July 4, 2006

In The Courts

Gas locate procedure questioned

Gas locator testifies of difficulty finding gas main

FAZEENA SAMAD

staff writer

TORONTO

A landmark case involving three companies charged in connection with a gas explosion at an Etobicoke mall that killed seven people continues with testimony from the gas locator.

Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Precision Utility Ltd. and Warren Bitulithic Ltd. are charged with violating safety requirements under the Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems Regulation and the Technical Standards and Safety Act, following an explosion on Poplar Avenue and Bloor Street West on April 24, 2003.

The explosion occurred during construction at the two-storey residential/commercial structure.

John Cathcart, the gas locator who worked the Bloor Street West site for Precision Utility Ltd., told the court during his third week of testimony that he had “difficulties” locating the gas pipeline because of changes in the direction of the main.

He added that on the day of the explosion, he was called back to the location by the foreman, but when he arrived at the site, digging was already in progress.

In response to the Crown’s question about “markings” indicating that locates at the dig site were complete, Cathcart replied, “Once I passed that change in direction, I made the decision that I was going to stop there that day.

“There was a change in the gas main at that time. The gas main physically changed direction. I had trouble picking up the gas,” he explained. “The further west I walked, the more I was having difficulties ... the signal became unstable.”

Cathcart told the court he had not completed the locates for the area, saying he “fully intended to return to the area where he had left off.”

The Crown expects to hear more testimony from Cathcart in the coming weeks with regards to the effectiveness of the gas locates reference material made available during the project.

Lawyers for Warren Bitulithic Ltd, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Precision Utility Ltd. have yet to question Cathcart.

The trial is scheduled to break in late July, and will resume in early September.

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