Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2011-05-31 — NJ
Operator
Elizabethtown Gas Co
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,100
Incident datetime
2011-05-31 10:24
Report number
Location
NJ, UNION
Narrative
A contractor damaged a 6 inch pe main on west jersey street near union st. In elizabeth, nj. Damage to the main occurred when a 2 inch service tee was struck, pulling it off the main. Contract locator's marks were 19 inches from the main. However, the excavator was able to hand dig and locate the main as required. The excavator then proceeded to use a backhoe to excavate a trench parallel to but not adjacent to the main without further exposing the gas pipe. The root cause was the excavator's failure to adequately probe for the main and appurtenances as he progressed away from the original exposed section in close proximity to the main. New jersey code requires proper care and adequate supervision be used to avoid damage to the underground facility after locating the facility by hand (ref. N.J.A.C.14-2-3.3). The close proximity and structural integrity of the damaged facility suggests no close supervision of the mechanical excavation was being practiced although the excavator knew the excavation was being performed within inches of the gas main and its likely appurtenances. The tee was ripped completely from the main, indicating considerable force was applied. The nearby nj transit & amtrak ne corridor tracks were shut down for approximately 2 hours. West jersey street was closed between cherry street and broad street and the kellogg building of union county college was evacuated (approx 100 people). No injuries and no property damage other than to gas line were reported.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-05-31 10:24:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-06-22 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110190.0
Supplemental Number
15265.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
4350
Name
Elizabethtown Gas Co
Operator Street Address
520 Green Lane
Operator City Name
Union
Operator State Abbreviation
NJ
Operator Postal Code
07083
Local Datetime
2011-05-31 10:24:00
Location Street Address
West Jersey St. Near Union St.
Location City Name
Elizabeth
Location County Name
Union
Location State Abbreviation
NJ
Location Postal Code
07203
Location Latitude
40.6652
Location Longitude
-74.21737
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-05-31 16:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
977899
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1250.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
100.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-05-31 10:24:00
On Site Datetime
2011-05-31 10:51:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1984.0
Pipe Diameter
6.625
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Drisco
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11
Material Pe Pipe Code
3408
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Class Location Type
Class 4 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5100.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
1093.0
Prpty
6193.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
20.0
Normal Psig
20.0
Mop Psig
25.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
Yes
One Call System Ind
Yes
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Electric
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
111172023
One Call Center Name
New Jersey One Call
Locator Type
Contract Locator
Visible Marks
Yes
Service Interruption
No
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
Preparer Name
P*** S********
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
P*******@a***********.com
Preparer Telephone
908 662 8306
Preparer Fax
908 662 8304
Authorizer Name
D***** F* C*****
Authorizer Title
Vice President And General Manager
Authorizer Telephone
908 771 8200
Authorizer Email
D******@a***********.com
Narrative
A contractor damaged a 6 inch pe main on west jersey street near union st. In elizabeth, nj. Damage to the main occurred when a 2 inch service tee was struck, pulling it off the main. Contract locator's marks were 19 inches from the main. However, the excavator was able to hand dig and locate the main as required. The excavator then proceeded to use a backhoe to excavate a trench parallel to but not adjacent to the main without further exposing the gas pipe. The root cause was the excavator's failure to adequately probe for the main and appurtenances as he progressed away from the original exposed section in close proximity to the main. New jersey code requires proper care and adequate supervision be used to avoid damage to the underground facility after locating the facility by hand (ref. N.J.A.C.14-2-3.3). The close proximity and structural integrity of the damaged facility suggests no close supervision of the mechanical excavation was being practiced although the excavator knew the excavation was being performed within inches of the gas main and its likely appurtenances. The tee was ripped completely from the main, indicating considerable force was applied. The nearby nj transit & amtrak ne corridor tracks were shut down for approximately 2 hours. West jersey street was closed between cherry street and broad street and the kellogg building of union county college was evacuated (approx 100 people). No injuries and no property damage other than to gas line were reported.
| Occurred At | 2011-05-31 10:24:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Report Received Date | 2011-06-22 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2011.0 |
| Report Number | 20110190.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15265.0 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 4350 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Elizabethtown Gas Co |
| Operator Street Address | 520 Green Lane |
| Operator City Name | Union |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NJ |
| Operator Postal Code | 07083 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-05-31 10:24:00 |
| Location Street Address | West Jersey St. Near Union St. |
| Location City Name | Elizabeth |
| Location County Name | Union |
| Location State Abbreviation | NJ |
| Location Postal Code | 07203 |
| Location Latitude | 40.6652 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -74.21737 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-05-31 16:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 977899 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1250.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 100.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-05-31 10:24:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-05-31 10:51:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1984.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.625 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Drisco |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 3408 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 4 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5100.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 1093.0 |
| Prpty | 6193.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 20.0 |
| Normal Psig | 20.0 |
| Mop Psig | 25.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | Yes |
| One Call System Ind | Yes |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | City Street |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Electric |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | 111172023 |
| One Call Center Name | New Jersey One Call |
| Locator Type | Contract Locator |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Service Interruption | No |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above |
| Preparer Name | P*** S******** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | P*******@a***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 908 662 8306 |
| Preparer Fax | 908 662 8304 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** F* C***** |
| Authorizer Title | Vice President And General Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | 908 771 8200 |
| Authorizer Email | D******@a***********.com |
| Narrative | A contractor damaged a 6 inch pe main on west jersey street near union st. In elizabeth, nj. Damage to the main occurred when a 2 inch service tee was struck, pulling it off the main. Contract locator's marks were 19 inches from the main. However, the excavator was able to hand dig and locate the main as required. The excavator then proceeded to use a backhoe to excavate a trench parallel to but not adjacent to the main without further exposing the gas pipe. The root cause was the excavator's failure to adequately probe for the main and appurtenances as he progressed away from the original exposed section in close proximity to the main. New jersey code requires proper care and adequate supervision be used to avoid damage to the underground facility after locating the facility by hand (ref. N.J.A.C.14-2-3.3). The close proximity and structural integrity of the damaged facility suggests no close supervision of the mechanical excavation was being practiced although the excavator knew the excavation was being performed within inches of the gas main and its likely appurtenances. The tee was ripped completely from the main, indicating considerable force was applied. The nearby nj transit & amtrak ne corridor tracks were shut down for approximately 2 hours. West jersey street was closed between cherry street and broad street and the kellogg building of union county college was evacuated (approx 100 people). No injuries and no property damage other than to gas line were reported. |
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