U of A Notifying Local Leaders and Community About Natural Gas Pipeline

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Location (in red) of new natural gas transmission pipeline

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – People who live and work on the south side of the University of Arkansas campus – students, faculty, staff, local homeowners and area construction contractors -- will be getting notices over the next few weeks about a new natural gas pipeline on campus. The notices have information about the pipeline, its location, and what to do in the event of an accident or emergency involving the pipeline.

The transmission line runs underground on the south side of campus, from Nettleship Street across to the Central Heating Plant on Dickson Street, where it provides natural gas for the university’s new combustion gas turbine generator (see map). The new pipeline replaces a Black Hills Energy Arkansas distribution line that has served the University Central Heating Plant as the primary gas source since 1964.

The pipeline began carrying natural gas in February, 2016, and U of A officials are currently in the year-long process of meeting federal and state requirements to notify members of the local community who may be affected by it.

Fayetteville and Washington County officials were mailed information about the pipeline last week, and individual letters will be sent this week to people who live near the pipeline. U of A students who live in campus housing near the route of the pipeline are being notified through University Housing. The public notification will include a map of the pipeline and a brochure, in English and Spanish, with information about the pipeline, including how to recognize a gas leak and what to do if there is one.

Construction contractors who work in the area are also being notified of the pipeline’s location.

In March members of the university’s facilities management team met with area emergency management professionals, including fire, police and medical first responders, to update them on the pipeline and conduct an emergency preparedness exercise, as required by federal and state regulations.

“New pipelines generally have very few issues,” said Scott Turley, director of campus utilities. “Our highest priority was to address safety, so if there was an issue, the appropriate agencies and campus departments would be ready to respond. When it came to public notification we wanted to wait until classes started in order to reach the largest number of people affected. We will be repeating this information each fall to address the normal turnover on campus in compliance with pipeline regulatory requirements and just as a general reminder.”

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.