METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT
gas_distribution Incident — ELKHORN, NE — October 15, 2018
Incident Information
| Incident Date | October 15, 2018 |
| Operator | METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | ELKHORN |
| State | NE |
| County | DOUGLAS |
| Coordinates | 41.28914, -96.22908 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $8,000 |
| Emergency Response | $3,000 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2018 AT 18:02 METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT (DISTRICT') RECEIVED NOTICE OF A 4 INCH GAS MAIN WHICH WAS STRUCK ON 202ND AND HOPPER ST. THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THE SCENE BLOCKED OFF DUE TO BLOWING GAS FROM THE STRUCK GAS MAIN. THE FIRE CAPTAIN TOLD US A CONTRACTOR HIT A GAS MAIN WHILE DIRECTIONAL BORING AND THE CORNER HOMES (20203 HOPPER & 3404 N 202ND ST.) WERE EVACUATED FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. THE STRIKE WAS THE RESULT OF TWO FACTORS: THE LOCATE MARKS WERE OFF BECAUSE OF INACCURATE RECORDS THAT THE OPERATOR INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS OPERATOR OF THAT PORTION OF ITS GAS SYSTEM AND THE EXCAVATOR FAILED TO EXPOSE THE MAIN THROUGH HAND DIGGING PRIOR TO BORING AS THEY HAD AGREED TO DURING PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OPERATOR. AT 19:49 THE DISTRICT'S A-REP COORDINATOR ADVISED ME TO NOTIFY THE NEBRASKA STATE FIRE MARSHAL. THE DECISION WAS MADE AT THIS TIME TO OVER REPORT THAN TO UNDER REPORT. NRC TELEPHONIC REPORT NUMBER 1227562 WAS MADE AT 18:54. A 48-HOUR TELEPHONIC FOLLOW-UP REPORT WAS SUBMITTED ON 10/17/18 AT APPROXIMATELY 17:45."
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.