Commissioners approve permit for Tall Oak Woodford to bore gas line near Scipio

At its Feb. 23 meeting the Pittsburg County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve Permit 26-033, authorizing Tall Oak Woodford, LLC to bore a permanent natural-gas pipeline across a county road in District 3.

The permit package on file includes a plan/profile showing the proposed bore crossing of E. Clearlake Road approximately 1,593 feet west of the intersection with N400 Road, a project profile (Denali Phase III), and a recorded permit payment of $1,000. The application lists Tall Oak Woodford, LLC as the owner/contact and Junior Bailey as the construction contact. The permit materials also identify Summit and related project identifiers used in the engineering profile and routing exhibits.

Floodplain review and conditions: the county floodplain administrator reviewed the application and the permit package includes the administrator’s written review. The permit form contains standard conditions that the board used to grant approval, including requirements to: bore rather than trench asphalted roads where possible; protect and, where required, encase or vent underground lines across right-of-way; maintain minimum depths and install identification markers at right-of-way lines; obtain any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission or Department of Transportation clearances; and provide onsite flagging, barricades and traffic control per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The permit package and county fee schedule on file also outline floodplain inspection fees and pipeline burial permit fees where applicable.

Board action: Selman made a motion to approve the road crossing permit; Haynes seconded. The minutes record the vote as unanimous (Ayes: Ross Selman, Mike Haynes, Charlie Rogers). The minutes also note that the petitioner must contact the County Commissioners’ office upon completion of the crossing for an onsite inspection.

Why it matters: pipeline crossings in county right-of-way have operational and environmental implications—especially where exhibits show proximity to mapped floodplain areas. The permitting conditions and floodplain review are intended to reduce the risk of erosion, interference with road drainage and environmental impact.

What’s next: the permit is on file with the county clerk and county floodplain office; the permit requires the permittee to notify the commissioners for an inspection when the crossing is complete. The county’s permit documentation includes a section noting that failure to secure the proper permit or to notify the commissioners of heavy-load movement may result in fines and enforcement.