AUB Surveying Natural Gas System; Sniffing for Safety, Leaks

Media Contact:

Wayne Scarbrough

(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002

wscarbrough@aub.org

July 31, 2017

ATHENS, Tenn.--AUB and its contractor, Leak Detection Services, Inc., during August will perform routine, required leak surveys of natural gas lines on residential and commercial properties from the street all the way to customer meters.

To expedite the work and lower the project cost for all AUB ratepayers, technicians will use a four-wheeler equipped with sensitive leak detection equipment to "sniff" service lines along properties and up into yards.

The work will start in the Calhoun portion of AUB's natural gas service area and then move to a planned survey zone in downtown Athens.

"Some don'realize that AUB has natural gas lines all the way into Calhoun serving homes, churches, businesses and even the elementary school," said AUB's Wayne Scarbrough.

Residents in the survey areas may see a four-wheeler--sometimes called a side-by-side--traveling streets, working near homes and in yards slowly tracing gas service lines to check for any trace of natural gas in the air.

"This is about public safety and ensuring the integrity of the community's gas utility infrastructure," Scarbrough said.

The four-wheeler used by survey crews has a camouflage paint scheme.

"We are working to get AUB signage affixed to the vehicle to make it more conspicuous and identifiable," Scarbrough said.

"There will always be an AUB Natural Gas Division employee in the group wearing AUB work clothes with company logos," he said.

He said the workers may also exit the four wheeler to survey and "sniff" sections of a customer's service line on foot to check the full extent of the line all the way to the gas meter.

Scarbrough said AUB understands caution taken by homeowners who may want to verify the identity of the workers when they see them at their property.

"We know that people are wary of strangers on their property. That's why we want to let people know about this important work and to invite customers to call AUB if they have any questions or to verify who is at their property," Scarbrough said.

"If you see a worker at your property and want to verify that he or she is part of the AUB work, you can call the utility at 745-4501. A natural gas representative will be able to verify if survey workers are in your area that day," he said.

The project is pursuant to Federal Pipeline Safety Regulation 192.723, which mandates that all natural gas distribution systems conduct regular, comprehensive leak surveys of their service area.

-xxx-