AltaGas Pipeline Damage Prevention

At AltaGas, we put the health and safety of our people, customers, and communities above all else. We believe in being a safe operator, a responsible steward of the environment and a good neighbor in our local communities.

Common causes of pipeline damage come from excavation, construction and agricultural activities. Keeping contractors, the public and our assets safe is a shared responsibility that we take very seriously.

Our Pipeline Damage Prevention program helps to ensure landowners, farmers, businesses and nearby residents have the information they need to safely live and work near the pipelines we own and operate.

If you are planning to do work near an area with a marked AltaGas or Petrogas pipeline sign, please contact the One-Call Centre in your area. Your call will be directed to us and our crews will respond to conduct a line locate. This activity is free and will be responded to promptly. One-Call centres provide a single point of contact for receiving notices of intent to conduct ground disturbance activities and locate requests, and to notify affected owners and operators of underground infrastructure. Confirmation of underground facilities must be completed prior to any disturbance of the ground or placing/building of structures. Some work examples are:

  • Installing drain tiles
  • Decks
  • Trees
  • Driveways
  • Fencing
  • Moving topsoil or ground-cover

Making contact with an underground pipeline can have serious consequences including:

  • Personal injury or death
  • Endangerment of AltaGas employees
  • Environmental damage
  • Loss of service
  • Legal or regulatory action

How do you know there is a pipeline leak?

Hissing, roaring, blowing or a loud whistling sound may be heard. You may smell an unusual petroleum odor and possibly a rotten egg odor. If so call the applicable company emergency number.

AltaGas Emergency: 1-866-826-3830 | Petrogas Emergency: 1-866-975-1011

Local Emergency services should also be called.

Keep clear of the area. Do not start any motors or run motor vehicles in vicinity. Do not use lighters or matches and do not smoke.

How do you know if there is an underground pipeline?

Line markers and warning signs are used to indicate the presence of the pipeline in areas along the Right-of-Way (ROW). If there is no sign do not assume underground infrastructure does not exist. Initiate the One-Call process for the area.

Pipeline warning signs

What is a Pipeline Right-of-Way?

A Right-of-Way (ROW) is a strip of land where a pipeline is buried. The ROW surface area is cleared of trees or buildings for better visibility and access and marked by signage that indicates the pipeline owner.

Signage near a ROW provides a company name where buried assets may exist and if required an emergency phone number. Signage is only approximate to where the buried assets are located. Always initiate a One-Call/ locate in the planning stages and before starting work. NOTE: See details for CLICK Before You DIG contact information further down. (Click Before You Dig).

The ROW enables employees and contractors to access the pipeline for operations, inspections, maintenance, testing and repairs.

Right-of-Way

Click Before You Dig

  1. Before beginning work, you are required to visit www.clickbeforeyoudig.com or call the One-Call Centre in your area:
    • Utility Safety Partners (formerly AB One-Call): 1-800-242-3447
    • BC One-Call: 1-800-474-6886
    • Sask 1st Call: 1-866-828-4888
    • Montana 811: Dial 811 (US callers only) or 1-800-424-5555
    • Washington One-Call: Dial 811 (US callers only) or 1-800-424-5555
    • Indiana 811: Dial 811 (US callers only) or 1-800-382-5544
  2. The One-Call Centre will obtain dig information, including location of work, type of work and timelines and create a work ticket.
  3. The centre will identify and notify pipeline owners of the proposed work area.
  4. The infrastructure owner, or a designated contractor, will receive the One-Call request/ticket and make contact with you within 2 to 3 working days to obtain additional project details, arrange timing for line locates to be completed and next step requirements for working in proximity to the buried line or facility.
  5. If AltaGas or Petrogas confirms there is a pipeline in the work area:
    1. A specific approval/agreement may be required before work can proceed around the line or facility.
    2. Agreements can be applied for through the following email address: third.partycrossing@altagas.ca or by contacting 403-691-7575 and requesting connection to the Land Department that can assist in answering any questions regarding the locate and agreements required.
    3. If there is no facility or pipeline, the work can continue with no further involvement from the applicable facility owner.
  6. During digging activities if you experience a line strike, unplanned exposure, see signs of a pipeline leak or realize an activity is occurring on a designated Right-of-Way without approval, please contact the applicable Emergency Number AltaGas Emergency: 1-866-826-3830 | Petrogas Emergency: 1-866-975-1011.

Contacting One-Call is easy, free and will guarantee your ground disturbance work begins safely. Your local One-Call Centre will gather all project information and inform the pipeline owners of your activity. Within a few days, asset owners will be out to locate and mark their underground infrastructure.