{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-00-0102","title":"Mayor of the Township of Piscataway — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2000-09-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-00-0102 response to Mayor of the Township of Piscataway concerning 192.705.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-00-0102.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-00-0102.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-00-0102","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/2000/g00-09-22_MEROLLA_192.705-msfX.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nPI-00-0102\nSeptember 22, 2000\nThe Honorable Helen Merolla\nMayor of the Township of Piscataway\nMunicipal Complex\nPiscataway, NJ 08854\nDear Mayor Merolla:\nThank you for your letter to Secretary Slater concerning Duke Energy’s plan to remove all street\ntrees on its pipeline easement on Fountain Avenue. Your letter has been referred to the Research\nand Special Programs Administration’s Office of Pipeline Safety for response.\nDuke Energy may want to remove the trees to minimize the possibility that tree roots will\ndamage the pipeline or pipeline coating. It may also want to remove the trees to facilitate routine\npatrolling of the easement.\nPipelines operated by Duke Energy are subject to the safety regulations of Title 49 CFR Parts\n190-199 (enclosed). These regulations require operators to patrol their pipeline easements for\nsigns of leaks and construction activity. However, the regulations do not require operators to\nkeep their easements free of trees to make patrolling easier or to minimize the possibility of\ndamage by tree roots, nor do the regulations give pipeline operators a right to remove trees on\ntheir pipeline easements. The authority of an operator to remove trees is subject to private\nagreements with landowners and to any local land use controls. Although, aerial surveillance is\nusually the most practical method of patrolling, in areas where an easement is concealed by trees\nor large bushes, a pipeline operator may observe conditions on the easement by walking or\ndriving along the easement.\nIf we can be of further assistance, please contact me or Buck Furrow of my staff at (202) 366-\n4595.\nSincerely\nStacey L. Gerard\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":1708}