Puget Sound Energy plans to burn off excess natural gas in the Lynnwood area on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The plan is for Puget Sound Energy to burn off the excess natural gas between 4 a.m. and 3 p.m. at PSE’s North Seattle town (see map below).
Here is what you can expect:
You may see a large, controlled flame that is expected to burn between 4 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.17, 2013 (see example).
Because the natural gas is burned off as soon as it leaves the pipe, the flaring procedure is safe and controlled. Only minimal natural gas will escape into the atmosphere, and since natural gas is lighter than air, it will quickly dissipate in the open air.
The flame will be monitored nonstop by natural gas employees until the flaring procedure is completed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Patima Dejarath, Project Manager for PSE, at 425-456-2644 or e-mail: patima.dejarath@pse.com. You may also call toll-free at 1-888-225-5773. Dial 8, and then extension 81-2654.
Can someone explain, what excess natural gas means? Why would PSE have excess?
The July 24 article about the closure of 188th Street near Alderwood Mall gives a tiny bit more detail on the work on the gas lines there. The map above, though it is hard to read, mentions that some new pipe sections are being installed, and some old ones retired. It seems to me that the workers would need to empty the pipeline at some time before making the new connection, and burning all remaining gas would be the safest solution. The location of the firing, as shown on the map, would probably draw the gas away from the work site. Now, I’m not an engineer or anything of that sort. Somebody please tell me if my assumptions are correct! Another option would be to contact the project manager as listed in this article! (And I just may do that.) Even better, our intrepid reporters at Lynnwood Today can dig a little deeper into this story.
What is being built on that corner anyway? Any estimate on when the road will be opened again as it is very burdensome for those of us living in the apartments behind the mall. Our access to our homes has been completely blocked off by inconsiderate drivers that do not think to leave an opening despite the signs.