ALVIN, TX – [2025] – Southwest Pipe Services, Inc. (SWPS), a leading environmental remediation and pipe recycling company, is warning energy and pipeline operators across the United States about growing legal and environmental liabilities associated with improperly managed or abandoned contaminated pipelines.
According to John Buckert, CMIR, Executive Vice President of SWPS and a 45-year industry veteran, many legacy pipelines installed between the 1930s and 1970s were coated with materials that today qualify as hazardous under federal law, including asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
“When companies choose to abandon contaminated pipelines in place or sell ‘take-up’ pipe without confirming proper remediation, they may be unknowingly exposing themselves to millions in liability,” said Buckert. “The EPA defines ‘cradle-to-grave ownership’, meaning the original owner can still be held responsible for the ultimate disposal of hazardous waste, even decades later.”
The EPA’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) explicitly defines an “owner or operator” as any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises a facility being renovated or demolished, or the demolition operation itself. This distinction extends liability beyond companies to individual managers and supervisors.
In a past federal enforcement case, violations related to pipeline decommissioning led to criminal convictions against both a major utility company and its contractors for mishandling regulated materials, falsifying statements, and violating asbestos work-practice standards, a stark reminder that noncompliance can result in personal and corporate penalties.
Safe and Sustainable Decontamination Solutions
SWPS specializes in the mechanical removal, abatement, cleaning, and recycling of contaminated pipelines in compliance with EPA and NESHAP and RCRA regulations. The company’s proprietary decontamination process has been inspected and approved by NACE Inspectors, Environmental Engineers, and Consultants, achieving surface cleanliness standards of NACE No. 2 (near-white blast) and No. 3 (commercial blast) without sandblasting, which can create additional hazardous waste streams.
“Proper decontamination not only ensures regulatory compliance and environmental safety but also creates circular value,” Buckert added. “Instead of burying hazardous materials, we help clients recycle treated pipe into secondary markets, reducing waste, minimizing environmental footprint, and even generating revenue.”
From its headquarters in Alvin, Texas, SWPS serves clients across the lower 48 states, offering both in-yard processing and mobile field services. For qualified projects, the company can also arrange pickup, decontamination, and purchase of the reclaimed pipe, often providing clients with a check rather than an invoice.
Buckert’s Recommendations for Pipeline Owners
- Understand the regulations — ignorance is not a defense.
- Test all coatings for asbestos and PCBs before removal or sale.
- Choose “abandon by removal” instead of “abandon in place” to maintain control.
- Vet contractors and buyers for environmental compliance.
- Use NESHAP-trained personnel for all excavation and pipe handling.
- Document everything — maintain proof of proper waste disposal and chain of custody.
About Southwest Pipe Services, Inc.
Southwest Pipe Services, Inc. is an environmental service company specializing in the mechanical removal, decontamination, and recycling of pipeline materials containing hazardous coatings. Based in Alvin, Texas, and serving the continental U.S., SWPS is dedicated to “Cleaning Our Environment One Pipeline at a Time.” The company combines environmental compliance with investment recovery, helping clients minimize risk, reduce waste, and unlock value from reclaimed assets.
Media Contact:
John Buckert
Executive Vice President
Southwest Pipe Services, Inc.
(281) 455-5578
j.buckert@swpipeusa.com
https://southwestpipeservices.com