Frequently Asked Questions about Atlanta Gas Light’s Suwanee to Friendship Pipeline
Who is Atlanta Gas Light?
Atlanta Gas Light delivers natural gas on behalf of approved gas marketers to residences and businesses in your
community. We safely operate and maintain a natural gas pipeline system over 55,000 miles long that delivers
reliable, environmentally friendly natural gas to more than 1.5 million customers across Georgia.
Why is Atlanta Gas Light working in my community?
The work in your community is part of the Georgia Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement
Program (STRIDE). In December 2013, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the second
phase of STRIDE. This important system upgrade improves our ability to meet customers’ need for natural gas
and our obligation to provide enough to serve them on the coldest days of the year. Gwinnett and Hall are two of
the many metro counties that will undergo system improvements through STRIDE.
While Georgia STRIDE is one of our most extensive infrastructure projects to date, it’s just one of many
undertaken by Atlanta Gas Light during its nearly 160-year history as we work to bring you and your neighbors
environmentally friendly natural gas.
Why do you need to upgrade the pipeline system?
Atlanta’s greater metropolitan area has experienced rapid growth in the past 25 years. Much of that growth has shifted
to regions farther removed from Atlanta Gas Light’s existing interstate supply points and high-pressure transmission
pipeline system. STRIDE is also a key component of our Energy for a Growing Georgia program. Today’s low
natural gas prices present an ideal time to invest in system-wide improvements that will help the region and local
communities.
Georgia STRIDE has several additional benefits:
 Georgia STRIDE is stimulating the local economy. We’re excited that our investment is expected to employ 150200 construction workers each year—everything from right-of-way contractors and heavy-equipment operators to
pipefitters and welders. These workers also put some of their earnings directly back into the local economy
through apartment/hotel rentals, restaurant visits, and various purchase at other local businesses and service
providers.
 As the U.S. economy improves, our upgraded infrastructure will be able to provide the additional natural gas
needed for continued economic development in your community and across the metro Atlanta area.
 Atlanta Gas Light will continue to provide America’s cleanest and domestically abundant fuel to existing and
future customers.
Where will the pipeline be located?
The Suwanee to Friendship Pipeline will be a 12-inch transmission line that generally follows a cross-country
path for approximately 12 miles starting around Peavy Trail (just south of Buford Highway) in north Gwinnett
County and continuing easterly to the intersection of Thompson Mill Road and Spout Springs in south Hall
County. At each endpoint, the pipeline will be connected to the existing system. The pipeline is expected to cross
several major roads as well including Satellite Boulevard, I-985, Buford Drive, Hamilton Mill Road, and
Friendship Road. In some areas, the pipeline will be installed along road right-of-way.
What should I expect in the coming weeks?
In your area, our independent contractor Pond and Company will oversee surveying crews from Wolverton &
Associates and land acquisition specialists from DESI that will begin surveying road crossings and contacting
private property owners along the project route. Once property owners grant their crews access, work on private
property will get underway, likely in the first part of 2015. Since this is new territory for us, we will also be
acquiring easements in the community.
As with all of our improvement projects, safety is our top priority. Great care is taken in all phases of the project from
beginning to end in each community. We make every effort to minimize inconveniences to property owners along the
route.
What is an easement?
An easement, which may also be referred to as right-of-way, is a strip of land on which a property owner grants to
another party the right to use the land for a specific purpose – in this case, Atlanta Gas Light’s right to operate,
maintain and, if necessary, replace or add a natural gas pipeline. During construction, additional temporary space may
be needed to accommodate heavy equipment and materials. After construction has been completed, the easement will
be restored to its pre-construction condition.
How does the presence of an easement or right-of-way affect the use of my property?
There are a few property owner restrictions that come with a pipeline right-of-way in order to protect the safety of the
pipe. These include prohibitions against erecting structures; doing any kind of excavation, construction and drilling;
or planting of trees in the easement.
Why was this route for the Suwanee to Friendship Pipeline selected?
This route allows us to efficiently meet our obligation to provide enough natural gas to serve our customers on the
coldest days of the year.
When will construction begin?
Surveying and other pre-construction activities will determine the construction schedule for the Suwanee to
Friendship Pipeline and property owners will be notified before work begins. To see an overview of what occurs
during pipeline installation, please visit www.atlantagaslight.com/stride and click on the link: View a narrated
animation of pipeline construction.
How will I be notified before construction begins?
Property owners along the alignment will receive a letter from the company before construction begins. Additionally,
Atlanta Gas Light is meeting with community leaders and groups, public safety officials, and others so that they are
well-informed about our project and what to expect during construction.
If I have questions about the Suwanee to Friendship Pipeline, who do I contact?
A representative from Wolverton & Associates will be on-site throughout the pre-construction process if you have
any questions about our system improvements. You may contact Atlanta Gas Light directly at 404-584-3159 or by
email [email protected]. You can also visit www.atlantagaslight.com/stride for more
information on our STRIDE program.