The Department of Transportation and the City of Bay Minette Ordinance #753 require NBU to have a damage prevention program. The purpose of the program is to prevent damage to facilities by digging or excavation activities. Damaging utilities while excavating can result in damage to equipment and injury to personnel. Excavation activities as defined in the regulation include excavation, blasting, boring, tunneling, backfilling, the removal of above ground structures by either explosive or mechanical means and other earth moving operations.  

NBU participates with Alabama One Call Center for requests to locate facilities. The law requires that you call the state One Call System (811) or 1-800-292-8525 at least 48 hours before you dig or excavate. If the Alabama One Call Center is not called and damage occurs, NBU policy is to bill for all associated repair costs including the cost of lost natural gas. 

The One-Call System provides a ticket number and a verbal list of the utility companies being notified. Companies that own buried lines near your work site will then locate the underground facilities and mark them accordingly. Be sure all applicable utilities have marked their service lines before digging. All paint, stakes or flags should remain in place until your project is complete. The uniform color code for marking underground facilities is included.

Potential Hazards - Flammable, explosive mixtures may travel to an ignition source in the air. Inhaling vapors may cause dizziness, headache, loss of coordination and consciousness. Contact may cause burns or severe injury.

Signs of a Gas Release

• Sight - Blowing gas, dead or dry vegetation, or bubbles in the water near the pipeline
• Sound - Whistling, hissing or roaring noise
• Smell - Odorized to smell like “rotten eggs”

Actions to Take if a Leak Occurs

• Leave area immediately!
• Do NOT breathe OR make contact with leaking liquids.
• If possible turn off any equipment in or near suspected leak. Abandon equipment being used and move upwind from suspected leak.
• From a safe location, call 911 and the pipeline company, giving your name, phone number, and leak description and  location.
• Warn others to stay away.
• If leak has ignited, extinguish only secondary fires.
• Notify NBU if you cause or notice any damage to the pipeline, no matter how small.

Baldwin County is launching the U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program to provide emergency rental assistance to Alabamians residing in Baldwin County who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 133). This relief package includes $25 billion for emergency rental assistance, of which $6.6 million has been allocated to the county to provide assistance to residents of Baldwin County.

Both landlords and renters may apply. The program can help with past-due and forward rent payments for qualified applicants. Qualifications will be included in the application which will be available by April 1st. Baldwin County landlords and residents can join the mailing list now to receive updates and be notified as soon as applications are being accepted at www.baldwinaltogether.org.

Actions to Take if a Leak Occurs

• Leave area immediately!
• Do NOT breathe OR make contact with leaking liquids
• If possible turn off any equipment in or near suspected leak. Abandon equipment being used and move upwind from suspected leak.
• From a safe location, 
• call 911 and the pipeline company, giving your name, phone number, and leak description and  location.
• Warn others to stay away
• If leak has ignited, extinguish only secondary fires.
• Notify NBU if you cause or notice any damage to the pipeline, no matter how small.

Signs of a Gas Release

• Sight - Blowing gas, dead or dry vegetation, or bubbles in the water near the pipeline
• Sound - Whistling, hissing or roaring noise
• Smell - Odorized to smell like “rotten eggs”