Is the use of farm equipment restricted in the safety zone?
Not for the majority of farming activities. Most farm equipment does not cause significant rutting or soil compaction over a pipeline. Pipeline companies can and do typically provide landowners a blanket approval for the use of most agricultural machinery. However, some types of machinery may be restricted. The restrictions are based on concern about the effects of loads transmitted to the pipeline through the soil as a result of vehicle and mobile equipment loads. This includes rutting or soil compaction and any reduction in the depth of soil covering the pipeline. Heavy machinery such as logging trucks can damage a buried pipeline or its protective coating. Even minor damage that may not seem serious at the time can be responsible for safety concerns later. Nonetheless, under the NEB Act, permission still must be obtained from the pipeline company before moving any vehicles or mobile equipment across the safety zone and right-of-way.
