FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas owns and maintains a natural gas pipeline that runs east, beginning on Nettleship Street and ending at Williams Street.

The university routinely participates in safety procedure exercises and awareness campaigns to prepare first responders and the public in the case of a pipeline emergency. Local entities are sent brochures about the pipeline and pipeline safety. Contractors and excavators are also taught damage prevention, leak recognition and response, and are required to call Arkansas One Call for the location of the line before doing any work on a property.

While natural gas pipelines are usually very safe, those on or near campus should be aware of how to recognize a natural gas leak and what to do in the case of a pipeline emergency.

The easiest way to identify a gas leak is by smell. The U of A natural gas line has been odorized with a chemical that smells like rotten eggs to help identify leaks. Other signs of potential leaks include a hissing or roaring noise, large sections of dead vegetation, dirt blowing in the air, or fire coming from the ground. If you detect a potential leak, leave the area, and tell those around you to leave. Once you are a safe distance away from the potential gas leak, call 911.

The U of A natural gas pipeline became fully functional in 2016. The line generates about 25 percent of the campus electricity requirements and decreases the greenhouse gas footprint by approximately 30,000 metric tons a year.

For additional information about the pipeline, please call 479-575-2222 or visit pipelinesafety.uark.edu.