Press Release

PUC’s Gas Safety Division Continues Providing On-Site Mutual Aid to Massachusetts in Aftermath of Sept. 13 Natural Gas Line Explosions

Published on 10/4/2018

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that personnel from its Gas Safety Division are being deployed to Massachusetts to provide ongoing assistance in the aftermath of the Sept. 13 natural gas line explosions in the state’s Merrimack Valley.

As part of a multi-state Mutual Aid Agreement, Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) recently notified the PUC of a second request submitted by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for additional natural gas engineering inspectors who are certified through the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration.  During the third week of September, the PUC sent two engineers to assist Massachusetts response teams regarding service shut-offs and incident investigation.

“In the aftermath of this tragedy, the experience and expertise of our Gas Safety personnel can be of tremendous value in helping with the ongoing investigation and recovery from a devastating series of gas line explosions,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “While our engineers are providing assistance, they also are gaining valuable insight into mass outage management, operator qualification of workers from other states, and investigation information associated with this outage that, in turn, we can share with Pennsylvania’s natural gas public utilities.”

The PUC routinely reinforces best practices in gas safety to Pennsylvania’s natural gas distribution companies, including: reviewing and analyzing procedures before working on low/high pressure tie-ins and main abandonments; reviewing all maps and plans thoroughly prior to all pressure-changing operations; ensuring that qualified technicians are present whenever work is performed at or near regulator stations; verifying and excavating the exact location of all underground sensing lines; identifying the type and adequacy of overpressure protection devices; identifying emergency actions that will be required to be performed if necessary; and ensuring that employee and contractor operator qualifications are current and cover the qualified tasks to be performed.

If Pennsylvania experiences any type of emergency, the PUC can recall the engineers immediately.  New York, New Hampshire and Michigan are among other states either providing or considering sending engineers to assist with incident investigation and restoration of gas service to affected customers, which requires replacement of about 48 miles of gas pipeline.

On the afternoon of Sept. 13, 2018, over-pressured gas mains owned by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts caused multiple explosions and fires in dozens of homes in the towns of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.  One person was killed, 30,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes, and gas and electricity service for thousands of customers was disrupted. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility. “Like” PA Public Utility Commission” on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov