News Feature

Government office coordinates pipeline safety in many ways

“There is approximately 45,000 miles of pipeline in Louisiana,” according to James Mergist, who heads the state Department of Natural Resources’ Pipeline/Safety Division. This division is aligned with the agency’s Office of Conservation and is mainly responsible for programs that regulate intrastate natural gas use, hazardous liquid pipelines and conservation. It also acts as a clearinghouse to provide information to users of natural gas in the state.

Since Katrina and Rita, the division is one of many in state government that has had an intensified role in keeping our citizen’s safe.  Mergist says he is also proud to be one of many state workers to have come in contact with the good works and generosity of other states during this extraordinary time of need. He shares this example of how companies, organizations, government and people can swiftly work together for the benefit of all.

Mergist says his office was contacted by Marti Marek of Southwest Gas Corporation (SGC) of Las Vegas, Nevada just following the storms. Marek’s company, according to Mergist, had a proposal that (the state) just could not refuse. SGC was willing to donate some used combustible gas indicator unit, called CGIs, that would help inspectors and workers pinpoint the location of leaks and the severity of leaks in gas lines.

Discussions began and in a little more than 48 hours, the Louisiana Municipal Gas Association, the Police Jury Association of Louisiana, Atmos Energy Louisiana (representing the Louisiana Gas Association) and the department were ‘ready-set-go’ with a plan. Shipment of the CGIs units would be sent to the City of Lafayette at the Atmos service center office at the earliest, along with several SGC employees to help with training so that the equipment would be used properly.

SGC arranged for shipping, initial training, and an initial supply of test gas for our operators in Louisiana.  The first shipment of 100 units arrived on October 5th. The remaining shipment of 200 units and completion of training by SGC employees will be completed this week. Mergist noted that Atmos in Lafayette would install a calibration docking station, as would the Louisiana Municipal Association building in Baton Rouge. He said a third docking area is planned in central Louisiana.

(DNR Secretary Scott Angelle and Conservation Commissioner James Welsh salute this innovative effort, Mergist’s leadership, and everyone committed to this important accomplishment.)