SOUTHWEST GAS CORP

Incident Narrative

PL 2013-1321 SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION (SWG) RESPONDED TO A REPORTED EXPLOSION WITH FIRE AT 7916 WEST VARNEY ROAD IN PEORIA. TWO PEOPLE WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH BURNS. SWG CREWS RESPONDED AND CONTROLLED THE FLOW OF GAS BY SQUEEZING A 3/4-INCH BRANCH SERVICE. NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO PHMSA VIA THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER (NRC) REPORT NUMBER 1063231 AT 23:12 OF THE IN-PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A 1/2-INCH PE SERVICE LINE AND TRACER WIRE WAS FOUND CUT COMPLETELY IN TWO. THE HOUSE WAS BEING REMODELED, AND THERE WAS RECENT EXCAVATION IN THE AREA OF DAMAGE. NO LINE LOCATE REQUEST WAS REQUESTED FOR THE EXCAVATION. NOTE: FOR PART #A, #10, THE ESTIMATED VOLUME OF GAS RELEASED THAT IS IDENTIFIED REPRESENTS AN ESTIMATE THAT PRESUMES A CUT PIPE THAT IS DISCHARGING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AT 40 PSI, BEGINNING AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL REPORT OF THE INCIDENT AND ENDING AT THE TIME THE PIPELINE WAS SHUT DOWN. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF GAS LOSS IS UNKNOWN BECAUSE THE TIME THE GAS PIPELINE WAS CUT IS UNKNOWN. ALSO, THE IMPACT ON THE RESTRICTION OF THE GAS CAUSED BY ITS DISCHARGING INTO SOIL (AS OPPOSED TO BEING DISCHARGED TO ATMOSPHERE) IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ESTIMATE. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT: THE SERVICE LINE WAS SEVERED BY THE OCCUPANT WHILE WORKING WITH HAND TOOLS. SECTION G3 #6 AND #7 HAVE BEEN REVISED TO REFLECT THIS FACT.