What is the National Pipeline Mapping System?

The National Pipeline Mapping Systems (NPMS) is an online geographic information system (GIS) that contains information about interstate transmission pipelines in the United States including their location and emergency contact information.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) created NPMS in cooperation with other federal and state governmental agencies and the pipeline industry.

Government and safety officials can request a password to access additional information through NPMS and to download electronic files that can be imported into emergency preparedness GIS systems.

NPMS should never be used as a substitute for contacting a One-Call center before excavating.  The nominal accuracy of geospatial data in the NPMS is +/-500 feet.

The NPMS does not include information about distribution and gathering pipelines.  This includes your local gas company’s pipelines that bring gas directly into your home and pipelines connected to petroleum drilling activity.  (Note:  Explorer’s pipelines are included in NPMS.)

The NPMS is built from data submitted by pipeline, LNG plant and breakout tank facility operators. Since 2002, transmission pipeline and LNG plant facility operators have been required to submit mapping information to the NPMS and to update their submissions annually.

Visit the NPMS Web site.