The Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency plans on billing the contracting company accused of puncturing a softball-sized hole in a high-pressure gas line, which caused a massive rupture behind Zanesville High School last Wednesday.

EMA Director, Jeff Jadwin said he is working with the Zanesville Fire Department on totaling the money the county lost during the repair, which could include costs for emergency services and losses from local businesses that were forced to close due to loss of gas.

The contracting company at blame, Foill Inc. of Waverly, Ohio, does not believe they are at fault.

“It was an unfortunate accident that happened,” said Jeff Bland, the bike path project manager for Foill Inc.

Bland said his company had been on the bike path project connecting Zanesville High School to Ohio University Zanesville for the past two months.

“We are very conscious to make everything safe,” said Bland.

According to Jadwin, the contractor for Foill Inc. never dialed 811 to get approval to dig, a requirement through the Ohio Revised Code for any excavation project.

However, Bland said no excavation was being done at the site. Instead, he said his worker was grazing dirt to prepare the ground for paving.

During his presentation to Muskingum County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee, Manager of Safety for The Energy Cooperative, Andy Nader said “anytime that dirt is disturbed, that’s an excavation, whether it’s one inch or 10 feet.”

Additionally, Nader said the pipe was struck about four feet deep in the ground.

Bland defended the equipment operator, saying there were no clear markers in sight indicating there was a pipeline nearby.

Nader presented a different case, saying there was a marker around the corner where the project began with the emergency number labeled on the sign.

Nader also mentioned the person who struck the pipe did not follow procedure in calling 911 immediately, leaving an hour gap between when the pipe was struck and when local authorities were notified.

Bland, however, said he was notified within 40 seconds of the rupture, and he then immediately called the gas companies with no delay to let them know what had happened.

Bland commended everyone involved in resolving the matter, including the fire department, EMA, gas companies and Foill Inc.

He said there was a superintendent on site from Foill Inc. until the pipe was fixed late that night.

“Everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do in an emergency situation,” said Bland.

Bland said his company is continuing with the project and plans to have it finished within the original time frame.

Related: https://ycitynews.com/1695/news/gas-leak-reported-near-zanesville-high-school/