Pipeline Safety & Public Awareness

Spectra Energy works to ensure pipelines meet or exceed regulatory requirements for safety

Spectra Energy works closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure our pipelines meet or exceed regulatory requirements for safety.

Emergency Response

Spectra Energy has developed relationships and cooperation with local and regional emergency response officials, dating back to the 1940’s in many locations. Company employees meet or call upon these officials at least once a year to discuss pipeline safety and emergency preparedness issues. Periodically, Spectra Energy employees and local emergency response personnel come together for emergency drills to test the readiness of all their staff and ours, and to discover what practices could be improved to keep the public safe.

Damage Prevention / Dig Safely

Before digging around or near pipelines, it’s important to contact One-Call—the source for safe digging information. Mishaps can easily be prevented by knowing exactly where you should and should not dig.

Spectra Energy operates natural gas transmission pipelines in 25 states and participates in One-Call programs in all of those states. We encourage those who are going to dig to call their state One-Call Center to report planned digging activities and allow us and other underground facility operators a chance to mark the facilities in the area before digging begins.

For more information on damage prevention and a list of state One-Call Center phone numbers, call toll-free (888) 258-0808 or see the Dig Safely Web site. If you are a landowner planning to dig on your property on or near the pipeline right of way, please also see the Property Owner Use of Right of Way section.

We are also a sponsor of the Common Ground Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to shared responsibility in damage prevention to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services.

One-Call Response

When Spectra Energy receives notification from a One-Call Center that someone intends to dig near our pipeline facilities, we send personnel to mark the location of the facilities in the vicinity of proposed digging or other earth disturbance activities. We also have company employees on-site when the excavation occurs.

Spectra Energy responds to more than 500 calls per day—helping excavators and contractors ensure that they work safely around our pipelines.

Pipeline Safety Brochures

Spectra Energy mails information brochures to homeowners, businesses, potential excavators and public officials along the pipeline system each year to inform them of the presence of the pipelines and instruct them on how to recognize and react to unusual activity in the area. Our employees routinely meet with excavators and emergency response officials to educate them about Spectra Energy pipelines.

2008 brochure in both English and Spanish: