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Las Placitas Association

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Pipelines

Did you know that there are five commercial pipelines running underneath Placitas—some as old as 60 years? These single-wall pipelines move toxic materials like butane, crude oil, and gasoline under extremely high pressure, and if one was to leak or rupture (as pipelines often do), it could spell disaster for Placitas. Recently, two pipeline operators applied for and were granted permits by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to increase operating pressure without public comment. LPA feels this decision puts Placitas in an unfair, unsafe situation. To make matters worse, we have four (4) high pressure pipelines running in our most active creek, Las Huertas Creek and crossing 34 other arroyos where they become exposed when water runoff carries away the soil that is supposed to keep them buried. Once they are exposed they are susceptible to being ruptured by the rocks and other debris being washed over them, further increasing the likelihood of an eventual rupture.

For more information, check out the links below.

LPA Pipeline Documents

2017 Pipeline Handout (document)
Placitas Area with Pipelines (map)
Placitas Aquifer with Pipelines (map)
2017 Placitas Pipeline Facts (document)
2011 Engineering Report Pipeline Protection
2010 Engineering Report Las Huertas Creek

Placitas Pipeline Meetings

2009 Placitas Pipeline Meeting (document)
2007 Pipeline Notes J Patterson (document)
2005 Pipeline Safety Notes (document)
2005 Las Huertas Canyon (document)
2002 Pipeline Safety Meeting (document)
2002 Pipeline Safety Meeting (document)

News Articles

Feb 2017: Company Resolves Mystery of Exposed Gas Pipeline

Local Videos and Photos

Videos
2016 Las Huertas Creek (photos)
2016 Other Creek Crossing (photos)

Federal and State Information

US DOT: NM Pipelines
US DOT: NM Enforcement Data
US DOT: NM Regulatory Fact Sheet
US DOT: NM State Program Performance Metrics
US DOT: NM Damage Prevention Information
NM PRC: Pipeline Safety

Pipeline Accidents

2016-2017 Pipeline Accidents (report)
Platte County, Missouri 2016 Explosion (article)
Belle Fourche, North Dakota 2016 Oil Spill (article)
Mayflower, Arkansas 2013 Oil Spill (article)
San Bruno, California 2010 Explosion (article)
Marshall Township, Michigan 2010 Oil Spill (article)
Carlsbad, New Mexico 2000 Explosion (article)
Bellingham, Washington 1999 Explosion (article)

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You are not only helping us with the important projects we take on each year, you will get something special too:
  • Invitations to hikes and events before they are advertised to the public
  • Quarterly E-publications about the plants, animals, geology and history of the Placitas area.
  • Invitation to annual membership events (picnics and other gatherings)
Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left. That is to say, you cannot love game and hate predators… The land is one organism.
Aldo Leopold

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