Pipeline safety

To keep the pipeline and community safe, we follow recommendations from the United States Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA), as well as the Public Awareness for Pipeline Operator’s American Petroleum Institute.

These recommendations include:

• Managing trees to allow safe access to the pipeline
• Avoiding planting trees and vegetation with roots that can reach down and impact the pipeline

For more information about best practices, visit the following sites:

• Learn about Partnering to Further Enhance Pipeline Safety in Communities
• Receive guidance on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) regulations
• Explore PHMSA's best practices for public outreach
• Read the recommended practices for public awareness at Pipeline Operator's American Petroleum Institute
• Read a Landowner's Guide to Pipelines by Pipeline Safety Trust

We must work together to reduce safety risks and help prevent accidents and damage to the pipeline.

Community members can help by:

• Calling 811 at least two days before starting a digging or landscaping project so crews can visit the property and mark any underground utilities. This service is free.
• Monitoring and reporting any suspicious activity near pipelines by calling 1-800-743-5000.
• Keeping the area above and around a pipeline free of structures and vegetation that could block emergency access or damage the pipe. Please follow our guide to safe landscaping when planning new landscaping projects.

Guide to safe landscaping

 Note: Illustration not to scale. Other factors like trunk size and soil conditions, among others, to be considered.

One important way you can help keep the area above the pipeline safe is choosing the right tree for the right location. Many types of low-growing plants and shrubs work well near the pipe. Most trees should be planted at least 10 feet away from the pipeline. More information on landscaping that works well near the pipeline is available in our guide to safe landscaping (PDF, 166 KB).

Need assistance or have a question?

For requests or questions on this safety work and keeping the area above the pipeline safe, please contact us at gasveg@pge.com.

Downloadable resources

• Program brochure (PDF, 667 KB)
• Program fact sheet (PDF, 298 KB)

Trees and structures can block access to a pipeline during an emergency and for critical maintenance work. Items located too close can also damage the pipe and potentially cause corrosion, which can lead to leaks. If you are concerned that a structure or tree is located over the pipeline in your community, please call PG&E at 1-800-259-6277 or email gasveg@pge.com.

Rerouting a pipeline is very disruptive to the community and environment and can take several years to complete. Instead, we can work together to keep the area above and around the pipe clear of items that can pose a safety concern. This will help ensure safe and reliable service for years to come.

We regularly inspect the area above and around the gas pipelines throughout our service area for any items that are too close to the pipe and may pose a safety concern. PG&E may conduct additional inspections of gas pipelines and electric lines throughout the year to ensure the system is operating safely.

Pipeline access cannot be blocked for the same reason that cars cannot park in front of a fire hydrant. While fire trucks do not need to regularly access the fire hydrant, when they do, they need immediate and unblocked access. In an emergency or natural disaster, structures or trees located over or around an underground pipe can delay access by safety crews and cause slow response times. Every second counts in an emergency.