Press Release

Safety Investigation Ongoing Following January 1 Incident in Port Richmond Section of Philadelphia

Published on 1/4/2023

Filed under: Gas

The following information is preliminary and may be supplemented or corrected as the investigation continues:

HARRISBURG – Pipeline safety engineers from the Safety Division of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) – which is part of the Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) – have initiated an investigation into a New Year’s morning incident in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia that resulted in multiple injuries and severe damage to several homes.

Overview –Preliminary Safety Division Investigation

On Jan. 1, 2023, pipeline safety engineers responded to the scene of a reported explosion in the 3500 block of Miller Street in Philadelphia.

In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, investigators from the Safety Division began gathering preliminary information from residents, responders, and utilities around that location. Additionally, engineers closely reviewed emergency efforts to isolate affected gas infrastructure and the temporary shut-off of natural gas service to homes and buildings around the incident site, to safeguard emergency responders.

In the days immediately following the incident – and after the incident scene and surrounding structures were made safe and debris removed – safety engineers have continued to monitor the integrity tests of nearby natural gas service lines by crews from Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW). Two PGW natural gas mains are located in the street immediately in front of the damaged buildings, and PGW leak survey efforts have not identified natural gas leaks in the vicinity of the explosion.  The integrity tests on the service lines of the affected homes continues as access can be safely achieved. 

Detailed interviews with gas company employees, first responders and residents were initiated and will continue in the coming days, and the Safety Division will coordinate the collection of physical jurisdictional evidence at the scene – including natural gas service lines and meters – while also investigating the location of other nearby facilities. Additionally, the Safety Division will monitor the restoration of natural gas and electric service to customers in undamaged buildings in the surrounding neighborhood.

Continuing Work by Safety Division

The investigation by the Safety Division is in the initial stages, exploring if PGW jurisdictional infrastructure or operations contributed to the cause and circumstances surrounding this incident. The Safety Division has worked closely with the Fire Marshall and other agencies during the initial emergency response and preliminary stages of the investigation and will consider any additional information from the Fire Marshall as the broader safety investigation continues. In all investigations, the Safety Division will review any potential violations of state and federal safety regulations.

It is important to note that the I&E investigation into this type of incident is limited – by regulation – to the involvement of, or impact from, utilities and utility systems under the jurisdiction of the PUC, along with natural gas transported by those assets. I&E does not have jurisdiction to investigate items, events, or piping within structures beyond the gas meter – and the interior, non-jurisdictional assets involved in this incident are the subject of investigation by other parties and agencies outside the PUC.

The Safety Division recognizes the strong public interest in these types of incidents, especially for those who have been directly impacted, and works to address safety concerns in a timely manner. Still, it is important to understand that these are complex circumstances which may require extensive analysis by engineers and other experts, along with possible laboratory testing and other technical studies before conclusions can be reached.

While the full investigation may take up to a year or longer to reach any conclusions, I&E will not hesitate to take immediate action to address health or public safety concerns that are identified.  

The Safety Division appreciates the cooperation of Philadelphia emergency officials, and various other local, state, and federal emergency agencies who are assisting in the response, along with residents and others impacted by this incident.       

About the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

Engineers from the Safety Division are in the field daily, conducting inspections of utility construction, operations, and integrity management activities. They also investigate issues discovered during their inspections, along with incidents reported by utility operators and emergency response agencies.  Safety Division engineers are federally trained and certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

I&E, as the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the PUC, enforces state and federal pipeline safety and motor carrier safety laws and regulations and represents the public interest in ratemaking and service matters before the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge. I&E has the authority to bring enforcement action, seek emergency orders from the Commission or take other steps to ensure public safety.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov