National Grid To Begin Pipeline Inspection Project In Oswego

Worksite on Mitchell Street to include increased staffing, specialized equipment

OSWEGO, N.Y. — National Grid crews will begin a three-week inspection of a natural gas pipeline near Mitchell Street in Oswego beginning April 10. No customers will experience service interruptions, but residents may notice specialized equipment and an increased number of National Grid staff working in the area.

Crews will use in-line inspection technology to ensure that the pipeline is operating safely and at peak efficiency. A pipeline inspection gauge, or PIG, will be inserted into the pipeline to clean buildup and inspect the integrity of the pipeline and provide crews with a view from inside the gas line. National Grid anticipates completing the project by April 28.

Crews will use a 50-foot-tall flare stack – located near the entrance of the Indeck Energy facility on Mitchell Street – during the project to manage gas that will be safely expelled during the inspection. Individuals in the area may notice a flame from the stack and detect the odor of mercaptan – a harmless, rotten egg-smelling substance added to natural gas to alert you if there is a leak. National Grid has worked closely with the Oswego Fire Department to ensure public’s safety during the project, and the city of Oswego, Oswego County, Oswego Police Department and county 911 dispatch center have been notified.

The inspection equipment may also result in increased noise in the immediate area during daylight work hours. No road closures are expected as a result of the project, however drivers passing the worksite are asked to exhibit caution as the equipment may cause a distraction to themselves or to others on the road.

While residents may detect the natural gas odors outside, National Grid reminds its customers to act fast if they smell gas in their homes or businesses. If a natural gas leak is suspected in your home, occupants should immediately evacuate the premises and call 911 or National Grid’s gas emergency line at 800-892-2345. Learn more about natural gas safety at our website.

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