Welcome to Skagit County
February 10th, 2012
Skagit County Publishes
Pipeline Safety Webpage and Brochure
Skagit County today released a new webpage and brochure to help raise awareness
of pipeline safety issues throughout the county.
Four major transmission pipelines, carrying natural gas or other hazardous liquids,
cross Skagit County. In 2010, Skagit County was awarded a grant from the U.S.
Department of Transportation to develop pipeline safety land use regulations.
The resulting ordinance, which the County adopted last December, requires landowners
within 100 feet of a transmission pipeline to consult with the pipeline operator
before the County will issue a permit for a construction project or land division.
The webpage and brochure include a map of those transmission lines and information
on how to use the County's interactive iMap tool to find out if your property
is near a transmission line. Both media pieces emphasize the importance of calling
the 811 utility locator service before any digging project, as required by state
law, to avoid damaging distribution or transmission pipelines. Skagit County
TV21 is also running 811 "Call Before You Dig" pipeline safety videos
at frequent intervals.
The County's adoption of its pipeline safety ordinance last year put the County
in compliance a year early with RCW 19.122.033-a new state law that directs
all agencies that issue building permits to require, by 2013, any applicant
constructing or excavating to consult with the operator of any pipeline within
100 feet.
The County's pipeline safety website is available at www.skagitcounty.net/pipelines.
The brochure is available at Skagit County Planning & Development Services,
1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon WA 98273.
For more information contact
Kirk Johnson, kirkj@co.skagit.wa.us.