High Consequence Areas Blast Zones and Public Safety

High Consequence Areas, Blast Zones, and Public Safety along the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Oshin Paranjape Duke University Stanback Intern Clean water for North Carolina

Route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline through North Carolina

Blast Zone, Incineration Zone or the Potential Impact Radius is the distance at which there is a reasonable risk of incineration, injury, or even death. Blast zone = 0. 69 x square root of maximum allowable operating pressure of pipeline in psi x pipeline diameter in inches For Atlantic Coast Pipeline with a maximum allowable operating pressure of 1440 psi and diameter of 36 in. , this zone extends to 943 ft. The Evacuation Zone, defined as the area persons would need to move beyond to avoid risk of a burn injury in the event of a pipeline explosion, is 3071 feet from center of a 36 inch diameter pipeline, at 1400 psi. High Consequence Areas areas within which the extent of damage to property or the chances of serious injury or death are significant, in case of a rupture or significant leak, generally 20 or more occupied buildings within Blast Zone, or with particularly vulnerable populations

There are 24 ‘High Consequence Areas’ in North Carolina, spanning across 7 counties.

Summary of Recent Gas Pipeline Safety • Failure rate from 2005 -2013 of pipelines built since 2010 is higher than pipelines built before the 1940 s! • Between 2010 and 2015, a total of 12. 8 billion cubic feet of methane leaked from the natural gas lines nationwide, a total of 700 incidents where 70 people were killed and nearly 300 were injured. • A study conducted by Congressional Research Service in 2016 revealed serious problems of understaffing within PHMSA. Key regulatory mandates imposed by the Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 have not been implemented. • In their rush to complete the already delayed ACP, it is likely that the construction of the pipeline will be hasty and, potentially leading to more errors and failures!

PHMSA Data for Serious Gas Transmission Pipeline Incidents

• 30 – inch diameter, intrastate gas transmission pipeline • Rupture produced a crater 72 feet long by 26 feet • 47. 6 million standard cubic feet of natural gas was released Natural Gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California in 2010 (Source: Accident Report, National Transportation Safety Board) • The explosion created a fireball up to 1000 feet high

Examples of Dominion Pipeline Accidents • There have been several instances of Dominion and its construction partners flouting federal regulations and standard operating procedures and guidelines, resulting in pipeline explosions and fires, such as the natural gas explosion in Fairport Harbor, Ohio in 2011 • A venting mishap at a compressor station operated by Dominion Resources in Loudon County, VA in 2016 resulted in the natural gas spreading 10 miles north and east of the compressor station, hundreds of emergency evacuations

Concerns Raised by People Living Close to the ACP Route • Quality of the materials and methods used in rural areas for the construction of the pipeline are different from that used in developed areas, with the pipeline in rural areas being half an inch thinner than in urban areas • Contamination of ground water supply due to a leak in the pipeline, or spills during construction-- many residents along pipeline route depend on wells • Lack of notification to residents within evacuation radius of pipeline • Local responders unable to reach emergencies during pipeline construction • Lack of state or federal guidelines for alerting the public and local governments in the event of mishap such as leak, fire or explosion. Local emergency responders have insufficient training and personnel to handle an emergency event that would occur in case of a pipeline leak • Pipeline would go through some of the poorest counties In North Carolina with high populations of color; disproportionate impacts of the pipeline on vulnerable communities, without any jobs or economic benefits

Recommendations • State officials must call for assessment of actual need for pipeline, not % of pipeline capacity sold • Demand far more rigorous safety planning, additional personnel & equipment for local govts. • Enhanced public notification, realistic preparation for accidents; compensation for added risks to residents at least within the blast zone; • Do not approve an unneeded pipeline with disproportionate impacts to vulnerable communities, safety risks, few jobs or benefits.

To Access Full Report: “High Consequence Areas, Blast Zones and Public Safety Along the Atlantic Coast Pipeline” visit www. cwfnc. org Oshin Paranjape, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, oshin. paranjape@duke. edu Or Hope Taylor, Clean Water for North Carolina 919 -401 -9600, hope@cwfnc. org