Feds recommend new requirements after natural gas disaster
BOSTON (AP) — Federal officials are recommending stronger nationwide requirements for natural gas systems following last September's natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates major pipeline accidents, said Tuesday every state should require all natural gas infrastructure projects to be reviewed and approved by a licensed professional engineer.
Nineteen states currently have such a requirement but most specifically exempt the natural gas industry from such review requirements, the office said.
"In all 50 states, you have to have a license to cut hair, but you can design a gas system that affects public safety, and 31 states exempt you from having a license or even an engineering degree," said Robert Hall, who oversees the office's pipeline investigations, during the board's discussion in Washington, D.C.
The board also recommended that natural gas utilities be required to install additional safeguards on low pressure systems like the one involved in the Sept. 13, 2018 disaster .
Officials concluded last October that the series of explosions and fires had been caused by a gas line that became overpressurized during a routine replacement of old cast iron pipelines in Lawrence.
A teenager died, dozens of other people were injured and more than 100 structures were destroyed or damaged. Thousands of residents and businesses in Lawrence, Andover and North Andove were also left without natural gas service for heat and hot water for months in some cases.
Board members Tuesday were strongly critical of utility company Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.
The utility's "inadequate planning, documentation and recordkeeping" resulted in an unqualified field engineer failing to account for a critical pressure...