Office of Energy Projects” April 2016.