State orders Xcel Energy to fix gas line issues

St. Paul, MN -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) today ordered Xcel Energy to locate and fix any gas lines that have breached sewer lines statewide. If Xcel does not comply with the order, the utility faces a $1 million fine.

The order comes four days after a St. Paul home was destroyed while a plumbing contractor was attempting to clear a clogged sewer line. The plumber inadvertently ruptured a natural gas line that was placed through the home’s sewer line. The gas line was run through the home’s sewer line during an infrastructure project that took place in 1999. The order states there may be imminent risk to homeowners in the area of this week’s explosion.

Officials with the DPS are telling residents in the area:

· If you smell gas in your home, leave immediately and call 9-1-1.

· If you have a clogged sewer line, talk to your plumber about the possibility of a utility line crossing your sewer line.

Officials with the DPS also urge Minnesotans who may have clogged sewer issues to call the natural gas operator and ask if service has been moved since the home was constructed. If it has not been moved, there is little risk of a gas line breaching the sewer. In addition, residents should call Gopher State One Call at 8-1-1 to have utility lines marked before any work occurs.

The DPS order requires Xcel Energy to:

· Inspect all gas mains in the Villard Avenue and Villard Court neighborhood in St. Paul by Wednesday, February 10.

· Identify every instance of trenchless gas pipeline installation in Minnesota.

· Provide records of all previous inspection of sewers and any damage discovered by gas line installation by Friday, February 19.

· Submit a plan how the utility plans to address and fix any problems discovered to the Office of Pipeline Safety by Friday, February 19.

· Repair any breach discovered within 14 days.

“We want to know how widespread the problem is and how Xcel will address these issues to ensure the safety of the people of Minnesota,” said Tim Leslie, assistant public safety commissioner.

Most problems with sewer lines are caused by tree roots or broken pipes, but there is a possibility a utility line could intersect some sewer lines. This problem may exist for several years for several years before it is discovered or an accident occurs. There have been six accidental discoveries in Minnesota since 1999.