Any accumulated scrap or residues from production are removed or burnt on 

 site (subject to air control regulations). Materials such as sediment removed 

 from settling tanks or separators may be buried or used at the site. The 

 lining of brine collection pits or burning pits is removed, and the pits are 

 filled in. A small amount of leveling, grading, and revegetation may be 

 involved. 



Production facilities mounted on barges or pilings are completely removed. 

 Pilings themselves are removed or cut so that they pose no navigation hazards. 



Petroleum Transportation 



Petroleum is transported by barge, ship, truck, and pipeline. The first 

 three methods may involve construction, dredging, and vehicle movement; how- 

 ever, the activities of barge, ship, and truck movement are not totally involved 

 with petroleum. The port facilities, barge loading terminals, and roads 

 involved in petroleum movement are usually owned by the state or petroleum 

 companies. They are not often owned by a surface owner, whose interest is in 

 agriculture or wildlife management. 



Pipelines, on the other hand, are wery likely to cross privately held 

 lands; therefore, this section will deal with the construction and operation 

 of gas, crude, and products pipelines. 



Pipeline routes are carefully planned as a compromise between route 

 length, difficulty of excavation, obstructions encountered, and environmental 

 considerations. Increases in any of these categories can involve significant 

 cost increases for the pipeline. 



In the gulf coast area, pipelines are laid year round. The pipeline 

 contractors map the pipeline "as-built" so that accurate information is avail- 

 able for future monitoring or maintenance. However they do not routinely 

 supply such maps to land managers without a specific request. Rights-of-way 

 are acquired from surface owners for the pipeline. Sometimes a wide right-of- 

 way is acquired for construction, and a narrower easement is bought for opera- 

 tion and management. In Louisiana a 30-m (100-ft) easement is the historical 

 standard, though sometimes 10-m (30-ft) widths are acquired (Conner et al . , 

 1976). 



After easements have been obtained, pipeline construction begins with 

 surveying the route. Then the route is cleared for as much as 30 m (98 ft) on 

 either side of the actual line the pipe will follow. This allows room for 

 vehicle and equipment movement and provides a permanent corridor than can be 

 visually checked from the air during operation. Supplies and equipment are 

 brought to the site, and the construction begins. 



Ill 



