COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC

Incident Narrative

ON MAY 17, 2013, AT APPROXIMATELY 2:14 PM A THIRD PARTY EXCAVATOR STRUCK AND DAMAGED A 16-INCH STEEL MEDIUM PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE AS A RESULT OF A LARGE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITY. THE 16-INCH STEEL PIPELINE WAS NOT MARKED UNDER THE ACTIVE ""ONE CALL TICKET"". THE THIRD PARTY EXCAVATION COMPANY HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FACILITIES LOCATION VIA MAPS THAT WERE PROVIDED DURING THE DESIGN PHASE OF THIS PROJECT. IN ADDITION, THE LOCATOR HAD MET WITH THE EXCAVATOR, EXCHANGED CONTACT INFORMATION, AND MARKED THE FACILITY PREVIOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION. COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC. (COLUMBIA) RESPONDED TO THE DAMAGE IMMEDIATELY AND COORDINATED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT A PERIMETER WAS SET AND THAT NO SECONDARY DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED, TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM THREE (3) CRITICAL VALVES WERE CLOSED, ISOLATING AND SHUTTING OFF NATURAL GAS TO THE DAMAGED PIPELINE, MAKING THE AREA SAFE. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, SIX(6) RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAD THEIR NATURAL GAS SERVICE INTERRUPTED. SERVICE RESTORATION TO THE SIX(6) RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS BEGAN AT 8:00 AM, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013 FOLLOWING A TEMPORARY REPAIR. COLUMBIA GAS HAD BEEN MONITORING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERMANENT REPAIRS SINCE THE INITIAL DAMAGE DATE. PERMANENT REPAIR TO THE 16-INCH PIPELINE WERE PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED. ON MAY 29, 2013, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COST OF THE PERMANENT REPAIRS EXCEEDED THE $50,000 REPORTING CRITERIA AS DEFINED IN CFR PART 191.3(1)(II).