It’s hard to visualize pipelines. They are, after all, buried underground. Out of sight, out of mind. And yet, a network of nearly 3 million miles of pipelines transports natural gas around the United States. This means pipelines are truly everywhere—in our neighborhoods, cities, parks, and rural communities. One may even be under your feet right now.
How would you even know if there was a pipeline, say, under your kid’s playground?
It’s not always obvious. Some people are just aware they live near, say, an interstate pipeline. Others assume they live near pipelines because they have gas stoves or oil heating in their buildings—it has to get there somehow, right? Moms’ Colorado Field Organizer Laurie Anderson learned about a new pipeline in her town, Broomfield, only because she was already aware of local oil and gas concerns. “We live on a huge shale deposit and large-scale fracking collided with my community,” she recalls. This was back in 2017, and to this day, she suspects most fellow residents weren’t similarly aware. “Unless someone clues you in, you don’t think to ask. For all the people aware of the local oil and gas development, there weren’t a lot aware of the pipeline. Still, you had to be aware of one to be aware of the other.”
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There was some information in the local news, which could have clued residents in. But that doesn’t extend to newcomers today, and the issues with pipelines linger long after they’re buried underground. “After you have gone through a long fight, we’ll never forget it’s here. But as new people come in, they don’t ask or look to see if there is a pipeline,” Laurie says. So they may never know unless there is a detected leak or other issue.
The main concern with pipelines where you live is leaks—a major source of methane pollution contributing to our changing climate. The term “natural gas” has been used by the industry for years to describe gas derived from fossil fuels, but its primary component is methane, a potent greenhouse gas that dramatically accelerates the climate crisis. Pipeline leaks also pose safety, health, and equity concerns.
The pipeline in Laurie’s town was actually offered as a “solution” to local concerns about above-ground oil and gas infrastructure as well as trucking. This proposed gathering pipeline brought with it a slew of new issues, including that it was being placed straight across a residential community with schools—a half a mile from Laurie’s home. It also brought up the issue of governance. As in: “It’s not always clear who’s regulating what—state oil and gas regulators, PUC [public utilities commission], or PHMSA [the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration]. Regulations get so fuzzy. If the pipeline crosses state boundaries it’s PHMSA.” This is why strong PHMSA regulations are critical to communities across the nation. Laurie learned this in real time.
Pipeline leaks are also a concern with old pipes, not just new ones. To learn more about pipeline leaks and their causes (severe weather, punctures, corrosion, and malfunctioning equipment), plus how to find and fix them, check out our latest resource, Gas Pipelines and Your Health. The resource covers the various types of pipelines (gathering, transmission, and distribution), what materials they’re typically made of, where they are usually located, pipeline pollutants and health impacts, environmental justice concerns, and more. Curious about why the oil and gas pipeline industry has not been held accountable for finding and fixing leaks as well as ways to improve pipeline safety and reduce methane emissions? Our resource addresses this too.
If you learn a new pipeline is going into your area or discover that an old one is in your community, Laurie suggests getting—and staying—involved. One handy tool for locating pipelines where you live is the National Pipeline Mapping System Public Viewer. Ideally, a new pipeline isn’t being routed through a populated or environmentally sensitive area. If you can join forces with local groups to impact the route of a new pipeline, it’s well worth trying. With pipelines old or new, it’s always crucial to fight for the strongest regulations and ongoing forever inspections. In Broomfield, community uproar about health and safety eventually led to stronger local and state regulations. Strict standards and, critically, enforcement can protect people from leaking pipelines, especially those disproportionately impacted by pipeline pollution.
“Without the outcry from concerned residents, Broomfield may not have gotten additional pipeline protections like more frequent aerial surveys, or inspections,” says Laurie. Inspections are essential because, as Laurie points out, “In addition to the smell of a sulfurous odor, often the first sign of a pipeline leak is dead vegetation. But if a pipeline is under a road, you may not know it’s leaking without ongoing inspections and monitoring.” Older infrastructure will likely need more frequent inspections and repairs.
People concerned about pipelines in their communities can join Moms Clean Air Force to demand that our government enact stringent pipeline protections, reduce air pollution, and foster better health for all—especially our children. Safety and climate change can’t wait.
READ OUR NEW RESOURCE, GAS PIPELINES AND YOUR HEALTH.
Tell Congress: Hold the Line on Progress to Cut Air and Climate Pollution