SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO

gas_distribution Incident — SOUTH EL MONTE, CA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CitySOUTH EL MONTE
StateCA
CountyLOS ANGELES
Coordinates34.05188, -118.06200

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

ON MAY 8, 2015, DURING INVESTIGATION OF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF NO GAS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A 6"" STEEL GAS MAIN AT 9503 RUSH ST IN SOUTH EL MONTE CONTAINED WATER. INITIAL REPORT TO DOT INDICATED A 2"" STEEL GAS MAIN AT 9703 ALPACA ST. CREWS PERFORMED REPAIRS, REMOVED WATER AND RESTORED CUSTOMERS. NO INJURIES OR IGNITION RESULTED FROM THIS INCIDENT. INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT SHOWED THAT A BLOWN TRANSFORMER EARLIER IN THE DAY CAUSED A POWER OUTAGE THAT LIKELY ENERGIZED A TRACER WIRE ON A 1"" PLASTIC WATER SERVICE LINE, BURNING A HOLE IN THE WATER SERVICE LINE. WATER PRESSURE FROM THE ESCAPING WATER BORED HOLES INTO THE 6"" STEEL GAS MAIN CAUSING THE GAS LEAK. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE DOT AND CPUC DUE TO A GAS LEAK AND THE ASSOCIATED DAMAGE EXCEEDING $50,000.

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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