Contact NMOC After Hours Emergency Contacts FAQs The Law  
spacer
space
Home
About NMOC
Become a Member
NMOC Foundation
Register for Free
Safety Training
Calendar
Hot Topics
Press Releases
Industry Links
Tell Us What
You Think
Forms & Documents
Approved Rental Equipment Providers
Articles Of Interest
Store

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-August 30, 2005

New Mexico One Call Announces New Board Member

ALBUQUERQUE - New Mexico One Call, Inc. (NMOC), a nonprofit organization that operates a statewide “Call Before You Dig” center, has named Rick Smith of Transwestern Pipeline Company to the board of directors.

In his new role, Smith will represent NMOC's 110 pipeline members, the organization's largest membership group. He will serve a three-year term, and his responsibilities include governance and fiduciary oversight of the organization as well as setting strategic objectives, promoting excavation safety and damage prevention.

Smith is the operations manager for Transwestern Pipeline Company. Part of Panhandle Energy and owned by Southern Union Company, Transwestern provides natural gas transportation services to energy producers, electric generators, industrial users, and local distribution companies. As operations manager, Smith supports daily operations in Transwestern facilities in Durango, Colo., Gallup and Mountainair. He is also an active member of the Four Corners Damage Prevention Group. In addition to his service to Transwestern, Smith's background includes service with the Florida Gas Transmission Company and Northern Natural Gas Company. He earned a bachelor's degree from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.

New Mexico One Call was established in 1990 to provide comprehensive, professional damage prevention services through operation of a statewide center for dig notification. Currently, the organization has 251 members who own or operate nearly 90,000 miles of underground cable and pipeline.

Under state and federal law, anyone planning a dig is required to notify the owners of underground facilities and pipelines in the area of the dig at least two days in advance.

To report a dig, persons can call (800) 321-ALERT (800-321-2537) statewide, or 260-1990 in Albuquerque. For more information, persons can visit New Mexico One Call's website at www.nmonecall.org or call (505) 260-1165 in Albuquerque.