# United States Senator — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-01-0106  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-04-11

PI-01-0106 response to United States Senator concerning 192.705.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

PI-01-0106
The Honorable Arlen Specter
United States Senator
600 Arch Street, Suite 9400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dear Senator Specter:
Thank you for your letter to David Marks, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Congressional Affairs, concerning negotiations between the East Goshen Conservancy
Board and the Duke Energy Corporation over Duke Energy's plan to cut trees on its
pipeline easement in East Goshen Township. Your letter has been referred to the
Research and Special Programs Administration(RSPA) for response. RSPA is
responsible for administering the Federal pipeline safety program.
As stated in the incoming correspondence, Duke Energy plans to cut down trees
to facilitate routine inspection of its easement by aerial patrol. It also wants to remove
trees to make it easier for large equipment to gain access to the easement for normal
maintenance and emergency response.
Pipeline operated by Duke Energy are subject to the safety regulations of the
Department of Transportation. These regulations require pipeline operators to patrol to
patrol their easements for signs of leaks and construction activity. Although it is not a
federal requirement to keep the right-of-way is clear. However, federal regulations do
not give operators a right to cut down trees on their pipeline easements. An operator's
authority to cut down trees is subject to private agreements with landowners and to any
local land use controls.
If we can be of further assistance, please contact me or Patricia Klinger, Director
of External Communications, at (202) 366-4831.
Sincerely yours,
Elaine E. Joost
Acting Deputy Administrator

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/2001/g01-04-11_SPECTER_192.705-msfX.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `b7e4f6f32a8bd4ebee2a293c1259c4ef2e4b219d374f4a989097e45fb0b79036`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T09:00:47.814Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-01-0106`

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