DEAR EDITOR:

The May 22, 2025, Vindicator article where the National Transportation Safety Board suggests the gas company attempt to shut off the gas fell short is wrong: Dominion Gas followed proper procedure in locking out a pressurized gas line taken out of service. The picture in the paper shows a yellow circle around the key lock pin on the gas valve. This key lock pin can only be installed when the gas valve is closed. The key lock pin on the valve means the gas line is pressurized: PERIOD!

During 1981, I visited the many basements and boiler rooms in the downtown area to meet my required contact hours for my Stationary Engineers Exam. I passed the test on July 19, 1982, in the Ohio One Building. I received my 3rd Class Stationary Steam Engineers License under the Department of Industrial Relations. I did visit the Realty Building’s basement. At that time a gas meter was at that location in the Vindicator picture, You can still see part of the meter manifold in the bottom blue circle. Realty was still using steam heat from Youngstown Thermal.

Fifteen years ago Realty switched over to gas heat when the building was renovated for apartments. A much larger gas line was installed on the outside back of the building. The meter in the vault was located to the back outside with 20 other meters. Each unit had its own gas meter. The owner of Realty may have only requested the vault gas line to be put out of service. There were no plans at that time to remove the piping. That’s why Dominion Gas installed the key lock pin on the shutoff valve, leaving the service line pressurized.

All gas meters have these valves. Should a home owner report a gas leak, Dominion — now Enbridge Gas — will locate the leak and shut off the gas with the lock pin on the meter valve. The home owner must hire a plumber to fix the leak before the gas will be restored. The key lock pin is also used when a property owner requests their gas shut off. Curb box valves are closed when there is a service leak, demolition order, abandon order and no meter access for a delinquent shut off.

Had the city acquired a demolition permit for the vault work, Enbridge Gas would have closed the curb box valve, removed the key lock pin and opened the vault valve, allowing the gas in the line to bleed out.

The May 31-June 1, 2025, Vindicator article on the NTSB probe said Chuck Shasho, deputy director of public works, walked through the vault. Dolt Shasho failed to notice the key lock pin on the gas valve. The assumption the gas line was off caused death, injuries and destruction. Shasho and Mayor Jamael Tito Brown should’ resign for a flagrant law violation. The city is liable and will have its day in court.

My message to the brazen white-bearded clown: CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

MARIO J. POLUSE

Youngstown