LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of
National 811 Safe Digging Day – a national event focused on
promoting safe digging practices at the home or worksite –
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) raised a 30-foot-tall
replica shovel at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The hoisting of the shovel kicked off
a month-long marketing campaign to promote safe digging practices
and educate Southern California
residents about the importance of contacting 811 to have buried
utilities lines properly marked prior to the start of any
excavation project. In addition to hoisting the shovel, SoCalGas is
partnering with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a week-long education campaign
that includes radio spots, in-stadium marketing, featuring digital
ads and video and the opportunity for one lucky fan to win
$811 on National 811 Day. In
addition, now through August
22nd, SoCalGas will take over Union Station and
the 7th and Metro Center in Downtown Los Angeles with train wraps and
prominent advertisements placed throughout each station.
"As we take the next big step on our journey to achieve net zero
emissions in our operations by 2045, we are setting aggressive
targets to reduce methane emissions from our maintenance activities
while continuing to keep the communities we serve safe," said
Gina Orozco, vice president of gas
engineering and system integrity. "People often don't think about
it, but pipelines can be located anywhere—under streets, sidewalks
and private property. When folks dial 811 before digging, the
utilities have the chance to mark their buried lines, which can
prevent dig-in incidents. This easy call and complimentary service
not only benefits public safety but can also reduce potential
methane emissions."
To help this issue, State Senator Maria
Elena Durazo (D-Los
Angeles) authored Senate Bill 297 (SB 297) – the Wade
Kilpatrick Gas Safety Act, which is expected to reach the
governor's desk later this month. If signed, the bill will serve as
model legislation that prioritizes gas pipeline and subsurface
installation safety by prescribing new civil penalties for
excavators who knowingly damage gas infrastructure and fail to
follow the proper safety protocols. SB 297 would also improve
education and outreach to make more contractors, excavators, and
the public more aware of utility lines and other infrastructure
buried beneath streets, sidewalks and other spaces.
"Dig-ins represent a common and preventable problem with
significant safety and environmental impacts. My legislation, SB
297, is a common-sense solution that prioritizes safety,
reliability and sustainability while prescribing new penalties to
discourage contractors and others from damaging gas and other
infrastructure," said State Senator Maria
Elena Durazo.
"SB 297 will add additional measures to prevent repeat offenders
from negligently hitting buried gas lines which will result in
fewer instances of vented methane, and most importantly help keep
our workers and communities safer. That's what the Wade Kilpatrick
Gas Safety Act is for, and Wade
Kilpatrick, his family, and all of his Union brothers and
sisters are who it is for," said Eric
Hofmann, president of the UWUA Local 132 AFL-CIO.
Last year, more than 2,600 cases of accidental damage occurred
from digging into SoCalGas' gas lines throughout its 24,000-mile
service territory. That's more than seven dig-ins every day on
average. Those accidents can lead to significant safety hazards and
emissions. Across SoCalGas' service territory, about 60% of
pipeline damage due to digging is caused by homeowners,
contractors, and excavators who did not contact 811 before
digging.
SoCalGas encourages customers to take the following steps when
planning any digging project:
- Mark out your proposed excavation area in white
(paint, chalk, flour or other suitable materials).
- Contact Underground Service Alert at 811 to submit
a location request online or dial 8-1-1 at least two business days
before digging.
- Wait until a SoCalGas technician has marked our
natural gas lines, indicating pipe material and diameter, or let
you know that the area is clear.
- Remember that SoCalGas only uses yellow paint,
flags or stakes to mark the location of natural gas pipes.
- Use only hand tools to dig within 24 inches of a
marked utility line to carefully expose the exact locations before
using any power excavation equipment in the area.
- Report all pipe damage, regardless of how small or
how big it may be. Remember, no damage is too small to report.
Contact us immediately at 1-800-427-2200.
- If you've hired a contractor, make sure the contractor contacts
811 to have our natural gas lines marked.
For more information on safety and 811, visit:
https://www.socalgas.com/stay-safe/safety-and-prevention.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los
Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution
utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers
affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable gas service
to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of
Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the
company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in
California's clean energy
transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind
and solar energy deployment.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most
innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission,
SoCalGas is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and
to replacing 20% of its traditional natural gas supply to core
customers with RNG by 2030. RNG is made from waste created by dairy
farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also
committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while
keeping bills affordable for customers. Over the past five years,
the company invested nearly $7.5 billion to upgrade and
modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and reliability.
SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy
services holding company based in San Diego. For more
information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with
SoCalGas
on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas)
and Facebook.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.