News media in Western PA reported Friday morning there was a natural gas explosion from a pipeline in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, near Murrysville along Route 22. One person was reported injured.
The Department of Environmental Protection provided an update on the incident late Friday afternoon:
-- At approximately 0830, a natural gas pipeline ruptured, causing a fire;
-- The cause of this fire is will be investigated by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
-- At 0922 the pipeline was shut off, however residual gases are expected to burn for several hours and a one-quarter mile evacuation is in effect until further notice;
-- The pipeline is operated by Spectra Energy (originally Texas Eastern Transmission);
-- There are four pipelines in the right-of-way; at this time it is unknown which of the pipelines is associated with the fire or the condition of the lines, but all have been de-pressurized;
-- There is a natural gas injection well operated by Dominion on-site for storage reservoir observation purposes; it has been shut in and a mechanical integrity assessment will need to be conducted prior to placing the well back in service. DEP Oil & Gas staff are on-site
-- DEP staff are on-site monitoring air quality.
This is an ongoing story that will be updated.
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