Emergency Plan for Natural Gas Pipeline Incidents
Revised May 2009
This Emergency Plan provides a guide for complying with the Federal and State requirements, assuring safety for the public and maintaining facilities in satisfactory condition.
An "emergency" condition exists when OSU management, or a responsible person, has determined that extraordinary procedures, equipment, manpower and supplies must be employed to protect the public safety or property from existing or potential hazard.
These hazards will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Underpressure in the gas system
- Overpressure in the gas system
- Uncontrolled escaping gas
- Fire or explosion near or directly involving a pipeline facility
- Any leak considered hazardous
- Danger to major segment(s) of the system
The hazards also include:
- Natural disasters (floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.)
- Civil disturbances (riots, etc.)
- Load reduction conditions (result in voluntary or mandatory reduction of gas usage).
I. Incident Notification
Every event that fits the definition of a natural gas pipeline system incident as identified on the
previous page shall be reported to the Physical Plant Work Control Center (see below).
(The caller will reach an answering service after normal working hours.)
Physical Plant Action Desk--(744-7154)
Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.;
[Action Desk is closed on University holidays. The Call Control System refers the caller
to Physical Plant standby employees during off hours.]
After office hours, call OSU Campus Police (911, 311 or 744-6153).
Action Desk personnel (or the answering service) will report to the following Oklahoma State
University authorities:
- University Fire Marshal (744-7241, 372-0381,
or cell phone 747-7156).
The UFM (or appointed representative) will report the incident, if necessary, to the
following:
- Director of Physical Plant Services (744-7147)
II. Incident Priorities and Criteria for Action
Priorities
The first priority of action for all incidents involving natural gas
will be directed toward life safety first followed by property. Immediate care shall be
given to any injured person(s).
Determine the Incident Level based upon criteria listed in this outline.
The surrounding area may be evacuated to
reduce risk of additional casualties.
Level 1 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or property.
Requires immediate repair or continuous action until the conditions are no longer
hazardous.
Action Criteria:
Requires prompt action* to protect life and property, and continuous action until the
conditions are no longer hazardous.
*The prompt action in some instances may require
one or more of the following (not necessarily in this order):
- Notifying police and fire departments
- Implementation of the OSU Emergency Plan
- Evacuating a suitable area based on size of the leak
- Blocking off an area
- Rerouting traffic
- Eliminating sources of ignition
- Venting the area
- Stopping the flow of gas by closing valves or other means
Examples:
- Any leak, which in the judgment of
operating personnel at the scene, is regarded as an immediate hazard.
- Escaping gas that has ignited.
- Any indication of gas that has
migrated into or under a building or into a tunnel.
- Any reading at the outside wall of a
building or where gas would likely migrate to an outside wall of a building.
- Any reading of 80% LEL or greater in a
confined space.
- Any reading of 80% LEL or greater in
small substructures (other than gas-associated substructures) from which gas would likely
migrate to the outside wall of a building.
- Any leak that can be seen, heard or felt,
and which is in a location that may endanger the general public or property.
Level 2 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous at the time of detection, but justifies
scheduled repair based on probable future hazard.
Action Criteria:
Leaks should be repaired or cleared within one calendar year, but no later than 15 months
from the date the leak was reported. In determining the repair priority, criteria
such as the following should be considered:
- Amount and migration of gas
- Proximity of gas to buildings and sub-surface structures
- Extent of pavement
- Soil type and soil conditions (such as frost cap, moisture & natural venting)
Level 2 leaks should be reevaluated at least once every six months until cleared. The
frequency of reevaluation should be determined by the location and magnitude of the
leakage condition.
Level 2 leaks may vary greatly in degree of potential hazard. Some Level 2 leaks, when
evaluated by the above criteria, may justify scheduled repair within the next 5 working
days. Others will justify repair within 30 days. During the working day on
which the leak is discovered, these situations should be brought to the attention of the
individual responsible for scheduling leak repair.
On the other hand, many Level 2 leaks, because of their location and magnitude, can be
scheduled for repair on a normal routine basis with periodic re-inspection as necessary.
Examples:
- Leaks requiring action ahead of ground freezing or other adverse changes in venting conditions; i.e.,
any leak that, under frozen or other adverse soil conditions, would likely migrate to the outside
wall of a building.
