Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2024-09-30 — NY
Operator
Orange & Rockland Utility Inc
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2024-09-30 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
NY, ROCKLAND
Narrative
On september 3, 2024, at 1549 hrs., orange and rockland's (o&r) gas emergency response center (gerc) received a report of a possible damage to a natural gas line and a structure fire at 282 avalon gardens drive, located in nanuet, new york, an eight-condominium building. At 1549 hrs., the gerc began dispatching multiple o&r gas crews to the location. At 1547 hrs., to mitigate potential ignition sources, o&r electric crews de-energized electric service to 1,515 customers. At 1559 hrs., o&r gas crews began to arrive at the scene of an active building fire at 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and began to assess the situation. Upon confirmation a gas service had been damaged, at 1647 hrs. O&r gas crews closed two curb valves to 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and, as a precaution, the adjacent building #25, isolating the two gas services thereby interrupting gas service to a total of 16 gas meters. O&r's initial investigation determined bortech company inc., a contractor hired by verizon, hired e&j pro communication llc (e&j) to install a fiber optic cable conduit. E&j was using a pneumatic trenchless tool known as a "bullet" (the bullet), which damaged a 3/4 inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive. The 3/4-inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive (building 28) was located and marked correctly. The e&j employee admitted that e&j did not expose the gas or electric by hand to verify the marked location prior to the use of the bullet in both directions. The bullet was shot within the tolerance zone of the gas service as well as the gas main and electric primary. This is a direct violation of nys code rule 753-3.6 - verification of underground facilities. Additionally e&j are in violation of nys code rule 753-3.10 - requirements concerning contact and damage to underground facilities. E&j, while operating the bullet below grade, struck a high-pressure plastic gas service line operating at approximately 55 (psig). E&j removed the bullet and realized the bullet had struck the service. The e&j employee that was operating the bullet stated within 1-2 minutes the escaping gas from the service ignited. The fire severely damaged all eight condominium units in building #28. There were no fatalities and no injuries. At approximately 2000 hrs., o&r crews cut and capped the remaining one gas services (eight gas meters) to the fire damaged building (#28) and at approximately 2130 hrs. O&r gas crews, as a precaution, completed a pressure test for 282 avalon gardens drive ruling out any pre-existing leaks. By 2200 hrs., o&r gas crews restored the eight gas meters (one gas service) to building #25 and by 2208 hrs., o&r had restored electric service to all customers (1,507), except for the eight damaged units. The following day (9/4/2024), o&r gas crews performed a leak survey yielding no leaks found. The fire was investigated by the town of clarkstown (police department arson unit and fire inspection unit) located in new city, new york. Notes: 1. At this time, the estimated cost of public and non-operator private property damage paid/reimbursed by the operator and the estimated other costs is unknown. 2. Re: q21a. Estimated time based upon when 44-control (rockland county emergency dispatch) was notified a gas line was struck and the building was on fire.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-09-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2024.0
Report Number
20240052.0
Supplemental Number
41203.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
14330
Name
Orange & Rockland Utility Inc
Operator Street Address
One Blue Hill Plaza
Operator City Name
Pearl River
Operator State Abbreviation
NY
Operator Postal Code
10965.0
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Street Address
282 Avalon Garden
Location City Name
Nanuet
Location County Name
Rockland
Location State Abbreviation
NY
Location Postal Code
10954.0
Location Latitude
41.105986
Location Longitude
-74.020876
Flow Cont Service Valve Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Num
1409845.0
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1410018.0
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
18.5
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
How Extinguished
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
14
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
2.0
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
24.0
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Investor Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
1998.0
Customer Type
Multi-Family Residential
Was Efv Installed Before Ind
No
Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind
Yes
Pipe Diameter
0.75
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Plexco
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11
Material Pe Pipe Code
4710
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
1.2
Puncture Circum
0.2
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000.0
Est Cost Emergency
35000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Other Details
Estimated Other Costs Are Unknown
Gas Cost In Mcf
1.68
Est Cost Unintentional Release
31.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
40031.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
16.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
2.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
55.0
Normal Psig
55.0
Mop Psig
80.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1998-04-09 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Combination Of Odorization Types
Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind
Yes
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Landowner
Joint Trench Ind
No
Cross Bore Ind
Yes
Depth Of Grade
18� � 36�
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Boring
Work Performed
Telecommunications
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
826400000000.0
One Call Center Name
Udig
White Lined Ind
No
Locator Type
Contract Locator
Visible Marks
Yes
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
5.0
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Excavator Dug Prior To Verifying Marks By Test-Hole (Pothole)
Preparer Name
P****** W****
Preparer Title
Manager
Preparer Email
W*****@o**.com
Preparer Telephone
8455773731
Authorizer Name
P****** W****
Authorizer Title
Manager
Authorizer Telephone
8455773731
Authorizer Email
W*****@o**.com
Narrative
On september 3, 2024, at 1549 hrs., orange and rockland's (o&r) gas emergency response center (gerc) received a report of a possible damage to a natural gas line and a structure fire at 282 avalon gardens drive, located in nanuet, new york, an eight-condominium building. At 1549 hrs., the gerc began dispatching multiple o&r gas crews to the location. At 1547 hrs., to mitigate potential ignition sources, o&r electric crews de-energized electric service to 1,515 customers. At 1559 hrs., o&r gas crews began to arrive at the scene of an active building fire at 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and began to assess the situation. Upon confirmation a gas service had been damaged, at 1647 hrs. O&r gas crews closed two curb valves to 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and, as a precaution, the adjacent building #25, isolating the two gas services thereby interrupting gas service to a total of 16 gas meters. O&r's initial investigation determined bortech company inc., a contractor hired by verizon, hired e&j pro communication llc (e&j) to install a fiber optic cable conduit. E&j was using a pneumatic trenchless tool known as a "bullet" (the bullet), which damaged a 3/4 inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive. The 3/4-inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive (building 28) was located and marked correctly. The e&j employee admitted that e&j did not expose the gas or electric by hand to verify the marked location prior to the use of the bullet in both directions. The bullet was shot within the tolerance zone of the gas service as well as the gas main and electric primary. This is a direct violation of nys code rule 753-3.6 - verification of underground facilities. Additionally e&j are in violation of nys code rule 753-3.10 - requirements concerning contact and damage to underground facilities. E&j, while operating the bullet below grade, struck a high-pressure plastic gas service line operating at approximately 55 (psig). E&j removed the bullet and realized the bullet had struck the service. The e&j employee that was operating the bullet stated within 1-2 minutes the escaping gas from the service ignited. The fire severely damaged all eight condominium units in building #28. There were no fatalities and no injuries. At approximately 2000 hrs., o&r crews cut and capped the remaining one gas services (eight gas meters) to the fire damaged building (#28) and at approximately 2130 hrs. O&r gas crews, as a precaution, completed a pressure test for 282 avalon gardens drive ruling out any pre-existing leaks. By 2200 hrs., o&r gas crews restored the eight gas meters (one gas service) to building #25 and by 2208 hrs., o&r had restored electric service to all customers (1,507), except for the eight damaged units. The following day (9/4/2024), o&r gas crews performed a leak survey yielding no leaks found. The fire was investigated by the town of clarkstown (police department arson unit and fire inspection unit) located in new city, new york. Notes: 1. At this time, the estimated cost of public and non-operator private property damage paid/reimbursed by the operator and the estimated other costs is unknown. 2. Re: q21a. Estimated time based upon when 44-control (rockland county emergency dispatch) was notified a gas line was struck and the building was on fire.
