Natural Gas Safety Information

For Emergency Response and Public Official Partners

Pipeline Purpose and Reliability

Natural gas pipelines provide a safe way to move natural gas from one location to another. In the United States, a vast network of pipelines delivers the many benefits of natural gas to millions of consumers nationwide. Natural gas is a valuable resource for our country’s energy demands.

Emergency Preparedness

Kansas Gas Service has a detailed emergency response plan for responding to a natural gas emergency with a priority to protect life first, then property and the environment. Kansas Gas Service continues to establish and maintain contact with appropriate fire, police and other public officials. In partnership with public safety officials and the communities we serve, we apply safeguards allowing the safety and welfare of the public to remain the top priority. To request the Emergency Response Plan, please call the Kansas Gas Service non-emergency line at 800-794-4780. For more information about Oklahoma Natural Gas or this message on natural gas safety, please visit our website at kansasgasservice.com or email us at PipelineAwareness@onegas.com.

What to Do if You Notice Suspicious Activity Near a Pipeline or Suspect Pipeline Damage

If you observe unusual activity near a pipeline, including suspicious excavation, abandoned vehicles, non-company personnel or non-company vehicles, immediately call 911 and then the Kansas Gas Service emergency line at 888-482-4950.

How to Recognize a Pipeline Leak

Smell: If you smell a rotten egg or sulfur-like odor, it may be the result of a natural gas leak. Natural gas is naturally colorless and odorless, so we add an odorant called mercaptan to warn you of a natural gas leak.

Sight: If you see unexplained dead vegetation, blowing dirt or bubbling puddles of water in or around your yard or your natural gas meter, it may be an indication of a natural gas leak.

Sound: If you hear a hissing or roaring sound near natural gas piping, meters or appliances, it may indicate a natural gas leak.

If you notice any of these warning signs, leave the area immediately. Then call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950.

How to React to and Report a Pipeline Emergency

The following guidelines are designed for your safety and the safety of those in the area if a natural gas pipeline leak is suspected or detected:

• Do leave the area immediately and keep others away.
• Do call 911 and Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950 from a safe location.
• Do call 811 when a pipeline damage occurs.
• Do avoid using electrical equipment or performing any action that could cause an open flame or other potential source of ignition, such as operating an electrical switch, turning on a vehicle or lighting a match.
• Do establish a command center.
• Don't use a cell phone or two-way radio near the emergency area.
• Don't attempt to put out natural gas fires. If burning, control secondary fires.
• Don't operate any pipeline valves or equipment.

Encroachment Prevention

Pipeline rights-of-way (ROW) should be kept clear of obstructions to enable Kansas Gas Service employees and contractors to safely operate, patrol, inspect, maintain and repair our pipelines and facilities. It’s important that you do not install or allow installation of any structures, plant trees or shrubs or store anything that could be an obstruction on or near the ROW. Also, please know that your community’s land use decisions can affect public safety along the ROW. County officials maintain and can provide copies of easement and ROW agreements. Public officials in land use planning or municipal utilities are encouraged to review easement agreements when making and permitting project decisions. To protect our pipelines, we perform regularly scheduled patrols and inspections.

The Importance of Pipeline Markers

Pipeline markers are used as warning signs to indicate the presence of a pipeline. However, these markers do not show the exact location or depth of a pipeline and are not present in all areas. Additionally, the pipeline path may vary between markers. Pipeline markers are helpful providing the general location of pipelines, but pipeline operators rely on special equipment and service records to determine the exact location and depth of pipelines installed underground. Since these signs don't indicate their exact location, you are required to contact 811 to have the lines marked before any excavation activity.

Look for These Signs

Since most pipelines are buried underground, line markers, like the ones shown here, are used to indicate the presence of a pipeline. These pipeline markers can be found along a street, highway, railway or pipeline right-of-way and where a pipeline intersects with a street, highway or railway system. Pipeline markers display the material transported in the line, the name of the pipeline operator and a telephone number where the operator can be reached in the event of an emergency. You can also find out where transmission pipelines are in your area by visiting the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) website at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. However, this resource is NOT a substitute for contacting 811.