- Leaks requiring action within six months
- Any reading of 40% LEL, or greater, under a sidewalk in a wall-to-wall paved area that does
not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any reading of 100% LEL, or greater, under a street in a wall-to-wall paved area that has
significant gas migration and does not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any reading less than 80% LEL in small substructures (other than gas-associated substructures)
from which gas would likely migrate, creating a probable future hazard.
- Any reading between 20% LEL and 80% LEL in a confined space.
- Any reading on a pipeline operating at 30% SMYS, or greater, in a class 3 or 4 location, which
does not qualify as a Level 1 leak.
- Any reading of 80% LEL, or greater, in gas-associated substructures
- Any leak that, in the iudgment of operating personnel at the scene, is of sufficient
magnitude to justify scheduled repair.
Level 3 Incidents
Definition:
A leak that is non-hazardous at the time of detection and can be reasonably expected to
remain non-hazardous.
Action Criteria:
These leaks should be re-evaluated during the next scheduled survey, or within 15 months
of the date reported, whichever occurs first, until the leak is re-graded or no longer
results in a reading.
Examples:
Leaks requiring re-evaluation at periodic intervals--
- Any reading of less than 80% LEL in small gas-associated substructures.
- Any reading under a street in areas without wall-to-wall paving where it is unlikely the gas
could migrate to the outside wall of a building.
- Any reading of less than 20% LEL in a confined space.
The 1st Responder, then OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department, shall establish a command post (utilizing the Incident Command System) near the scene, when necessary or required, to coordinate the
incident. The Utilities Manager shall be a principle deputy to the Incident Commander.
-
On-scene emergency personnel from Stillwater Fire Department and
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department shall provide immediate first aid to
injured persons when it is safe to do so.
-
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department, OSU Campus
Police, and Stillwater Fire Department shall conduct evacuations in the event of fire,
explosion, natural disaster or other incident, when necessary, as directed by the Incident
Commander.
-
OSU Campus Police, in conjunction with other supporting agencies,
shall establish, maintain, and be posted at all necessary incident perimeters and barricades as
directed by the Incident Commander.
-
OSU Physical Plant Utilities personnel, in cooperation
with the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, shall isolate the incident area by shutting off the
flow of any gas from feed lines into the impacted area.
-
The City of Stillwater Fire Department shall manage any fire
suppression needs as well as provide advanced emergency medical care and transportation of
patients.
-
OSU's Environmental Health & Safety Department shall monitor the
atmospheric conditions around the site and shall have the appropriate PPE ready to utilize
in penetrating affected areas upwind of the incident for monitoring and rescue purposes if
needed.
Manpower and equipment shall be provided by OSU's Physical Plant at the request of the Incident Commander.
Said manpower and equipment shall work jointly under the direction of the Utilities Manager or his representative.
In case of fire located near or directly involving a pipeline facility, explosion occurring near or
directly involving a pipeline facility, natural disaster, or other emergency incident, the
following response procedures will be followed:
Notification will proceed as designated in Section
I.
The first responder(s) from OSU's Environmental Health and Safety
Department shall designate an incident commander and activate the incident command system
(ICS). When necessary, an on-scene incident command post shall also be established.
The on-scene incident command post shall be located upwind and as
close as practical to the incident site so that continual visual observations may be
maintained of the incident area, and immediate response to changing conditions may be
possible. The on-scene command post shall stay in communication with all responding
agencies.
Responding agencies shall provide designated responsibilities as
listed in Section V, under the direction of the incident
commander.
First aid and medical care will be provided by OSU EHS and Stillwater Fire Department to
injured persons as soon as possible.
Firefighting and fire suppression operations will be initiated and conducted by Stillwater Fire
Department.
Gas valve shut off will be conducted as quickly as possible by the OSU Utilities Department and ONG
personnel.
Perimeter zone(s) around the effected area shall
be established as directed by the incident commander in accordance with standard emergency
scene practices.
Hazard Zone - The Hazard Zone is the area in which personnel are potentially in immediate
danger from the hazardous situation. This zone shall be established by the incident
commander. Access to this area will be rigidly controlled and only authorized personnel
with proper protective equipment and an activity assigned by the OSU Utilities Manager or his representative and approved by the on-site incident
command post shall be allowed to enter the incident area. OSU Campus Police personnel will
be assigned to monitor entry and exit of all personnel from the Hazard Zone.
