re: Bayou Bridge Pipeline

Correct. Usually existing right of way is used as much as possible to help with cost, and damage prevention. When new right of way is cleared, it is only because there was no other choice. When this happens the company is responsible for replanting trees that were eliminated. When crossing waterways, a HDD (horizontal directional drill) is the preferred method and usually mandated by the core. The drills can average 30-80 feet deep and there is almost zero impact environmentally.
DOT regulations of pigging, corrosion prevention, and monitoring make the pipelines far safer than the plants supplying the product.
Our line runs under an Entergy transmission corridor so very little right of way was ever cleared. The downside is the AC stray current picked up but we mitigate that as well.