Xcel checking for gas line conflicts in St. Paul neighborhood

Crews are inspecting sewer and gas line intersections in a St. Paul neighborhood where a gas explosion destroyed a house last week.

By MARY LYNN SMITH, Star Tribune

Last update: February 8, 2010 - 11:20 PM

Xcel Energy has inspected sewer and gas line intersections for more than three dozen homes in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood, where a gas explosion destroyed a house last week.

As of Monday, crews had used a video camera to inspect 43 homes and found no sewer/gas line conflicts that would require excavation, said Bill Kaphing, Xcel's vice president of operations. State officials ordered Xcel to inspect 37 homes, but the company is expanding that to cover at least 60 homes in the two-block area that encompasses Villard and Magoffin avenues, he said. Crews expect to finish the rest of those homes this week, he said. So far, at least seven homes need additional inspections because of blockages, Kaphing said.

A plumber who was trying to clear a clogged sewer line last week punctured a natural gas line that had been accidentally laid through the sewer pipe in the neighborhood. When the contractor smelled gas, he alerted the homeowner and helped her to flee her house. He was injured in the resulting fire.

The state's order also requires Xcel to:

•Identify every instance of trenchless gas pipeline installation throughout the state within 30 days. In those cases, workers used a boring pipe system to tunnel an underground path to lay the pipe instead of digging a trench.

•Provide records by Feb. 19 of all previous sewer inspections and any damage found during gas line installations.

•Inform state officials by Feb. 19 on how the utility will fix any problems that are discovered.

•Fix any breach that's discovered within 14 days.

Kaphing said company officials are working on a plan to identify the trenchless lines throughout the state and expect to meet the state's repair deadline.

Xcel officials say there is no safety hazard as long as the gas line intersecting a sewer line is not penetrated. But they point out that power equipment used to unclog sewer pipes can puncture the natural gas main if the clog is near the natural gas main. Xcel Energy customers who plan to have a sewer line cleaned should call or have the contractor call the company's 24-hour Gas Emergency/Dispatch number at 1-800-895-2999.

Mary Lynn Smith • 612-673-4788

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