Aug. 11 (8/11) serves as a convenient reminder to always call 811 before digging
NGT&S Contact
Jen Browne – Senior Communications Specialist
(713) 331-7474
HOUSTON (Aug. 1, 2011) – With Aug. 11 almost here, NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage (NGT&S) hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for residents and contractors to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. This comes on the heels of a recent report by the Common Ground Alliance, which determined an underground utility line is damaged during digging projects every three minutes nationwide.
When calling 811, homeowners and professional contractors are connected to their local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both.
Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.
“On Aug. 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to call 811 before digging to eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Victor M. Gaglio, senior vice president of operations for NGT&S, “It really is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area.”
The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.
Visit www.call811.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices. For more information about NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage, please visit www.ngts.com.
As units of NiSource Inc., the NGT&S companies include Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission, Crossroads Pipeline, Hardy Storage, Millennium Pipeline and NiSource Midstream Services. Combined, the companies operate about 15,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline and 37 storage fields, delivering over 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to more than 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com.
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