MONROE NATURAL GAS DEPT, CITY OF

Incident Narrative

ON 01/04/2022 AT 3:09 PM - CDM SMITH STRUCK THE CITY OF MONROE'S 6-INCH STEEL 275 PSIG GAS MAIN WHILE MAKING A BORE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION OF ROCKY RIVER ROAD AND SECREST SHORTCUT ROAD IN MONROE NC. THE BORE WAS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A 42 INCH WATER MAIN WITHIN A 54"" CASING. THE GAS MAIN WAS PROPERLY LOCATED AND THE CONTRACTOR FAILED TO PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES CHAPTER 87 ARTICLE 8A - UNDERGROUND UTILITY SAFETY AND DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT. THE GAS MAIN WAS RUPTURED BY THE AUGER BORE MACHINE CAUSING THE RELEASE OF NATURAL GAS AND REQUIRING THE REPAIR OF THE GAS LINE. REPAIRS TO THE CITY OF MONROE NATURAL GAS MAIN WERE FINALIZED ON 01/06/2022 AT 3:30 AM. ON 1/04/2022 AT 05:15 PM THE CITY OF MONROE DETERMINED THAT THE INCIDENT REPORTING THRESHOLD WAS GOING TO BE MET BEFORE THE FACILITIES COULD BE REPAIRED. THEREFORE A DETERMINATION OF FILING THE INITIAL INCIDENT WITH NRC WAS MADE. THE NRC NOTIFICATION WAS MADE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM ON 1/4/2022. THE ACTUAL INCIDENT THRESHOLD OF 3,000 MCF WAS NOT MET UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 1/05/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 05:26 AM. CDM WAS NEGLIGENT IN THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: NC ARTICLE 8A - UNDERGROUND UTILITY SAFETY AND DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT - 87-122. EXCAVATOR RESPONSIBILITIES C) AN EXCAVATOR SHALL COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING: (3) PLAN THE EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION TO AVOID DAMAGE TO OR MINIMIZE INTERFERENCE WITH FACILITIES IN OR NEAR THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. (9) AN EXCAVATOR SHALL NOT PERFORM ANY EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION WITHIN THE TOLERANCE ZONE UNLESS THE EXCAVATOR COMPLIES WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: A. THE EXCAVATOR SHALL NOT USE MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT, EXCEPT, NONINVASIVE EQUIPMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE FACILITY, WITHIN THE MARKED TOLERANCE ZONE OF AN EXISTING FACILITY UNTIL: 1. THE EXCAVATOR HAS VISUALLY IDENTIFIED THE PRECISE LOCATION OF THE FACILITY OR HAS VISUALLY CONFIRMED THAT NO FACILITY IS PRESENT UP TO THE DEPTH OF EXCAVATION; 2. THE EXCAVATOR HAS TAKEN REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID ANY SUBSTANTIAL WEAKENING OF THE FACILITY'S STRUCTURAL OR LATERAL SUPPORT, OR BOTH, OR PENETRATION OR DESTRUCTION OF THE FACILITIES OR THEIR PROTECTIVE COATINGS: B. THE EXCAVATOR SHALL MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN A FACILITY AND THE CUTTING EDGE POINT OF ANY MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE KNOWN LIMIT OF CONTROL OF THE CUTTING EDGE OR POINT, AS MAY BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY. THE CITY OF MONROE ACCURATELY MARKED THE 6-INCH STEEL GAS LINE. CDM SMITH DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE TOLERANCE ZONE. CDM SMITH DID NOT VISUALLY INSPECT THE GAS FACILITY AT THE DEPTH OF THE EXCAVATION. CDM SMITH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE NC UNDERGROUND UTILITY SAFETY AND DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT.