Explorer Pipeline-CS060524P. O. Box 2650
Tulsa, OK 74101
918
918 493 -5150
PIPELINE. Fax 918 493 -5148
lwazkinsCcDexpLcom
Leith V. Watkins
Director Corrosion Control and Maintenance Services
May 24, 2006
Dear Stakeholder:
Our letter has five purposes, all prompted by an upcoming tree clearing project:
Notify you of our presence in a land area of your interest.
Inform you of the nature of our interstate pipeline and its operation.
Advise you of our summer plans to clear our pipeline right -of -way of trees and encroaching
structures; fences will generally be permitted to stay.
Explain why clearing is now necessary after a period of not clearing.
Offer to answer questions you might have, either by phone, letter, or in person. We will also be
happy to make any group presentation you think appropriate.
A number of handouts are enclosed in this litter bag: a general information brochure, a brochure specifically
designed for this project, a letter which has or will be hand delivered to all private landowners on whose
land we will conduct ROW clearing, a copy of our urban ROW clearing specifications, and a press release.
Your attention is particularly directed to the primarily black and yellow brochure for a quick overview of our
upcoming project.
Continuously, for well over thirty year on a 24/7 basis, our 28 inch diameter pipeline has transported
consumer petroleum products (e.g., gasoline, diesel, heating oil). The volume through this pipeline is
approximately 14,000 gallons per minute. We originate at the Gulf of Mexico and make deliveries along the
way up to the Chicago area. A 12 inch line serves the Dallas Metroplex. We are a major consumer source
of liquid energy delivery in Mid- America.
In 1971 when the rights to construct, operate, and maintain the pipeline were acquired from private land
owners, we also acquired the rights to keep our ROW clear of vegetation (generally trees) and structures.
However, for almost thirty -five years, we generally postponed these rights to clear the ROW in urban
locations, primarily because of our desire to not be disruptive to our neighbors. In many cases, there have
been several successive land owners and/or the land has been subdivided. In short, much time has passed
and urbanization has come to us.
As a result, many current private land owners are unaware of the clearing rights that were long ago severed
from their property, although there is a courthouse record as well as the very obvious on the ground
marking of our pipeline. To remove vegetation from land owned by a governmental entity, however, we
must generally obtain specific permission.
During the past several years, there has been an increasing awareness within the pipeline industry and
within the federal government for interstate pipeline companies to more actively manage their right of
ways. In part, this emphasis has resulted from several nationally prominent transportation accidents,
pipeline security, and the overall need for higher standards of pipeline integrity in an ever increasing
complex society.
Federal re gulations and our increasing desire for a safer operation require that we have good access and
good visibility to our pipeline. Explorer must meet these two expectations and requirements. A
cleared, well marked pipeline corridor also greatly reduces the likelihood of a third party (e.g.,
landowner, local excavator) causing an immediate or future accident. For these reasons, we now must
clear and keep clear the urban portions of our right of way.
The land areas we plan to clear this summer are shown in the enclosed black/yellow brochure.
All vegetation clearing and resultant stump grinding will be done entirely at Explorer's expense. The
ROW has been recently surveyed to correctly identify the trees that will be removed and/or side
trimmed. Some trees will be side trimmed from properties not actually a part of the ROW, but from
branches extending into the ROW. Please see enclosed clearing specifications. Homeowners, with
encroaching structures, will be asked to remove the structures and adequate time will be provided. The
tree clearing will be done by a nationally recognized tree service, and all workers will be so identified. A
full time, experienced Explorer Pipeline inspector will always be present during cutting.
Should additional information be needed or if there are questions, please let me know. An Explorer
representative, fully familiar with the plan, will make contact with you over the next few weeks to briefly
discuss this effort and answer any questions you may have.
Thank you taking the time to read of our plans. Our objectives are to do what is necessary to continue
having a safe pipeline and continue to be a quiet, silent neighbor.
Should you have any questions or concerns about the work to be done, please call me toll free at 1 -800-
364 -0720, ext. 5150 at our main office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thank you for your understanding of this
necessary and required maintenance work.
Respectfully,
VW
Leith V. Watkins
Director of Maintenance Services