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Residents want more notice when crews dig
Pipeline safety still a concern in St. Peters
Some St. Peters residents living near pipelines want city officials to do a better job of notifying them when construction workers dig.
This comes a week after a natural gas leak prompted the evacuation of three Wentzville schools.
Construction crews on July 8 ruptured a 6-inch gas main owned by AmerenUE while working to expand parking in front of Wentzville South Middle School and the bus loop behind Boone Trail Elementary.
More than 100 students and staff were evacuated from Boone Trail, South Middle and Timberland High School as a safety precaution.
Mary McDaniels, a resident of the Brookmount subdivision in St. Peters, said the city has an excavation notification link on its website, but not everybody has access to it.
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"I feel that the city has failed in supporting its residents (who live near pipelines)," McDaniels said. "It's only available to those with Internet access."
In June 2008, the Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance thanks to the efforts of Brookmount resident Shelley Miller. The ordinance requires the city to issue notices to residents and businesses within 600 feet of a pipeline before the city or anyone else digs in the area.
Cathy Pratt, St. Peters manager of engineering and development services, said notices are e-mailed to anyone who subscribes or requests them. Pratt said the city does not send notices via the U.S. mail, nor does it place them in its UpFront magazine or on its cable television access channel.
"There is a timing issue that makes mailing and certainly placing in the UpFront ineffective," she said. "To date, no one has requested an alternate communication of excavation permits."
McDaniels said a natural gas pipeline runs through her backyard. She said she fears not having time to prepare in case of a threat of explosion.
"I wasn't notified that there was a pipeline in my backyard until the day of closing" on the purchase of her home on Jane Drive nearly 20 years ago, McDaniels said. "We chose this house because of its big backyard. I became almost hysterical (after finding out about the pipeline) and wanted to move."
McDaniels said the family chose to keep the house because they couldn't afford to relocate.
McDaniels said so many pipelines are near her home that there aren't many safe exit routes.
Steve Brown, assistant chief of Central County Fire and Rescue, said Brookmount residents have multiple ways out of the subdivision if a gas leak would occur.
Brown said the fire district does not inspect pipelines, but "if somebody smells something or sees something out of the ordinary, we are usually the first to respond."
Those with pipelines in their backyards should always be aware of their surroundings, he said. He said ground changes can indicate a small underground natural gas leak.
"If they smell something, their grass is starting to turn brown or the ground is starting to heave, they should call us or the gas company," Brown said.
Miller said she is thankful the board passed the ordinance but that the city must make sure all residents and business owners along or near a pipeline know of the ordinance.
"We were, as I was told, the first city in the country to pass an ordinance of this type, and I honestly don't think we will be the last," Miller said.
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Think Pad wrote on Jul 17, 2009 5:48 AM: