PLanning & Route Selection

A critical issues analysis/routing study is conducted to evaluate options for getting gas from Point A to Point B.

Various factors are evaluated, including:

• Overall route length and disturbance acreage
• Need for compressor station facilities
• Topography/constructability
• Residential and commercial areas
• Natural resources (e.g., wetlands, waterbodies, forests, wildlife refuges, etc.)
• Opportunities to collocate with existing linear facilities (e.g., utility rights-of-way, roads, railroads, etc.)
• Land use
• Land ownership

Pipeline companies use the results of the analysis/study to select a “proposed” route that is environmentally and economical responsible. The proposed route is then investigated in more detail.