Evacuation Zone - The Evacuation Zone is the larger area surrounding the Hazard Zone, in which a
lesser degree of risk to emergency personnel exists, but from which all civilians will be
removed. The limits of this zone will be enforced by the OSU Campus Police and other
agencies based upon distances and directions established by the incident commander. The
area to be evacuated depends upon the nature and extent of the fire, explosion, natural
disaster or other emergency. All evacuations shall be ordered by the incident commander
and shall be conducted in an orderly, expedient fashion by OSU's Environmental Health
& Safety Department, OSU Campus Police, and Stillwater Fire Department.
Additional Perimeter Zones may be established as necessary. These may include Hot Zone, Warm
Zone, and Cold Zone for gas incidents that may also involve hazardous chemicals, as
well as a Staging Area for any major incident that may require large numbers of
personnel and equipment.
- Incident-specific
circumstances will dictate other procedures that will be used to bring the emergency under
control in accordance with the priorities of life safety first, followed by the protection
and salvage of property.
-
The University Fire Marshal shall, within 72
hours of the closure of a Level One incident, schedule a debriefing with all agencies concerned,
i.e., University, City, State, ONG, and National participants. This debriefing shall
include, but not be limited to:
- Critique of the incident
- Problem areas identified
- Revisions to the emergency plan, if needed
- Factors that caused the incident
-
Upon completion of the debriefing, open discussion for questions and
answers.
-
The University Fire Marshal issues the final report.
It is the responsibility of OSU Physical Plant to train its employees on policy and
procedure concerned with gas leak calls and reports.
-
The Physical Plant (Action Desk) employee receiving a report of a gas leak should
get as much of the information as possible to fill out a leak report, Form 12, or Physical
Plant Call-In ticket.
All reports of gas leaks on University property get assigned a high
priority. Leaks inside a facility or building receive a Priority One.
Upon receiving pertinent information, and determining that a
hazardous leak exists inside a building, the caller should be advised on the following:
- Do not operate (do not turn on or off) any electrical appliance or device.
- Extinguish all open flames. Do not light any matches, cigarettes, etc.
- Turn off the gas supply (only if the caller knows how to do so).
- Evacuate the building to a safe distance. Be close enough to relay
information to arriving emergency personnel.
Dispatch necessary Physical Plant personnel to the location.
-
Duties of the first responsible University responder (Physical Plant employee, EHS, or campus PD) on the scene:
Take any corrective action necessary to ensure protection of life, then property. It is
the responsibility of the person in charge to:
- Set up communication
- Coordinate the operation
- Make all decisions concerning closing
emergency valves and isolating areas, as well as coordinate emergency personnel and
equipment.
Minimum Operator Response Actions
Leaks outside of buildings
Assess danger to passersby, surrounding buildings and their
occupants, and other property.
Extinguish all open flames.
If necessary, notify the Stillwater Fire Department and the Oklahoma
Natural Gas Company.
Block the street(s)
Notify Supervisor or other responsible persons.
Check neighboring buildings for gas vapors, fumes, etc.
Implement Check
List#checklist for major emergency.
Repair leak
Upon completion of repairs, check the
area using a Combustible Gas Indicator; if determined safe, allow occupants to return to
building.
Leaks inside of buildings
Immediately evaluate the building to determine concentration of gas
and source of the leak.
Do not operate any electrical switches or
electrical appliances.
Do not use the telephone; turn off pagers and cell phones
Shut off the gas meter valve
Ventilate the building
Bar hole the area, especially around the foundation. Check water
meter and other ground openings.
If ground is gas-free, and if the building is gas-free, turn on the
meter valve. CHECK ALL GAS PIPING AND APPLIANCE FOR LEAKS.
ImplementCheck Listfor major emergency.
Repair leak
If leak cannot be repaired, notify
Supervisor. Turn off the meter, lock it and tag it out.
Gas burning inside a building
Call Fire Department (911)
Call Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
If fire is at appliance, shut off the gas appliance valve, if
possible.
If not possible, shut the gas off at the meter or appropriate valve.
ImplementCheck Listfor major emergency.
Interruption in the gas supply
An interruption in gas supply could be due to: freezing of the regulators, break in the line,
sabotage, or ONG cut-off.
