If one of the parcels we were looking to purchase didn’t have a hazardous pipeline easement right on the property, we wouldn’t have even known to look into nearby pipelines for other parcel research! *Tip: Don't forget hazardous pipeline maps when researching your property during due diligence.
We ended up not putting on offer on that parcel, and I really feel it was meant to be, because the one we did pursue is bigger and better :) And further away from the pipeline! LOL But it is still in the area.
With that said, during our due diligence, we definitely wanted to learn more details about it and any risks to our lot.
Upon researching online I found the company who manages the pipeline and their contact info. I had to call multiple times to reach the right person due to people being out of office from the holidays. The person we finally got in touch with was the pipeline company's real estate representative for the Midwest region. He was a pleasure to speak with and fully transparent on risks.
Here's what we learned:
What is the size and material? 8 inch coated steel pipeline, high pressure
What is it carrying? Different types of petroleum
What is the inspection strategy and how often? Sensors monitor the pressure continuously. If there's an issue, they will compensate by reducing pressure or replacing sections of line. He was forward in communicating there may be a small leak the sensors do not detect
When was it installed? 1959
Any plans for replacements? Or shutting it down? No plans at this time to shut the line down. Would need to maintain the pressure in it with fluids if it was not going to pump petroleum, in case they need to turn it back on again. Very unlikely to abandon lines; they have lines on the East coast still going from the 1800s.
We also contacted our county environmental team and the township regarding any issues with this company or the pipeline itself, which to their knowledge there was none.
For us, this information and the distance away our property is from the pipeline is something we could live with. We did lots of online research on the subject, and below are some resources you may find helpful:
More on our accepted offer and due diligence stage:
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