Safe and Responsible
We want to provide you with information regarding The Ohio State University’s natural gas pipeline facilities, located underground and above ground within the campus area, providing natural gas to Ohio State’s community.
To ensure our natural gas pipeline facilities are safe and reliable, Facilities Operations and Development and also Ohio State Energy Partners follow a regular operations and maintenance program. Educating students, faculty, and staff about our natural gas pipelines is a standard part of this program.
While Ohio State’s regular operations and maintenance program should address issues with the pipeline facilities before they become a problem, it’s important for you to be aware of hazards you could potentially encounter so you are able to identify them and properly report them.
Telltale Signs of a Potential Gas Leak
- A distinctive rotten egg smell.
- A shrill blowing or hissing sound.
- Dirt being blown or thrown into the air.
- Bubbles coming from or water being blown into the air at a puddle, pond, creek, or river.
- Fire apparently coming from the ground or burning above the ground.
- Patches of brown vegetation in grassy areas.
- Dry dirt spots in grassy areas.
What to Do if You Suspect a Gas Leak
If you suspect a gas leak on campus or sense an emergency with our natural gas pipeline facilities, please do the following:
- Immediately evacuate the area.
- Call Ohio State's Department of Public Safety (614-292-2121) so the leak can be verified and corrective measures can be taken. This phone number is staffed 24-7, so don't wait to call.
- During this time, avoid open flames or other ignition sources, including operating light switches, garage door openers, or motor vehicles.
A Few Things You Can Do
Utility Marking
Leaking is a potential hazard caused by deterioration of the facilities over time or outside forces. Ohio State’s natural gas facilities are well maintained, so it is most likely that leaking would be caused by outside forces, such as digging into an underground pipeline and damaging it. This type of damage can be prevented by proper utility marking before you do any digging (i.e., digging for any type of construction or even planting flowers, installing signage or posts, etc.) within The Ohio State University campus. The location of the underground pipeline facilities will be marked with paint or flags to show the location of the underground pipeline facilities in the area you will be digging.
Contact the Ohio Utility Protection Service (800-362-2764) for utility marking, both university-owned and public utilities. OUPS will forward your request to Ohio State personnel for handling, and they will be in touch with you direct.
Check the status of your request or call 800-445-3894 with your ticket number.
A "Funny" Smell
If a leak occurs, it is important for you to be able to recognize it. Gas occurring naturally from the earth cannot be seen or smelled. But natural gas from pipelines on the Ohio State Columbus campus has been treated with an odorant, smelling like rotten eggs, so you should be able to smell it.
Standard Legal Notice - Information regarding The Ohio State University natural gas pipeline facilities is required by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.