NEW ULM PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Incident Narrative

ON 3-26-2011 AT 15:45 RICK KONOKOWITZ WAS DISPATCHED TO COTTONWOOD ST. BRIDGE FOR A GAS SMELL. HE ARRIVED AT 15:53 TO FIND WHAT APPEARED A GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE RIVER. HE SECURED THE AREA AND CALLED HIS SUPERVISOR AT 16:10. PAUL MACHO ARRIVED AT 16:20 AND AT 16:30 DISPATCHED NEW ULM FIRE DEPT TO HELP SECURE THE AREA. ADDITIONAL STAFF WAS CALLED IN TO ASSIST. AT 16:40 STAFF BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN CUSTOMERS AND THE SYSTEM. RICK AND THE FIRE DEPT. CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE AREA WITH CGI'S FOR MIGRATING GAS. AT 17:20, PAUL MACHO NOTIFED THE STATE DUTY OFFICER OF THE SITUATION, CASE#117947 WAS ASSIGNED. AT 17:40, TOOD STANSBURY FROM OPS CALLED. PAUL MACHO UPDATED TODD ABOUT THE SITUATION. ALL CUSTOMERS AND REGULATING STATION WERE OFF AT 17:45 GOPHER ONE CALL WAS NOTIFED FOR AN EMERGENCY LOCATE NEEDED TO EXPOSE THE MAIN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COTTONWOOD RIVER TO SUPPLY TEMPORARY SERVICE TO THE 25 CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY THE SHUT DOWN. THE FEDERAL DUTY OFFICER WAS NOTIFIED AT 19:00 AND CASE #971248 WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS INCIDENT.TEMPORARY GAS LINE, 1"" PE, WAS USED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED 4"" MAIN. THE TEMPORARY GAS LINE WAS SUPPORTED BY THE BRIDGE AND SOME TREES. STAFF KEPT CUSTOMERS UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE RESTORATION. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS RELEASED AFTER THE TEMPORARY LINE WAS SECURED AT 20:35. TEMPORARY GAS SERVICE WAS RESTORED TO COTTONWOOD STREET SECTION AT 23:45. THE TEMPORARY GAS LINE WILL BE MONITORED DAILY UNTIL A NEW 4"" GAS MAIN CAN BE INSTALLED AFTER FLOOD WATERS DROP. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT COMPLETED 8/23/2011 TO ADD INFORMATION REGARDING PIPE THAT WAS DAMAGED, WATER DEPTH, AND CORRECT TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.