NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO
gas_distribution Incident — PORTAGE, IN — August 13, 2024
Incident Information
| Incident Date | August 13, 2024 |
| Operator | NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | PORTAGE |
| State | IN |
| County | PORTER |
| Coordinates | 41.60210, -87.15164 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE BY THIRD PARTY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $14,561 |
| Emergency Response | $23,924 |
| Other Costs | $500 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON 8/13/2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 AM CENTRAL TIME, A THIRD-PARTY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR WAS DIRECTIONAL BORING AND MADE CONTACT WITH AN UNMARKED 8"" PLASTIC DISTRIBUTION MAIN IN AN EASEMENT ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY. NIPSCO CREWS RESPONDED AND STOPPED THE FLOW OF GAS BY CLOSING A MAIN VALVE AT ONE POINT AND SQUEEZING OFF THE MAIN AT ANOTHER POINT. THIS RESULTED IN AN OUTAGE OF (5) RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE SECTION OF PIPE BY CUTTING OUT AND REPLACING WITH A NEW SECTION. ALL CUSTOMERS WERE RESTORED. THE DAMAGE OCCURRED DUE TO A CONTRACTOR LOCATOR MISREADING THE FACILITY PRINTS, WHICH RESULTED IN NOT LOCATING AND MARKING A SECTION OF PIPELINE. THIS CONTRACT LOCATE EMPLOYEE WILL NO LONGER BE PERFORMING WORK FOR NIPSCO AS THE REMEDIAL ACTION."
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.