PUC Approves 2 Penalty Settlements With Columbia Gas Totaling $1.525 Million For A House Explosion In Washington County, 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents In Franklin, Clarion Counties

The Public Utility Commission recently approved two penalty settlements with Columbia Gas totaling $1,525,000 for a house explosion in Washington County and two natural gas pipeline over-pressurization incidents in Franklin and Clarion counties.

Washington County

On August 3, the Public Utility Commission voted to approve a revised settlement regarding a natural gas explosion that destroyed a house in the City of Washington, Pennsylvania, in July 2019 – injuring several people and damaging other nearby homes. 

The incident occurred as construction work was underway nearby on a Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania (Columbia Gas) project involving gas mains in the area.

Columbia Gas will pay a $990,000 civil penalty as part of the settlement.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Franklin & Clarion County

On August 24, the Public Utility Commission voted to approved a revised settlement related to events that resulted in the over-pressurization of Columbia Gas distribution systems in Fayetteville, Franklin County and Rimersburg, Clarion County. 

The case concerns alleged over-pressurization events that occurred in January 2018, involving the Columbia Gas natural gas distribution system in Fayetteville, and events in May and June of 2018, involving the distribution system in Rimersburg.  

Both incidents were attributed to issues related to the maintenance and operation of bypass valves on the Columbia Gas systems in those communities. 

Columbia Gas will pay a $535,000 civil penalty as part of the settlement.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

(Photo: Washington County home explosion.)

Companion Articles - Natural Gas Explosions:

-- US DOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Announces Proposed Rules To Reduce Risk Of Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Pipelines To Get New Rules To Reduce Risk From Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions

-- PUC Approves $125,000 Settlement With National Fuel Gas Related To 2020 Gas Leak And Fire In Erie

-- PUC: Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Jan. 1 Explosion In Port Richmond, Philadelphia

-- AP: Natural Gas Leak At PA Chocolate Factory Caused Blast Where 7 Died

-- Lehigh Valley Live: Natural Gas Explosion In Allentown Kills 5 In 2011

NewsClips This Week - Plum Boro, Port Richmond Explosions:

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Hosting Multi-Agency Resource Center Event Aug. 24 For Families Impacted By Gas Explosion

-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County  [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]

-- WTAE: Plum Boro Homeowner Says Peoples Gas Company Found Gas Leak At His Home

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Investigators Work Their Piece Of Gas Explosion Puzzle In Plum Boro 

-- WTAE: DEP Pledges Home Methane Detectors, Fast-Tracked Test Results For Plum Boro Residents

-- TribLive: Like Smoke Alarms, Natural Gas Alarms Can ‘Alert You To A Potential Problem,’ Plum Boro Neighborhood Where Home Exploded May Soon Have Them

-- WTAE: Homeowners Searching For Natural Gas Detectors After Plum House Explosion

-- AP: 10 Damaged Homes Remain Uninhabitable A Week After Explosion That Killed 6 In Plum Boro, Allegheny County

-- TribLive Editorial: People Of Plum Deserve Honesty, Transparency In Explosion Investigation

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Community Seeks Will To Push Forward, A Week After Fatal House Explosion

-- TribLive: National Transportation Safety Board Will Not Investigate Fatal Plum Boro Home Explosion For Now

-- WHYY/Billy Penn: Neighbors Raise $20,000 For Residents Impacted By New Year’s Day Natural Gas Explosion In Port Richmond, Philadelphia 

NewsClips This Week - Natural Gas:

-- TribLive: Environmental Advocates Weight In On State Dept. Of Health, Pitt Study Of Natural Gas Development Health Impacts

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: PA Residents Call For Action After Pitt Study Links Natural Gas Development To Asthma, Childhood Lymphoma

-- Observer-Reporter: State, County Elected Leaders Take Proactive Steps To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply]  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick: No Word Yet On When Do Not Consume Water Advisory Will Be Lifted For The Village Of Reno Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater In Venango County  [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]   [PDF of Article] 

-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County  [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say

-- WHYY: Chester Residents Unite Against Philly LNG Natural Gas Task Force Proposal: ‘We Will Not Allow This Environmental Genocide’

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest community

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs 

-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says

Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas:

-- Lawsuit Filed Against General Assembly, Governor Challenges Constitutionality Of Law Preventing DEP From Protecting Public Health, Environment From Harm Caused By Abandoning Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- 150+ Residents Of Chester Opposed To An LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Their Community Let Their Feelings Be Known To The House Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force  [PaEN]

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Health Depends On Regulation Of Oil & Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Editorial: Studies Of Natural Gas Development Point To Health Costs

-- Petro Erie, Inc. Appeals DEP’s July Field Order To Clean Up Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Contaminating Village Of Reno’s Water Supply In Venango County; 2nd Appeal May Be Coming  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Finds 2 More Petro Erie, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks With A Pipe Leading To A Discharge Area In A Ditch In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County  [PaEN]

-- Republican Rep. Krupa To Introduce Bill To Ban Oil, Gas Wastewater Injection Wells To Protect The Public From Radioactive, Toxic Materials  [PaEN]

-- On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia Faith In Action: Environmental Justice For All - Ensuring Equity And Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities  [PaEN] 

-- US DOT Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Announces Proposed Rules To Reduce Risk Of Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents, Explosions  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 24, 2023]  PA Environment Digest