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Natural Gas Pipeline Survey Permission
By Ed Pantaleon, Esquire
Sept. 17, 2013

One of the first indications that your property is in the path of a natural gas pipeline is when you receive a request from the gas company for survey permission or survey authorization.

Interstate natural gas pipeline companies need to conduct a variety of property inspections lumped under the general heading of “surveys”. These include civil surveys, wetland delineation surveys, environmental surveys, threatened and endangered species inventories, cultural surveys, archeological investigations and soil sampling.

As a result, the gas company will obtain significant information about your property and then share it with the government.

When approached by the natural gas company you need to understand the nature of their request and how they will use information about your property. If you are requested to sign a survey authorization agreement, it should be written to protect you, not the pipeline company.

For example, if you have pastures or groves, you may want to regulate access and implement wash-down procedures to prevent the spread of nuisance species, diseases and insects. If you have cattle, all test pits and boring holes should be filled every night and the gates to your property kept closed. During hunting season, you may want to require the gas company to wear orange.

If you are uncertain or uncomfortable about allowing the gas company to come onto your property to conduct surveys, please feel free to call Manson Bolves, P.A. Attorney Brian Bolves or I will be glad to review the access agreement and give advice at no charge or obligation.