Bulldozer ruptures gas line

A bulldozer doing road construction ruptured a natural-gas pipeline this morning at Stephanie Street and Vegas Valley Drive.

Natural gas was released into the air for nearly an hour before it was brought under control at 9 a.m., said Sharon Rorman, a spokeswoman for Southwest Gas Corp.

The 12-inch, high-pressure gas main is located in front of a city of Las Vegas wastewater treatment plant. Rorman said the private contractor was working on a waterline when he hit the gas pipe.

Rorman said the public was never in any danger because the pipeline is located in an isolated area. Natural gas is lighter than air, she added, which means it immediately dissipates.

Rorman said Southwest Gas has a two-way feed in the area, and the gas flow was never interrupted to customers.

"We were able to get the flow off very quickly," Rorman said. "Natural gas is used to generate electricity, so we were able to continue our supply of gas to Nevada Power Co."

Bob Leinback, spokesman for the Clark County Fire Department, said the leak never threatened any buildings in the area. He said a natural gas leak is most dangerous when it seeps into neighboring structures.

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