UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE AREA DATA DISCLAIMER

Ecological USA data is available for download by pipeline operators only.

The ecological Unusually Sensitive Areas presented here are based on several data sources, including data provided by NatureServe (formerly known as the Association for Biodiversity Information (ABI)) on behalf of Natural Heritage Programs (NHP) throughout the United States. NHP data are delivered with the following disclaimers:

Disclaimer

The data used to create these USA maps meet criteria established by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for a limited purpose and are not appropriate for other uses. The ecological USA data are provided to assist pipeline operators in complying with PHMSA regulations pertaining to USAs. Due to data licensing limitations, users downloading these data are not authorized to use these data for other purposes. The information presented should not be considered a definitive statement on the presence, absence, or condition of ecological elements in a given area.1 For use other than that mentioned above, please contact the appropriate resource agency that provided the ecological data to PHMSA.

The ecological Unusually Sensitive Areas presented here are based on several data sources, including data provided by the Network of Natural Heritage Programs (NHP). NHP data are delivered with the following disclaimers:

  1. The data provided are for planning, assessment, and informational purposes. Site-specific projects or activities should be reviewed for potential environmental impacts with appropriate regulatory agencies. If ground-disturbing activities are proposed on a site, the appropriate state natural heritage program(s) can be contacted for a site-specific review of the project area. For contact information, see the NatureServe web site, http://www.natureserve.org.
  2. Absence of information for a given geographic area, or lack of current information for a given area, does not categorically mean the absence of sensitive species or features. The absence of data may indicate that the project area has not been surveyed, rather than confirm that the area lacks natural heritage resources.
  3. The quantity and quality of data are dependent on research and observation of many individuals and organizations. In most cases this information is not the result of comprehensive or site-specific field surveys; many natural areas have never been surveyed and new plant and animal species records are still being discovered for many localities. For these reasons, the Heritage Programs cannot provide a definitive statement on the presence, absence or condition of biological elements. The NHP data show the natural heritage occurrences documented at the time the data were provided. These data should not be used as a substitute if an on-site survey is required for environmental assessment.
  4. PHMSA acknowledges that data is time-limited. New and updated information is continually being added to the NHP databases.
  5. Although every effort has been made to verify this information the Heritage programs make no guarantee with respect to the currency or accuracy of any data point provided, and accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on the information supplied.
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