April 24, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Downtown Gas Line Ruptured

Construction workers digging along an area in the 600 block of Marshall Street struck a natural gas line this morning spewing the smell of mercaptan and causing concern for downtown workers and patrons. Workers with Benson Construction Company told fire officials that they were digging out an area that ran across Marshall Street, just behind the Sportran bus terminal, in preparation to lay a sewer line. A backhoe being used for the project struck and ruptured what was determined to be a feeder gas line.

Fire department communications received the call of the ruptured line at 9:35 a.m. and immediately dispatched crews to evaluate the situation for public safety concerns. Upon arrival fire crews determined that the gas line was one of "medium pressure." Medium pressure gas lines, those with 25 pounds of pressure, generally release a measurable amount of gas, if ruptured, but do not present with immediate safety concerns if not in a confined area. This morning’s windy weather conditions helped readily dissipated the gas into the atmosphere upon release but did cause the smell to travel a considerable distance from its source. Stepped out of their offices to investigate, downtown workers as far away as one block complained of the smell.

No evacuations were required because a large portion of the area, including Marshall Street, surrounding the leak, was already taped off for construction purposes. Arkla-Reliant Energy was quick to respond to the scene and had sealed the leaking line and were preparing to replacing the ruptured portion of pipe at this writing. One lane of the Sportran bus terminal was closed to bus traffic during the incident.

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