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Ecological Unusually Sensitive Areas (Eco USA)

This Ecological USA data is from 2025. Previous versions of the data are not available.

Download the Coastal Ecological USA data here.

About Ecological USA

Ecological USA are defined in 49 CFR 195.6. This Ecological USA data is proprietary to NatureServe (https://www.natureserve.org/). NatureServe produced this data to reflect locations that meet the definition of an Ecological USA in part 195.6 (b) (1) - (5). Part 195.6 (b) (6) & (7) are mapped separately in a publicly releasable data layer called Coastal Ecological USA.

PHMSA can only distribute these Ecological USA datasets to hazardous liquid pipeline operators and to PHMSA’s State Pipeline Safety Partners through February 2028. These proprietary data are for informational purposes only and are one resource operators may consider when identifying areas that meet the definitions in 49 CFR 195.6. All verification inquires or questions about USA data distributed by PHMSA should be directed to the organizations that produce/source the data. See the metadata for details about the data sources, or send an email to datasupport@natureserve.org.

These data are dependent on the research and observations of many scientists and institutions and reflect NatureServe’s current state of knowledge. Many areas have never been thoroughly surveyed, however, and the absence of known occurrence data in any particular geographic area does not necessarily mean that species or ecological communities of concern are not present. Likewise, data that indicate a low probability of occurrence do not guarantee that a species or ecological community of concern is not present. These data should not be regarded as a substitute for on-site surveys required for environmental assessments. If ground-disturbing activities are proposed on a site, the appropriate NatureServe Network Program should be contacted for a site-specific review of the project area. For contact information, go to the NatureServe Network Directory at: https://www.natureserve.org/ns-network-directory.

Metadata

Request Ecological USA Data

PHMSA may only distribute Ecological USA GIS data directly to employees of hazardous liquid pipeline operating companies and PHMSA’s State Pipeline Safety Partners.

Contractors/consultants cannot initiate requests for Ecological USA. Please ask your client to follow the instructions below.

Operators/State Partners will receive data for the state(s) where they operate/inspect hazardous liquids pipelines, plus a five-mile buffer zone.

If you are an applicable pipeline operator or PHMSA State Pipeline Safety Partner and wish to receive Ecological USA data in a GIS data format, please email the information noted below to NPMS staff at npms@dot.gov with "Ecological USA Data Request" in the subject line.

If you only wish to view or print pipeline maps showing Ecological USA data please use your NPMS account and log in to PIMMA.

YOU MUST PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION BEFORE NPMS STAFF CAN PROCESS YOUR REQUEST.

  1. Information about you, the Requester:
    • Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operator or State Pipeline Safety Partner
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Title
    • Employer Company/Agency Name
    • Phone Number
    • Email Address
    • For Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Operators only:
      1. Pipeline Operator Name(s)
      2. PHMSA Operator ID(s)
      3. Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Mileage Subject to CFR Part 195
      4. States Requested (Data is also available for Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Gulf of America, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and offshore Alaska)

  2. Agree to and include the following statements in your email:
    1. I agree to not redistribute the Ecological USA data to any third party;
    2. I agree to refer any requests by third parties for the Ecological USA data to the PHMSA Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety or directly to NatureServe;
    3. I agree to restrict access to the Ecological USA data to persons within my company/agency (including my contractors/consultants) for the purpose of integrity management planning or pipeline safety inspection activities for hazardous liquid pipelines in the area for which I am requesting the data;
    4. I agree to not violate any terms in the Ecological USA Data User Agreement (the Agreement), and I acknowledge responsibility in conveying the Agreement to all persons to whom I provide access (including my contractors/consultants) for their adherence to all terms;
    5. I agree to notify PHMSA in writing within 14 days of learning of any actual or potential violation of terms in the Agreement;
    6. I agree to properly use the citation and warranty statement outlined in section XII of the Agreement;
    7. I agree to properly mark and treat products created from this data as CUI, in compliance with terms outlined in section IV(e)(i) of the Agreement; and
    8. I agree to not include the Ecological USA data on external web, tablet, or mobile applications or viewers.