CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP., DBA CENTERPOINT ENERGY MINNESOTA GAS

Incident Narrative

SHAFER CONTRACTING CO., INC. DAMAGED AN UNMARKED 6"" PLASTIC CLASS 6 (50-55PSIG) GAS MAIN WITH A BACKHOE DURING ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WHILE WORKING UNDER GSOC TICKET #232891215. THE EXCAVATOR WAS WORKING ON A ROAD PROJECT FOR MNDOT WITH A PROJECT START OF EXCAVATION ON 04/03/23. DURING THIS TIME THERE WERE MULTIPLE UPDATE TICKETS AND FIELD MEETS WITH THE LINE LOCATOR(S) AND THE EXCAVATOR(S). ON THE MORNING OF THE DAMAGE DURING A SITE MEET WITH THE EXCAVATOR AND THE LINE LOCATOR, THE LINE LOCATOR WAS ALLEGED TO HAVE CLEARED THE WORK AREA IN THE STREET WHERE THE MAIN WAS CONTACTED, TELLING THE EXCAVATOR THAT THE LIVE MAIN WAS BEHIND THE CURB (SOUTH OF THE CURB) WHERE YELLOW HARD MARKS DENOTED THE PRESENCE OF GAS FACILITIES. AS A RESULT, THE LOCATOR FAILED TO MARK THE LIVE GAS MAIN, AND IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED WITH MECHANIZED EQUIPMENT. THE CONTRACT LOCATE VENDOR WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION OF THE SITE MEETING THAT WOULD COUNTER THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE EXCAVATOR. NOTE, AT THE TIME OF THE DAMAGE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MINIMUM REPORTABLE CRITERIA FOR A MNOPS OR FEDOPS REPORT. IT WASN'T UNTIL A FIELD MEETING WITH MNDOT (JULIE) ON 10/24/23 THAT CENTERPOINT ENERGY'S DAMAGE PREVENTION COORDINATORS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE INJURY THAT OCCURRED ON THE DAY OF THE DAMAGE.