COLUMBIA GAS OF MASSACHUSETTS

gas_distribution Incident — LAWRENCE, MA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorCOLUMBIA GAS OF MASSACHUSETTS
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityLAWRENCE
StateMA
CountyESSEX
Coordinates42.69708, -71.16329

Cause

CauseOTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Lost Commodity
Public/Private Damage
Emergency Response
Environmental Remediation
Other Costs

Location Map

Incident Narrative

IN THE EARLY MORNING OF FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, WHILE CONDUCTING A CHECK OF WATER VALVES, CONTRACTORS WORKING FOR THE CITY OF LAWRENCE INADVERTENTLY CLOSED A LEGACY GAS VALVE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO AN ABANDONED GAS MAIN. THE ABANDONED GAS MAIN HAD WITHIN IT AN INSERTED, ACTIVE GAS MAIN. THE TURNING OF THE LEGACY VALVE SHEARED THE ACTIVE INSERTED MAIN. AT 03:08 AM, COLUMBIA GAS RECEIVED A GAS ODOR CALL AND DISPATCHED A TECH TO INVESTIGATE. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES WERE IMPLEMENTED. UPDATE: PART A: 16. CUSTOMER IMPACT NUMBER UPDATED TO INCLUDE CUSTOMER METERS THAT WERE TURNED OFF IN THE AREA BUT NOT ON THE IMPACTED MAIN. GENERAL PUBLIC EVACUATED IS NOT AVAILABLE AS EVACUATED BY FIRE AND POLICE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. PART D: 2B. ADDITIONAL DOLLARS ADDED 3. CUSTOMER IMPACT NUMBER UPDATED TO INCLUDE CUSTOMER METERS THAT WERE TURNED OFF IN THE AREA BUT NOT ON THE IMPACTED MAIN.

About This Pipeline Incident

Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.

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