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City's gas program emphasizes safety
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
"Protect life first, then property."
With those words, city utilities staff made its annual presentation to the Willcox City Council last Monday regarding procedures and chain of command during a natural gas emergency.
Dave Bonner, the city's director of public services and works, said the city is required to hold a liaison meeting once a year "to discuss capabilities and procedures concerning natural gas pipelines emergencies."
Some of the most important information to come out of the presentation was how to recognize a natural gas leak and what to do.
Natural gas is odorless, so the city adds Mercaptan, giving it a 'rotten egg' odor, said John Bowen, the city's new utilities supervisor, who made the presentation to the council.
If you smell natural gas or suspect a natural gas leak:
"Immediately leave the building, making all inhabitants also leave. Do not turn anything off or on, including light switches, televisions, etc. Leave everything as is."
Contact the city from a remote location, such as a neighbor's house, by dialing 911 or the Police Department at 384-4673, City Hall at 384-4271 (during regular business hours), or Public Works at 384-6447 (regular business hours).
The city will dispatch a utility technician to investigate the leak. Please meet the utility technician outside, in front of the building.
Do not leave the doors or windows open to vent the odor.
You will be notified when it is safe for you to return
If the odor is outside the structure, contact the city at the numbers listed above.
Stay away from the suspected leak area," Bowen said. "The utility technician will locate the potential leak and will notify you of the leak location (if applicable).
He also talked about the importance of calling Arizona Blue Stake before digging to prevent utility damage.
Call 1-800-STAKE-IT (or 1-800-782-5348) two business days before digging. It is a free service.
The color code for Blue Stake is:
Red - electric power distributions and transmission lines.
Yellow - gas and oil product distribution and transportation; dangerous materials.
Orange - telephone and telegraph system; cable television
The letter "F" in orange - fiber optics communication lines
Blue - water system; slurry pipelines
Green - sanitary sewer system
Purple - treated reclaimed water
"Blue Stake markings are valid for 15 business days," Bowen said. "If digging within two feet of marked lines, dig in a careful and prudent manner (hand tools such as a shovel) to prevent utility damage."
Along with Bonner and Bowen, key personnel are City Manager Pat McCourt; Chief of Police Jake Weaver; Assistant Fire Chief Patti Ackerson-Rodriguez; and Utilities Administrative Assistant Linda Stoddard, he said.
Bowen said that Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations require establishing and maintaining liaison with appropriate fire, police, and other public officials to:
Learn the responsibilities and resources of each government organization that may respond to a natural gas pipeline emergency;
Acquaint the officials with the operator's ability in responding to a gas pipeline emergency;
Identify the types of gas pipeline emergencies of which the operator notifies the officials; and
Plan how the operator and officials can engage in mutual assistance to minimize hazards to life and property.
Examples of natural gas emergencies are main or service line rupture; outside damage (vehicular or construction/excavation); natural disaster; and vandalism, he said.
Other types of emergencies include odor complaint; carbon monoxide; and high or low gas usage.
Bowen said the emergency chain of command is first, the utility worker responding to the call; utility crew supervisor or designee; and director of public services and works.
The utility worker responding can relinquish command upon the arrival of the supervisors, he said.
"The utility crew will remain on site until the situation is made safe," Bowen said. "Utility service will then be restored to all effected customers."
Local agency assistance includes the Willcox Volunteer Fire Department; Willcox Police Department; Street Division; Buildings, Grounds, and Parks Division; City Hall; and the Library, he said.
Outside agency assistance in a natural gas emergency include:
Gas technicians, equipment, and materials from Southwest Gas, the City of Benson, and City of Safford.
Traffic control and evacuations from Cochise County Sheriff's Department; Arizona Department of Public Safety; and U.S. Border Patrol, who will also help with translations.
Healthcare Innovations will provide medical assistance; Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will provide equipment and traffic control; and the Cochise County Health Department will act in an advisory capacity.
Only the city manager, director of public services and works, or utilities supervisors has the authority to contact these companies, Bowen said.
"The City of Willcox's main priority is the safety of the citizens, and providing safe natural gas to the public," he said.
With those words, city utilities staff made its annual presentation to the Willcox City Council last Monday regarding procedures and chain of command during a natural gas emergency.
Dave Bonner, the city's director of public services and works, said the city is required to hold a liaison meeting once a year "to discuss capabilities and procedures concerning natural gas pipelines emergencies."
Some of the most important information to come out of the presentation was how to recognize a natural gas leak and what to do.
Natural gas is odorless, so the city adds Mercaptan, giving it a 'rotten egg' odor, said John Bowen, the city's new utilities supervisor, who made the presentation to the council.
If you smell natural gas or suspect a natural gas leak:
If the odor is outside the structure, contact the city at the numbers listed above.
Stay away from the suspected leak area," Bowen said. "The utility technician will locate the potential leak and will notify you of the leak location (if applicable).
He also talked about the importance of calling Arizona Blue Stake before digging to prevent utility damage.
Call 1-800-STAKE-IT (or 1-800-782-5348) two business days before digging. It is a free service.
The color code for Blue Stake is:
"Blue Stake markings are valid for 15 business days," Bowen said. "If digging within two feet of marked lines, dig in a careful and prudent manner (hand tools such as a shovel) to prevent utility damage."
Along with Bonner and Bowen, key personnel are City Manager Pat McCourt; Chief of Police Jake Weaver; Assistant Fire Chief Patti Ackerson-Rodriguez; and Utilities Administrative Assistant Linda Stoddard, he said.
Bowen said that Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations require establishing and maintaining liaison with appropriate fire, police, and other public officials to:
Examples of natural gas emergencies are main or service line rupture; outside damage (vehicular or construction/excavation); natural disaster; and vandalism, he said.
Other types of emergencies include odor complaint; carbon monoxide; and high or low gas usage.
Bowen said the emergency chain of command is first, the utility worker responding to the call; utility crew supervisor or designee; and director of public services and works.
The utility worker responding can relinquish command upon the arrival of the supervisors, he said.
"The utility crew will remain on site until the situation is made safe," Bowen said. "Utility service will then be restored to all effected customers."
Local agency assistance includes the Willcox Volunteer Fire Department; Willcox Police Department; Street Division; Buildings, Grounds, and Parks Division; City Hall; and the Library, he said.
Outside agency assistance in a natural gas emergency include:
Only the city manager, director of public services and works, or utilities supervisors has the authority to contact these companies, Bowen said.
"The City of Willcox's main priority is the safety of the citizens, and providing safe natural gas to the public," he said.
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