Pipeline safety expert: Georgetown evacuation unique

The executive director of a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about pipeline safety said Friday he has never heard of a situation like the one in Georgetown, where dozens of businesses and homes have been evacuated for weeks to release trapped natural gas in the soil.

"I can't think of a similar situation in that wide of an area," said Carl Weimer of the Pipeline Safety Trust, which is based in Bellingham, Wash. "It's a little unclear why there's gas in the soil to begin with. I've never heard of gas trapped in the soil where the soil has to be ventilated." He said often leaking gas just comes up through the soil on its own.

Many times leaks happen in old cast iron pipes that tend to corrode, he said. "I think it's good that Atmos got people out of their homes until they know people are safe," Weimer said.

Atmos Energy evacuated homes and businesses in the busy commercial Williams Drive area in Georgetown beginning Feb. 20, after the company repaired a natural gas leak. Atmos officials said some natural gas had been left in the soil. The company has not responded to requests for comment about how the trapped gas spread in the soil or if it uses cast iron pipes. Company officials have said soil conditionsin the area make ventilation a slow process and that they could not predict when the evacuation would be lifted.

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At its height, the evacuation affected 73 homes and 67 businesses, but at least 10 businesses and a handful of homeowners were allowed to return this week, the energy company said. Atmos Energy has been paying the employees of closed businesses and providing free hotel rooms to displaced residents, company and city officials have said.

Mayor Dale Ross said he has asked the Texas Division of Emergency Management to assess how Atmos Energy has handled the situation.

After sponsoring a meeting Friday for affected businesses that was attended by 88 people, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce said it will launch a website with updates about businesses, including whether they have reopened. The website will be at georgetownchamber.org/williamsdrive.

Judy Millegan, the owner of Ace Hardware on Williamson Drive, was at the meeting Friday morning. She said her store, which has about 13 employees, has been closed since Feb. 24. "It's very difficult," she said. "Spring is our busiest time of the year."

Bob Sharp, presiding bishop of Jesus Life Center church, said it has been "devastating" to be closed for weeks. He said Atmos Energy has paid the church's pastor $100 a day and given him a hotel room, but the closed church still has $6,000 worth of bills to pay.

Other business owners, including Tommy Trcka, the owner of a juice and smoothie bar called Hydrate, said they were worried that when they reopen, their customers won't return. To combat that, manager Nicole Harris has hung a sign outside Hydrate that reads "Not Quite Yet ... We are as excited as you are to get back to business. See you soon!"

"People are frustrated, and it's understandable," Ross said after Friday's meeting.

At its next City Council meeting, he said, Georgetown will consider relaxing the city's sign restrictions and allow businesses to put up large banners when they reopen.

In the meantime, restaurant owner Jaime Fernandez is providing free tacos to Atmos Energy workers every day, even though his restaurant is one of the evacuated businesses.

"Maybe," he said, smiling, "it will help them speed up."