Pipeline Purpose and Reliability
Williams operates pipelines near you. Williams’ pipelines and facilities are part of a vast national network of underground pipelines. This system is our country’s lifeline for a variety of daily activities. From natural gas to heating oil, from water to jet fuel, pipelines reliably deliver products many of us take for granted, but which are essential to our nation’s economy and standard of living.
Some pipelines transport potentially hazardous and flammable substances under high pressure. Yet, according to statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), pipelines are one of the safest modes of transportation in the United States.
Each year, Williams provides training and conducts exercises with our Incident Management Team, emergency responders and spill response contractors. We follow guidelines established by the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (N-PREP).
All Williams employees complete annual emergency response training and have a basic Incident Command System (ICS) understanding. Williams employees will be considered Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on Williams’ assets and facilities when working in Unified Command with external response agencies.
If you are interested in learning more about our Emergency Response Program or discussing our Emergency Response Plan, please contact us at:
- Non-emergency phone number: 1-800-WILLIAMS (1-800-945-5426)
- For more information about pipeline safety, visit www.williams.com/safety
- You can also contact us at PublicSafety@Williams.com
Additional Emergency Response InfORMATION
Online Pipeline Emergency Response Training
At Williams, working with emergency response personnel and providing information on how to respond to a Williams
pipeline or facility incident is critical. Because of this, we provide two interactive training courses, one specifically for
911 dispatchers and one for all other response agencies. The trainings can be found at:
Completing the ER training will automatically enter your agency in a drawing to win $1,000. Drawing entries are for emergency response personnel only.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Emergency Response Guidebook provides first responders with a go-to manual to help deal with hazardous material incidents. It can be downloaded at:
www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/erg/emergency-response-guidebook-erg
The National Association of State Fire Marshals has developed pipeline emergency response training. The trainings can be
found at: nasfm-training.org/pipeline/
Recognizing A Right-Of-Way and Pipeline Marker
A pipeline right-of-way is a strip of land over and around a pipeline where some of the property owner's legal rights have been granted to a pipeline company.
Pipeline rights-of-way must be kept free from structures and other obstructions for your safety and to provide access for maintenance and in the event of an emergency.
Pipeline markers are found within the pipeline right-of way.
Pipeline Markers
- Indicate approximate location. They cannot be used to determine exact location or depth.
- Can be found where lines meet at public access points, aboveground facilities, streets, highways, waterways and intersections.
- Display the pipeline operator's name, emergency number and product transported.
Recognizing A Pipeline Leak USING YOUR SENSES
Although pipeline leaks are uncommon, it is important to be able to recognize the warning signs using sight, sound and smell. Leaks could be in a liquid or gaseous state.
Note: All of these signs may not be evident at the same time.
Sight
- Discolored or dead vegetation
- Flames coming from the ground
- A cloud of vapor, fog or mist
- A pool of liquid on the ground or bubbling in a wet, flooded area
- Dirt blowing in the area
- A rainbow or sheen on the water
Smell
- An unusual odor or scent of gas, petroleum liquids or a slight hydrocarbon smell
- The products in Williams pipelines are primarily odorless, but may contain a rotten-egg smell from the odorant, Mercaptan
- Hydrogen Sulfide will carry a pungent, rotten-egg odor
Sound
- An unusual hissing or roaring noise coming from a pipeline
WILLIAMS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING AND PROCEDURES
When pipeline representatives arrive, they should identify themselves, establish contact with the incident commander and may request continued assistance with evacuation, traffic control and area security.
The pipeline representatives will ensure the safety of people and the environment by:
- Shutting down the pipeline
- Closing valves to isolate the product
- Identifying hazardous areas
- Dispatching additional company personnel to the scene
- Making provisions to repair the damaged pipeline
Responding To A Pipeline Leak
Do's and Do Not's in a pipeline emergency:
- Secure the area and protect the public.
- Go directly to a safe location, and call Williams' emergency number at 855-945-5762.
- Follow National Incident Management System (NIMS).
- Establish a command center.
- Coordinate a community emergency response plan.
- Handle traffic control and evacuation.
- Control ignition sources.
- Fight secondary fires.
- Utilize the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Response Guidebook at: www.phmsa.dot.gov
- DO NOT attempt to operate any pipeline valves; you may inadvertently route more product to the leak or cause a secondary incident.
- DO NOT cause any open flame or potential sources of ignition such as telephone, electrical switch, vehicle ignition, lighting a match, ringing a doorbell, etc.
- DO NOT use email, text or the internet to contact the company about a leak.
- DO NOT come into direct contact with any escaping liquids or gas..
- DO NOT drive into a leak or vapor cloud.
- DO NOT attempt to extinguish a pipeline fire.
- DO NOT assume someone else has reported the leak.
Public safety and environmental protection are top priorities in any pipeline emergency response.
Potential Hazards Of A Pipeline EMERGENCY
The hazards associated with a pipeline emergency will be related to the location and environmental conditions associated with the release, as well as the specific characteristics of the material(s) being carried in the pipeline.
Possible hazards associated with a pipeline emergency may include:
- Fire
- Explosion
- Drinking water contamination
- Toxic inhalation hazards
- Asphyxiation hazards
- Corrosion hazards
The chart below provides some general information about the products transported through Williams-operated pipelines. For more detailed information, please contact Williams at 1-800-WILLIAMS (1-800-945-5426) or visit www.williams.com/safety.
Call 811
You are required by law to contact 811, your state’s One-Call agency, at least 48 to 72 hours (varies by state) before beginning
any excavation project.
Excavation refers to digging activity of any kind, including, but not limited to, installing trees, flowers, shrubs, fences, mailboxes, in-ground basketball goals, real estate signs and party tent stakes.
Please visit call811.com/811-In-Your-State for state-specific One-Call information.
If Williams operates a pipeline in the vicinity, we will be notified and will locate and mark our pipeline with temporary flags or spray paint before you dig.
Damage from excavation-related activities is the leading cause of pipeline incidents, so always call 811 before you dig.
Maintaining Safety And Integrity of Pipelines Near You
An Integrity Management Plan (IMP) provides a process of assessing and mitigating risks along transmission pipelines. Williams has developed and implemented an IMP that provides a process for monitoring, managing and mitigating risks along transmission pipelines. For a copy of Williams’ IMP, visit
www.williams.com/safety.
High Consequence Areas (HCAs) are part of Williams’ IMP and apply to transmission piping only. This provides enhanced protection for highly populated areas, an outside area or open structure, or a facility occupied by persons who are confined, are of impaired mobility, or would be difficult to evacuate. Examples of HCAs include beaches, playgrounds, recreational facilities, camping grounds, outdoor theaters, stadiums, recreational areas near a body of water, etc.
Unusually Sensitive Areas (USAs) are similar to HCAs and are also part of Williams’ IMP, but rather than a focus on high population or other populated areas, USAs focus on liquid pipelines near commercially navigable waterways, primary or alternative drinking water sources, ecological resources, wetlands or areas inhabited by threatened and endangered species.during a pipeline leak.
See Something! Say Something! Keep Your Neighborhood Secure
Be aware of people acting suspiciously near pipelines or pipeline facilities. Report unusual or suspicious activity, including:
- People or vehicles loitering in the vicinity of pipelines or facilities.
- People taking photos, video or showing other unusual interest in pipelines and facilities.
- A strong odor or fluid leaking from a vehicle located near a pipeline facility.
