Resources
A variety of resources are available below. You can also view resources specifically for landowners as well as a glossary of terms and acronyms.
Older resources are available in our web archives.
Finding Pipeline Easements
To get detailed information about a specific parcel, you should contact the Chester County Recorder of Deeds and provide them with the parcel number of the property you wish to learn more about. The Recorder of Deeds can also help you locate a deed and determine if a pipeline company holds an easement on it.
811 Hotline
811 is the national number designated to protect landscapers/contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects. 811 helps access locator services in order to mark the approximate location of underground lines, pipes and cables, in order to dig safely. Visit Website
PHMSA's Land Use Planning and Transmission Pipelines page
This website is provided by the US DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to provide information for pipeline safety stakeholder communications, and provides information on Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) as well as individual state pipeline profiles. State pipeline information can be viewed in the left column after clicking on the "toolbox" icons at the bottom of the page. Visit Website
Hazard Mitigation Planning: Practices for Land Use Planning and Development Near Pipelines, Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA), 2015
This document provides a framework for State and local governments to utilize the hazard mitigation planning process to examine ways, through their own authorities, to further reduce the risks to their communities associated with hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline failures. While the authority to prescribe safety standards for transportation pipelines and pipeline facilities generally falls to PHMSA, local governments can use their land use and development authorities to influence what, where, and how to build near existing transmission pipelines and to implement hazard mitigation strategies. This includes mitigation measures a jurisdictional government might consider including in its hazard mitigation plan to address pipeline hazards. View Document
Building Safe Communities: Pipeline Risk and its Application to Local Development Decisions
The purpose of this report is to assist local governments and developers in better understanding pipeline risks and to provide a context for the use of recommended practices for development near hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines. Developed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. View Report
Enhancing Pipeline Safety Through Land Use Planning: PIPA Final Report
This publication was provided by the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA), Washington, DC. View Report
PIPA Summary Report for Elected Officials
This report, issued by PHMSA as part of their Pipeline and Informed Planning Alliance, is a summary report of key pipeline safety actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials. View Report
Transmission Pipelines and Land Use
This publication was provided by the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC. View Report
What is Marcellus Shale?
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a section on Marcellus Shale, including an FAQ section that discusses what the shale is, where it is located, how deep it is found, mapping and other aspects of this industry. View Website
Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research
Penn State University has an educational and research initiative on unconventional gas plays called The Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research (MCOR). This site is intended to serve state agencies, elected officials, communities, landowners, industry, and environmental groups. Their goal is to expand research capabilities on technical aspects of developing the Marcellus shale resource. View Website
Northeast Gas Association
The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) is a regional trade association, focused on education and training, technology research and development, operations, planning, and increasing public awareness of natural gas in the Northeast US. NGA represents natural gas distribution companies, transmission companies, liquefied natural gas importers, and associate member companies, who provide natural gas to over 12 million customers in the nine state region. View Website
Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL)
The Association of Oil Pipe Lines, established in 1947, represents the interests of owners and operators of America's liquid pipelines, which bring crude oil to refineries and petroleum products to communities including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, kerosene, propane, and biofuels. The AOPL also serves as an information clearinghouse, testifies before congressional committees and implements the Pipeline Safety Excellence Initiative.
Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI)
The Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) is an organization made of pipeline companies, vendors, service providers, equipment managers and other organizations. The PRCI utilizes a collaborative model of member and external funding, information sharing, and cooperative project development in an effort to provide efficient and energy pipeline research and development and project and equipment deployment.
First Responder Emergency Response Guidebook
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) developed this Emergency Response Guidebook, to provide first responders with a "go to" manual to help deal with hazmat accidents during the first 30 minutes. View Guide