NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP

Incident Narrative

THIS EVENT WAS DISCOVERED IN RESPONSE TO AN ODOR CALL FROM A COMMERCIAL LOCATION AT FORTIN DRIVE IN WOONSOCKET, RI RECEIVED AT APPROX. 11:00 AM ON 2/1/2022. TWO RESPONDERS INITIALLY RESPONDED AND REQUESTED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO LOCATE THE LEAK WITH BLOWING GAS AT CUMBERLAND HILL ROAD. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ARRIVED TO HELP LOCATE THE LEAK AS WELL AS MUTUAL AID PERSONNEL. ADDITIONAL CREWS WORKED OVERNIGHT INTO THE NEXT DAY TO CONTINUE WORK IN LOCATING THE LEAK. ENGINEERING REVIEWED FACILITY MAPS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE ISOLATION VALVES TO SHUT OFF GAS SUPPLY AND INITIATE REPAIRS WHILE CREWS WORKED TO LOCATE THE IDENTIFIED VALVES; HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL FROM 01/28 THROUGH 1/30/22 HINDERED THE CREWS' EFFORTS. DUE TO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECTED CUSTOMER IMPACT, A DECISION WAS MADE TO ISOLATE THE AFFECTED MAIN USING WELDED STOPPLE FITTINGS. AT 8:00 PM ON 2/2/2022 THE LEAK WAS SECURED. TWO BUILDINGS WERE EVACUATED, WITH AN ESTIMATED 50-60 PEOPLE IN THESE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AS ESTIMATED BY THE FD. APPROXIMATELY 5'6"" OF 12"" STEEL PIPE WERE REPLACED WITH PLASTIC. WE ARE REPORTING THIS INCIDENT SOLELY BASED ON THE VOLUME OF GAS RELEASED. NO INJURIES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT AND RESPONSE AND RESTORATION COSTS ARE RELATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE MAIN AND RESTORATION OF TWO CUSTOMERS THAT WERE SHUT OFF DURING THE RESPONSE.