| Report Received Date | 2024-09-30 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024.0 |
| Report Number | 20240052.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 41203.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 14330 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Orange & Rockland Utility Inc |
| Operator Street Address | One Blue Hill Plaza |
| Operator City Name | Pearl River |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NY |
| Operator Postal Code | 10965.0 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Street Address | 282 Avalon Garden |
| Location City Name | Nanuet |
| Location County Name | Rockland |
| Location State Abbreviation | NY |
| Location Postal Code | 10954.0 |
| Location Latitude | 41.105986 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -74.020876 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Service Valve Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1409845.0 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1410018.0 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 18.5 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| How Extinguished | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 14 |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 2.0 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 24.0 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Investor Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Installation Year | 1998.0 |
| Customer Type | Multi-Family Residential |
| Was Efv Installed Before Ind | No |
| Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind | Yes |
| Pipe Diameter | 0.75 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Plexco |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 4710 |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 1.2 |
| Puncture Circum | 0.2 |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 35000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Estimated Other Costs Are Unknown |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 1.68 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 31.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 40031.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 16.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 2.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 55.0 |
| Normal Psig | 55.0 |
| Mop Psig | 80.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1998-04-09 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Combination Of Odorization Types |
| Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind | Yes |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Landowner |
| Joint Trench Ind | No |
| Cross Bore Ind | Yes |
| Depth Of Grade | 18� � 36� |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Boring |
| Work Performed | Telecommunications |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | 826400000000.0 |
| One Call Center Name | Udig |
| White Lined Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Contract Locator |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 5.0 |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Excavator Dug Prior To Verifying Marks By Test-Hole (Pothole) |
| Preparer Name | P****** W**** |
| Preparer Title | Manager |
| Preparer Email | W*****@o**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 8455773731 |
| Authorizer Name | P****** W**** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | 8455773731 |
| Authorizer Email | W*****@o**.com |
| Narrative | On september 3, 2024, at 1549 hrs., orange and rockland's (o&r) gas emergency response center (gerc) received a report of a possible damage to a natural gas line and a structure fire at 282 avalon gardens drive, located in nanuet, new york, an eight-condominium building. At 1549 hrs., the gerc began dispatching multiple o&r gas crews to the location. At 1547 hrs., to mitigate potential ignition sources, o&r electric crews de-energized electric service to 1,515 customers. At 1559 hrs., o&r gas crews began to arrive at the scene of an active building fire at 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and began to assess the situation. Upon confirmation a gas service had been damaged, at 1647 hrs. O&r gas crews closed two curb valves to 282 avalon gardens drive (building #28) and, as a precaution, the adjacent building #25, isolating the two gas services thereby interrupting gas service to a total of 16 gas meters. O&r's initial investigation determined bortech company inc., a contractor hired by verizon, hired e&j pro communication llc (e&j) to install a fiber optic cable conduit. E&j was using a pneumatic trenchless tool known as a "bullet" (the bullet), which damaged a 3/4 inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive. The 3/4-inch plastic gas service to 282 avalon gardens drive (building 28) was located and marked correctly. The e&j employee admitted that e&j did not expose the gas or electric by hand to verify the marked location prior to the use of the bullet in both directions. The bullet was shot within the tolerance zone of the gas service as well as the gas main and electric primary. This is a direct violation of nys code rule 753-3.6 - verification of underground facilities. Additionally e&j are in violation of nys code rule 753-3.10 - requirements concerning contact and damage to underground facilities. E&j, while operating the bullet below grade, struck a high-pressure plastic gas service line operating at approximately 55 (psig). E&j removed the bullet and realized the bullet had struck the service. The e&j employee that was operating the bullet stated within 1-2 minutes the escaping gas from the service ignited. The fire severely damaged all eight condominium units in building #28. There were no fatalities and no injuries. At approximately 2000 hrs., o&r crews cut and capped the remaining one gas services (eight gas meters) to the fire damaged building (#28) and at approximately 2130 hrs. O&r gas crews, as a precaution, completed a pressure test for 282 avalon gardens drive ruling out any pre-existing leaks. By 2200 hrs., o&r gas crews restored the eight gas meters (one gas service) to building #25 and by 2208 hrs., o&r had restored electric service to all customers (1,507), except for the eight damaged units. The following day (9/4/2024), o&r gas crews performed a leak survey yielding no leaks found. The fire was investigated by the town of clarkstown (police department arson unit and fire inspection unit) located in new city, new york. Notes: 1. At this time, the estimated cost of public and non-operator private property damage paid/reimbursed by the operator and the estimated other costs is unknown. 2. Re: q21a. Estimated time based upon when 44-control (rockland county emergency dispatch) was notified a gas line was struck and the building was on fire. |
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