Georgia responders hold debriefing on fatal Dixie Pipeline accident

THOMSON, Ga. - Firefighters, emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers met with representatives of Dixie Pipeline Company at the Thomson Depot on Sept. 15 to discuss the lessons learned in a fatal pipeline accident.

The propane pipeline explosion killed 23-year-old Jason McCorkle. The explosion occurred near Belle Meade subdivision outside of Thomson. Earlier that morning, McCorkle's father, Paul McCorkle, a county commissioner, was operating a bulldozer and accidentally ruptured the pipeline while doing road work on McCorkle Farm.
The responders discussed the overall response, how it was handled and whether anything could be improved if a similar accident were to ever take place here again.
Paul McCorkle, whose son died, attended the meeting representing the McDuffie County Board of Commissioners.
The single biggest issue discussed involved making sure that before anyone digs that they call the Georgia 811 number.
"It's the law," said Michael McLaughlin, coordinator and public awareness/damage prevention representative with EPCO, Inc.
Paul McCorkle had not called that telephone number.
"We're here to get your feedback," said Jesse Gregoire, manager of regional safety for Dixie Pipeline Company. "I want this to be an interactive meeting. We want to see if there is anything we can do differently, if another accident happens around here."

Valero agrees to recall propane gas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 12 that Valero Marketing & Supply Co. has voluntarily agreed to recall tanks of propane gas sold in five states.
The recall affects retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Valero manufactured 919,000 barrels of propane gas from January to October 2008 that contains an odorant that helps alert consumers to a gas leak. However, the propane Valero manufactured and sold might not have the recommended level of odorant. Failure to detect leaking gas can present a fire, explosion
or thermal burn hazard to consumers, according to the Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
There have been no incidents or injuries reported as a result of the sale of propane. However, consumers who may have bought the propane are asked to call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or Valero's recall hotline at 1-866-940-8235.