August 23, 2005

Mid-Columbia excavator fined $20,000 for damaging natural-gas pipeline

OLYMPIA, Wash. - A Benton City, Wash. excavation company has been fined $20,000 for repeatedly damaging a natural-gas pipeline in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties.

The complaint filed with Franklin County by the Attorney General’s Office at the request of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) stated D&D Tri Rivers Excavating, Inc. damaged Cascade Natural Gas Company’s pipelines 10 different times between December 2001 and July 2004.

The complaint alleged the company violated the state’s underground utilities law. All excavators are required to provide two business days’ notice so all utilities in the area can be located before the company breaks ground. Failure to provide such notice carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and up to $10,000 if the pipeline is damaged. The notice requirement applies to all excavations, including holes dug by homeowners when the holes are 12 inches are deeper.

In each of the 10 violations, D&D struck a natural-gas pipeline, causing it to leak and creating an emergency situation. To avoid breaking the law and creating a hazardous situation, the company simply had to call 1-800-424-5555 two business days before excavating and follow safety precautions digging near a pipeline. The two-days’ notice allows utility companies to clearly mark their underground facilities before the digging begins.

D&D was penalized $20,000 for the repeated violations, with $5,000 due now and $15,000 payable if the company violates the agreement filed today (Aug. 23, 2005) in Franklin County. The company also is required to provide training to new employees.