Rail and pipeline corridors: the federal rules that sit around vegetation work
Which United States federal rules name railroad vegetation, railroad roadway workers, pipeline right-of-way patrols and the right-of-way pesticide category, with each rule's own words on scope and intervals.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It sets out five federal rules in the Code of Federal Regulations that touch the land beside railroad track and pipelines. It reports each rule's scope as written and does not say how any job is done or who must follow a rule on a given site. The rules for tree work near electric lines are on utility line clearance.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| 49 CFR 213.37, Vegetation | Railroad track safety standard. Vegetation on railroad property on or immediately adjacent to the roadbed must be controlled so that it does not: become a fire hazard to track-carrying structures; obstruct visibility of railroad signs and signals along the right-of-way and at highway-rail crossings; interfere with railroad employees performing normal trackside duties; prevent signal and communication lines from working properly; or prevent railroad employees from visually inspecting moving equipment from their normal duty stations. Source: eCFR, 49 CFR 213.37, read October 9, 2026. |
| 49 CFR part 214 subpart C, Roadway Worker Protection | The subpart states its purpose as preventing accidents and casualties caused by moving railroad cars, locomotives or roadway maintenance machines striking roadway workers or roadway maintenance machines. It sets minimum safety standards for roadway workers, and says each railroad and railroad contractor may set additional or more stringent rules. Each railroad it applies to must adopt and run an on-track safety program that gives all roadway workers the levels of protection the subpart specifies. Section 214.7 defines a roadway worker as an employee of a railroad, or of a contractor to a railroad, whose duties include inspection, construction, maintenance or repair of track, bridges, roadway, signal and communication systems, electric traction systems, roadway facilities or roadway maintenance machinery on or near track or with the potential of fouling a track, plus flagmen and watchmen or lookouts. The words vegetation and tree do not appear in the subpart's scope sections. Source: eCFR, 49 CFR part 214 subpart C and section 214.7 definitions, read October 9, 2026. |
| 49 CFR 192.705, gas transmission line patrols | Each operator must have a patrol program to observe surface conditions on and adjacent to the transmission line right-of-way for signs of leaks, construction activity and other factors affecting safety and operation. The interval depends on class location and place. For Class 1 and 2 lines it may not be longer than 7 1/2 months at highway and railroad crossings, and at least twice each calendar year, or 15 months at all other places, and at least once each calendar year. For Class 3 it is 4 1/2 months at crossings, at least four times each calendar year, and 7 1/2 months elsewhere, at least twice each calendar year. For Class 4 it is 4 1/2 months at both, at least four times each calendar year. The rule lists walking, driving, flying or other appropriate means as methods of patrolling. Source: eCFR, 49 CFR 192.705, read October 9, 2026. |
| 49 CFR 195.412, hazardous liquid pipeline right-of-way inspection | Each operator must, at intervals not exceeding 3 weeks and at least 26 times each calendar year, inspect the surface conditions on or adjacent to each pipeline right-of-way. The rule lists walking, driving, flying or other appropriate means. For crossings under navigable waterways, other than offshore pipelines, it sets an interval of no more than 5 years. Source: eCFR, 49 CFR 195.412, read October 9, 2026. |
| 40 CFR 171.101(f), right-of-way pest control | The EPA's certification rule names a right-of-way pest control category. It applies to commercial applicators who use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides in the maintenance of roadsides, powerlines, pipelines and railway rights-of-way, and similar areas. Source: eCFR, 40 CFR 171.101, read October 9, 2026. |
How the rules fit together
Only one of the five names vegetation: the railroad track safety standard. It speaks of vegetation on railroad property and does not mention tree work. The roadway worker subpart speaks to the safety of people working on or near track. Its definition of roadway worker turns on duties and location, and the words vegetation and tree are not in it.
The two pipeline rules put duties on the operator to look at the right-of-way. Both say the surface conditions on or next to the right-of-way are observed, one for leaks, construction activity and other factors, the other as a surface condition inspection. Neither rule mentions trees or brush by name. The EPA category is about restricted use pesticides, not cutting or trimming, and the state licence side of it is on pesticide licences and right-of-way herbicides and integrated vegetation management.
These federal rules are for the United States. Rail and pipeline rules in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are not covered on this page.
Sources
- eCFR, 49 CFR 213.37 Vegetation, read October 9, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR part 214 subpart C Roadway Worker Protection, read October 9, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 214.7 Definitions, read October 9, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 192.705 Transmission lines: Patrolling, read October 9, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 195.412 Inspection of rights-of-way and crossings under navigable waters, read October 9, 2026
- eCFR, 40 CFR 171.101 Standards for the certification of commercial applicators, read October 9, 2026