Neighbors and Natural Gas: Land Use Best Practices to Reduce Pipeline Risk

Abstract

Natural gas pipelines pass through many developed areas of the United States. However, due to their underground location they are practically invisible to the general public, at least until a problem occurs. Natural gas pipeline explosions in developed areas are relatively rare but can cause horrific damage to buildings and injury or death to nearby residents. Until recently, local officials have not used land use regulation as a method of mitigating the risks involved with natural gas pipelines.