RESPONDING TO NATURAL GAS EMERGENCIES


3) Identify equipment or supplies requiring specialized decontamination or disposal.


4) Identify unsafe work conditions.


5) Assign information-gathering responsibili- ties for a post-incident analysis.


Decon. Popular abbreviation referring to the process of decontamination.


Decontamination. The physical and/or chem- ical process of reducing and preventing the spread of contamination from persons and equipment used at a hazardous materials inci- dent. OSHA 1910.120 defines decontamination as the removal of hazardous substances from employees and their equipment to the extent necessary to preclude foreseeable health effects.


Decontamination Corridor. A distinct area within the “Warm Zone” that functions as a protective buffer and bridge between the “Hot Zone” and the “Cold Zone,” where decontam- ination stations and personnel are located to conduct decontamination procedures. An inci- dent may have multiple decon corridors, de- pending upon the scope and nature of the incident.


Defensive Tactics. These are less aggressive spill and fire control tactics where certain areas may be "conceded" to the emergency, with re- sponse efforts directed towards limiting the overall size or spread of the problem. Examples include isolating the pipeline by closing remote valves, shutting down pumps, constructing dikes, and exposure protection.


Degree of Solubility. An indication of the sol- ubility and/or miscibility of the material. Negligible—less than 0.1 percent


Slight—0.1 to 1.0 percent Moderate—1 to 10 percent Appreciable—greater than 10 percent Complete—soluble at all proportions.


Department of Transportation (DOT). Federal agency responsible for enacting regulations and standards governing the design, construc- tion and operation of interstate pipeline sys- tems. The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is the specific agency within DOT assigned respon- sibility.


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Depleted Gas Reservoirs.Underground reser- voirs from which some or all of the recoverable natural gas has already been extracted, thereby leaving an underground formation that has been proven to be geologically capable of hold- ing natural gas. Most common form of under- ground storage for natural gas.


Dig Safely Program. Nationwide damage pre- vention campaign originally developed by DOT to raise public awareness of the One Call System and provide guidance on safe digging practices, including accurately locating and marking pipelines and other underground in- frastructures.


Dike. A defensive confinement procedure con- sisting of an embankment or ridge on ground used to control the movement of liquids, sludges, solids, or other materials. Barrier which prevents passage of a hazmat to an area where it will produce more harm.


Dilution.Chemical method of confinement by which a water-soluble solution, usually a cor- rosive, is diluted by adding large volumes of water to the spill. It can increase the total vol- ume of liquid which will have to be disposed of. In decon applications, it is the use of water to flush a hazmat from protective clothing and equipment, and the most common method of decon.


Direct-Reading Instruments. Provide infor- mation at the time of sampling. They are used to detect and monitor flammable or explosive atmospheres, oxygen deficiency, certain gases and vapors, and ionizing radiation.


Dispersants. The use of certain chemical agents to disperse or breakdown liquid hazmat spills. The use of dispersants may result in spreading the hazmat over a larger area. Dis- persants are often applied to hydrocarbon spills, resulting in oil-in-water emulsions and diluting the hazmat to acceptable levels. Use of dispersants may require prior approval of the appropriate environmental agencies.


Dispersion. Chemical method of confinement by which certain chemical and biological agents are used to disperse or break up the ma- terial involved in liquid spills on water.

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