- Call OSU's supplier (Oklahoma Natural Gas)
- Locate the leak; inform ONG of the location of the leak.
- Close appropriate valve in the system to isolate the break.
- ImplementCheck Listfor major emergency.
[ ] Has the Fire Department been notified?
-
[ ] Have the occupants been evacuated to a designated area and the area
secured?
[ ] Has the Police Department been notified?
[ ] Has a repair crew been notified?
[ ] Has the University call list been executed?
[ ] Has communication been established?
[ ] Has outside help been requested?
[ ] Have Emergency Medical
Services (Stillwater Medical Center,
Student Health Center) been notified?
[ ] Has the leak been shut off or brought under control?
[ ] Has the Stillwater
Emergency Coordination & Communication office
been notified?
[ ] Have emergency valves or
proper valves to shut down or reroute the
gas been identified and located?
[ ] If an area has been cut
off from a supply of gas, has the individual
building been cut off?
[ ] Is the situation under
control and has the possibility of recurrence
been eliminated?>
[ ] Has the surrounding area,
including adjacent buildings and cross
streets, been probed for the possibility of further
leakage?
[ ] Has proper tag been placed on the meter?
[ ] Has telephonic report been made to the State?
[ ] Has telephonic report been made to NRC/DOT?
A telephone call from a senior University official MUST be made to the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and
OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION for any leak where:
- There is a release of gas from a pipeline.
AND There is a death or personal injury requiring hospitalization or there is
estimated property damage, including the cost of gas lost, by the operator or others, of
$50,000 or more.
- There is an event that is significant in the judgment of the operator, even though it was not
described in paragraph (1).
A telephone call MUST be made to the OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION for
any leak where:
- There is a release of gas from a pipeline.
AND There is a death or personal injury requiring hospitalization or there is
estimated property damage, including the cost of gas lost, by the operator or others, of
$5,000 or more.
- There is an event that is significant in the judgment of the operator, even though it was not
described in paragraph (1).
The telephone report to DOT and OCC should contain:
- OSU's address
- Name and phone number of individual reporting the incident.
- The location of the leak (city, county, state and street address).
- The time of the leak (hour and date).
- The number of fatalities and personal injuries, if any.
- Type and extent of property damage.
- Description of the incident. (See DOT Incident Form)
A telephonic report should be made at the
earliest practicable time following discovery (within 2 hours).
RESTORATION OF GAS SERVICE DUE TO OUTAGE
When the supply of gas has been cut off to an area, the gas should not be restored to the
affected area until the individual gas services in a University building have been turned
off.
In
restoring service on the University campus to an affected area, all gas piping and meters must be
purged and appliances re-lighted. Never turn gas on at a meter unless you have access to
ALL appliances or equipment on the piping.
The OSU Physical Plant person in charge is to coordinate this operation and be responsible for
same.
A complete record of the incident, including service restoration and drawings, if necessary, must be kept on file.
Employee Training
OSU Physical Plant employees (i.e., Mechanical Trades, Evening Operations, Apartment Maintenance, Power Plant) and Environmental Health & Safety personnel must be trained annually in emergency procedures that
include but are not limited to:
Update of the emergency plan
Review of employee responsibilities in an emergency
Review of location and use of emergency equipment.
-
Review the properties of natural gas.
Review the locations of:
Take a hypothetical emergency situation and conduct a step-by-step
review with employees on the action to be taken, including contact with public officials,
Stillwater Fire Department, OSU & Stillwater Police, and ONG, etc.
Record keeping
Telephone reports (U.S. DOT, State agency, etc.)
Records shall be kept on file of attendance and items discussed.
Liaison with appropriate fire, police and other public officials.
Public Education
Oklahoma State University will, through its Communications Office, enable faculty, staff,
students, the general public and appropriate governmental organizations, to recognize a
gas emergency. OSU will, through Environmental Health & Safety, Residential Life, and other departments, instruct the concerned constituency in reporting gas odors, leaks and other
emergencies to the OSU Physical Plant Action Desk, OSU Police, or ONG (Oklahoma Natural Gas).
The program material should include, but not be limited to:
- Information about gas properties
- Recognition of gas odors
- What to do and not do when there is a strong gas odor
- Notification of the University and gas company prior to making excavation-related activities.
