DES MOINES – Attorney General Tom Miller filed lawsuits against four contractors who allegedly damaged natural gas and electrical lines during excavations without first notifying Iowa One Call.
The suits, filed Friday, allege six illegal excavations in Linn, Polk, Scott, and Warren Counties.
Miller alleges excavators failed to provide 48 hours’ notice before excavating so that Iowa One Call could locate and mark the underground lines.
In five cases, equipment hit and damaged natural gas pipelines, causing the release of natural gas. In one case, equipment hit but did not damage the natural gas pipeline, and instead severed an electrical line.
Natural gas is flammable and highly explosive. Fortunately, no explosions occurred and there were no injuries. Hitting an underground electrical line can cause power outages and can shock or even kill equipment operators.
The natural gas pipelines and electrical line are owned and operated by MidAmerican Energy.
The defendants have entered into consent decrees assessing civil penalties and permanently enjoining them from further violations of the One Call law. On Friday, Miller submitted the consent decrees for court approval.
The contractors are:
Rain Pro Inc.
Pursuant to the consent decree, if approved by the Court, Rain Pro Inc., of Pleasant Hill, will pay a $10,000 civil penalty and be permanently enjoined from further violations of the One Call law.
Eagle Ridge L.C.
Pursuant to the consent decree, if approved by the Court, Eagle Ridge L.C., of Marion, will pay a $3,500 civil penalty and be permanently enjoined from further violations of the One Call law.
Carl B. Durham, Sr. d/b/a Durham Remodeling & Repair
Pursuant to the consent decree, if approved by the Court, Carl B. Durham, of Rock Island, Illinois, will pay a $3,500 civil penalty and be permanently enjoined from further violations of the One Call law.
Ron Oxford d/b/a Oxford Ditching
Pursuant to the consent decree, if approved by the Court, Ron Oxford will pay a $3,000 civil penalty and be permanently enjoined from further violations of the One Call law.
