How Safe are
Natural Gas Pipelines?

The U.S. pipeline infrastructure, which includes 1.4 million miles of natural gas pipeline, is the nation's safest energy delivery system, according to U.S. government statistics. Together, gas utility and pipeline companies spend close to $7 Billion annually to ensure that natural gas is delivered in a safe and reliable manner.

The natural gas industry's solid safety record is the result of extensive safety programs, overseen by federal, state and local agencies. Over the last twenty years, the amount of natural gas delivered to customers has increased by 20 percent - while the number of safety- related incidents involving natural gas pipelines has decreased by 29 percent.

While the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has oversight in ensuring that pipeline and above-ground facilities are safely constructed and installed, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) takes over responsibility for the pipeline's safety once the natural gas is flowing in a new system. The DOT is also responsible for setting the federal safety standards for natural gas pipelines and related facilities.

ESNG continually strives to exceed all of the federal, state, and local safety requirements when it comes to pipeline safety. As just one example of our strong track record for safety, ESNG has been nationally recognized for the last four consecutive years by the American Gas Association for our safe practices.

Are pipelines really safe?

Yes. The DOT enforces strict safety standards and requires stringent safety checks. We operate and man a 24-hour / 7-days a week / 365-days a year Gas Control Operations Center where we continuously monitor the pipeline via remote sensors that detect all relevant data. This enables us to respond quickly to any situation. We also have field personnel available and on-call 24-hours a day to respond to any emergency.