Bend, gas pipeline co. plan emergency drill
Eergency officials from Deschutes County, the city of Bend, St Charles Medical Center and personnel from TransCanada Corp. will conduct a joint emergency exercise drill on Wednesday, September 26, to test response procedures in the unlikely event of a pipeline incident on TransCanada’s Gas Transmission Northwest system.
The exercise will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 11 a.m. The drill will include reports of a pipeline rupture, including hearing a loud sound of escaping natural gas.
Along with Bend Fire and Rescue, other participants in the drill include Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department, Bend-La Pine School District and St. Charles Medical Center. A Command Post will be set up by Bend Fire and Rescue at the Deschutes County Roads Department, located at 61150 SE 27th Street.
As part of the exercise, emergency responders may have the following intersections secured during the morning: SE Ferguson Rd and SE 27th, Rickard Rd and 27th
You are receiving this advisory to let you know that if you hear reports of emergency vehicles converging near Knott Landfill, they are part of the drill. You may also receive reports from individuals who monitor police, fire and emergency response radio scanners. Although communications over public airwaves will make it clear that the broadcast is part of a drill, it is still possible that the public may be alarmed.
If you’re interested in covering the drill as a news story or for more information, please contact Justin Finestone, City of Bend Communications Director, at 541.388.5516 or by email at jfinestone@ci.bend.or.us. You can also call Gretchen Krueger, TransCanada, at 832.320.5849 or by email at gretchen_krueger@transcanada.com.
About Gas Transmission Northwest
TransCanada’s Gas Transmission Northwest LLC system links the Foothills Pipeline with Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s California Gas Transmission System, with Williams Companies, Inc.’s Northwest Pipeline in Washington and Oregon, and with the Tuscarora Pipeline. TransCanada operates the 1,351 mile system and effectively owns 83.3 per cent of the system through its direct ownership interest and its 33.3 per cent interest in TC PipeLines, LP. For more information, see www.gastransmissionnw.com.
About TransCanada
With more than 60 years experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada operates a network of natural gas pipelines that extends more than 68,500 kilometres (42,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent’s largest providers of gas storage and related services with approximately 380 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns or has interests in over 10,800 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America’s largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: http://www.transcanada.comor check us out on Twitter @TransCanada.