- Telephone numbers for persons in the University to report gas leaks or odors or other information
during both business and non-business hours.
This information may be conveyed to the University constituency by a number of means:
- Radio and television
- Newspaper
- Meetings
- Bill stuffers
- Mailings
- Hand-outs
- Posted on bulletin boards
- Employee newsletters
- Campus websites
- Apartment Handbooks
- New-employee orientation
The University will maintain records of the public information program and related activities.
The University, through the University Fire Marshal, will establish
liaison with fire, police, emergency management and medical officials with respect to these
emergency procedures. These officials include representatives of Stillwater Police and
Fire Departments, Payne County Emergency Management and Oklahoma Natural Gas, Stillwater Medical
Center and OSU Student Health Center, as well as OSU Physical Plant managers.
Liaison will consist of annual meetings to discuss what each agency can do for the other to
control an emergency situation at the OSU facility. This meeting will be performed with
face-to-face communication, at which time a copy of this Emergency Plan will be provided
to each official. Meetings will be held in the EHS Conference Room, room 120, Physical
Plant Services Bldg. on the OSU campus. The University Fire Marshal will be responsible for
announcing the date and time.
Documentation must be kept of all meetings, training sessions, and other related activities, such as:
- Date of meeting, attendance and titles of participants
- Training sessions on proper procedures to follow during a gas emergency
- Meetings to learn capabilities, responsibilities, and procedures respecting gas emergencies of each
group.
During an emergency, refer all requests for information to the University's Communications
Office. The CO will coordinate emergency information with responsible OSU management. The
OSU plan for public announcements includes:
- Calm the situation
- Do not make unwarranted comments
- Tell precisely what the public can do to help
- Tell specifically what OSU and ONG are doing about the incident.
- Give facts to prevent baseless rumors.
- Repeat most encouraging view of situation that facts will permit.
- Do not speculate regarding the situation in absence of facts.
OSU will proceed in analyzing accidents and failures, and at the minimum:
- Evaluate
the situation
- Protect
life and property
- Keep
the area safe
- Conduct
a leak survey
- Conduct
pressure test of piping
- Perform
meter and regulator checks
- Question
persons on the scene
- Examine
burn and debris patterns
- Request
ONG test odorization level
- Record
weather conditions
- Select
samples of the failed facility or equipment or equipment for laboratory examination for
the purpose of determining the causes of the failure and minimizing the possibility of
recurrence.
- Notify
the appropriate Risk Management Office.
Gas pipeline incidents that meet the reportable state requirements and have caused estimated
damages in excess of $50,000 (total of operator's damage and damage to others and
including cost of gas loss) must also be reported to the federal government.
TELEPHONE TOLL-FREE -- (800) 424-8802
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- (202) 426-2675
24 HOURS EVERY DAY
This telephonic report, if required, should also be made upon discovery, but in
no case later than two hours after discovery. This telephonic report of a serious incident
should include:
- Identity
of reporting operator,
- Name
and phone number of individual reporting the incident,
- The
location of the leak (city, county, state, and street address),
- The
time of the leak (date and time)
- The
number of fatalities and personal injuries, if any
- Type
and extent of property damage, and
- Description
of the incident.
EMERGENCY CALL LIST
| Fire Department Phone: |
Police Department Phone: |
| Gas Supply Co. Phone: |
Operator Personnel Phone: |
| Oklahoma Corporation Commission Phone: |
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
We are responsible for the adequacy, availability and condition of emergency equipment.
Inspection of emergency equipment will be conducted quarterly, or as often as may be
necessary, and records of these inspections will be kept on file.
| Contractor's
Name |
|
| Address |
|
| 24-hour phone
no. |
|
| FACILITY NAME |
|
TRAINING
Plans will be annually reviewed and records of review and training shall be kept on file.
Employees shall be trained in the operation/maintenance and emergency plan once each
calendar year.
| ANNUAL PLAN REVIEW |
PERSONNEL TRAINING |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
NOTICE: This report
is required by 49 CFR Part 191. Failure to report can result in a civil penalty not to
exceed $1,000 for each violation for each day that such violation persists except that the
maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $200,000 as provided in 49 USC 1678. Download
form in word or pdf
format.
End of Manual 
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