Natural gas is statistically the nation's safest energy resource. This excellent safety record is due in large part to diligence.

Some of North Baja's safety program is in place to meet regulatory requirements, principally the Department of Transportation (DOT) code for gas pipelines. Others are implemented by the North Baja System because they represent wise business practice and help the company meet its commitment to safety and environmental protection.

Safety is the North Baja Pipeline's Highest Priority

The most important part of any safety program is the clear understanding by employees that safety is the number one priority. Employees that operate and maintain the North Baja System are continuously reminded that their actions are to be guided by the following company policies:

1. There will be no injury to the public or to employees due to the failure to know, understand, and comply with safety or other regulatory requirements.
2. There will be no injury to the environment due to failure to know, understand and comply with environmental regulatory requirements.
3. The pipeline will be operated and maintained in a manner that maintains the system integrity and provides the greatest potential for net revenue.

The North Baja Pipeline's operators know how to reduce the potential for accidents. They also test and maintain pipeline components and facilities on a regular basis (often exceeding the applicable regulatory requirements).

Avoiding Damage by Third Parties and Natural Causes

The North Baja Pipeline primarily traverses areas of low development (i.e., with 10 or fewer dwellings within 220 yards of the pipeline) in California and Arizona.

According to the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), the largest cause of pipeline incidents is damage by third parties working near the pipeline or by natural causes such as landslides or stream/river washouts.The North Baja Pipeline has a number of programs to reduce the likelihood of this type of incident.

• Signage: Markers are placed along the pipeline to warn of its existence and the danger of digging in the vicinity.
• One-call System: One-call systems, which the North Baja System strongly supports, make it easier for a contractor or landowner to notify all utilities that might have underground facilities near where work is planned, so that the utilities may mark out exactly where their facilities are located.
• Work Site Monitoring: Whenever the North Baja System is called to mark its facilities, the company assigns an employee to observe the contractor's or homeowner's work to make sure that the pipeline is not compromised.
• Regular Public Communications:
  • Correspondence: Letters are sent annually to all landowners along the route and to contractors known to do work in the vicinity of the pipeline. These letters remind the contractors or landowners about the need to contact the North Baja Pipeline through the one-call system if they contemplate digging anywhere near the pipeline.
  • Advertisements: The North Baja Pipeline annually places advertisements in newspapers serving communities near the pipeline to remind homeowners and contractors about the pipeline and the one-call system.
  • Training/Education: The North Baja Pipeline offers a safety-awareness presentation to remind the public of its own safety role. It's tailored to the specific needs of individuals and organizations who request it

Pipeline Corrosion Prevented

According to DOT statistics, the second most common cause of pipeline accidents is corrosion, both internal and external.

Because the gas that the North Baja System transports has been processed before it enters into the system, most of the components that might cause internal corrosion have been removed.

To combat external corrosion, the North Baja Pipeline employs these methods:

• Protective Coating: The outside of the pipe is coated with corrosion-prevention material before it is installed.
• Cathodic Protection: Cathodic protection, which involves using electricity to prevent corrosion, is used to provide additional control.

The North Baja Pipeline is Committed to Being a Safe Neighbor

No pipeline company can guarantee that its pipelines will never experience an emergency event, but the North Baja Pipeline continues to take every reasonable precaution, including some well beyond the regulatory requirements, to reduce the likelihood of a pipeline accident.

Although the North Baja Pipeline places greatest emphasis on accident prevention, it is also fully prepared in case an incident does occur.