PUC Updates Investigation Into Dec. 2022 Natural Gas House Explosion In Dauphin County
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On October 18, the Safety Division of the Public Utility Commission announced it is continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding a December 2022 house explosion and fire in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County.

Crest Road Incident Overview

On December 13, 2022, Safety Division investigators responded to reports of a house explosion and fire at 3204 Crest Road, which destroyed one residence, damaged several adjacent homes, and sent two people to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Both of those individuals, a UGI Utilities first responder and the occupant of a neighboring home, were released the same day.

While initial emergency response efforts were underway, investigators from the Safety Division began gathering preliminary information.

After the initial fire and rescue activities concluded, safety engineers began a more detailed investigation at the site – including detailed interviews with UGI employees, first responders and residents; examination of physical jurisdictional evidence after the incident; a study of the scene and surrounding structures; the detailed review of utility operational records; monitoring of service restorations and repairs around the incident site; and other on-site observations by expert pipeline safety engineers.

Based on information gathered to-date, the Safety Division has determined the following:

-- On Dec. 12, 2022, Pronto Plumbing placed an emergency locate ticket with the Pennsylvania One Call system to alert utilities to locate and mark underground lines around 3204 Crest Road.

-- UGI Utilities did not locate and mark their line on December 12.

-- On December 13, excavation work began and a natural gas service line to 3204 Crest Road was damaged by a backhoe operated by Pronto Plumbing employees.

-- A 9-1-1 call was placed after the gas line was damaged.

-- Approximately 30 minutes later the home exploded.

-- Later that day, utility service was restored to undamaged homes in the area.

The Safety Division investigation continues to explore the circumstances surrounding this incident, compliance with state and federal pipeline safety regulations, as well as compliance with Pennsylvania’s “One Call Law,” which is intended to help prevent damage to underground utility lines.

Investigators continue to coordinate with the Lower Paxton Township Fire Marshal in this ongoing investigation. 

The Safety Division appreciates the cooperation and assistance from local officials and emergency responders – and thanks the residents and others impacted by this incident for their cooperation and patience during the investigation.

About The Safety Division

During all investigations by the Safety Division, data is gathered and analyzed – exploring the cause and circumstances surrounding an incident, along with whether there are any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations.

Any determinations and/or actions are based on that information, within the scope of the PUC’s jurisdiction, and any safety concerns identified by investigators are addressed promptly with regulated pipeline operators and/or utilities.

It is important to note that I&E investigations are 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 beyond the outlet of a service meter within a structure.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - October 14 to 20 - 6 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Conventional Gas Migration Incident; Inactive Shale Gas Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - October 21  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- 9th Compendium Of Studies On Health & Environmental Harms From Natural Gas Development Released - ‘The Rapidly Expanding Body Of Evidence Compiled Here Is Massive, Troubling And Cries Out For Decisive Action’  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro: We Need Stronger Laws To Deal With The ‘Corporate Greed’ That Let Oil & Gas Operators Get Away With Abandoning Wells For Far Too Long [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Marks Plugging 100th Conventional Oil & Gas Well In 10 Months; New Initiative Allows Texting Abandoned Well Photos/Locations To Governor That Need Plugging  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Recognizes 5 Individuals With The 2023 Community Sentinel Awards - 3 From Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Senate Committee Briefing Finds No Definition Or Standard For ‘Responsibly Sourced’ Natural Gas; PA Producers Already Below One RS Threshold  [PaEN]

-- PA Physicians For Social Responsibility: Methane Leaks From SEPTA Gas Generation Plant, Philadelphia  [Video]

-- Protect PT, Partners Host Oct. 26 Webinar On PFAS 'Forever Chemical' In Pennsylvania's Oil & Gas Production  [PaEN]

-- EPA, West Virginia Officials Working To Secure Fairmount Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing Facility To Prevent Release Of Radioactive, Hazardous Materials  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Holds Nov. 2 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including Shale Gas Drilling In Loyalsock, Pine Creek Exceptional Value Watersheds  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 19 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Susquehanna, Tioga Counties  [PaEN]

-- PUC Safety Division Investigating Columbia Gas Service Disruptions To 4,000+ Customers In Beaver County  [PaEN]

-- PUC Updates Investigation Into Dec. 2022 Natural Gas House Explosion In Dauphin County  [PaEN]

-- PUC PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee Imposes $177,875 In Penalties Against 120 Violators

-- DEP Responds To Oil Spill In Conodoguinet Creek; PA American Water Company Shuts Water Intake, Customers Asked To Conserve Water In Cumberland County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Blog: Attention Home Heating Oil Users - Check Your Tanks To Prevent Costly Leaks, Spills

-- Guest Essay: My Hometown Shows The Benefits Of The Fossil Fuel Industry Come At A Tremendous Cost - Gov. Shapiro, Let's Hold Them Accountable - Support The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative  - By Rev. Mitchell Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network - Action  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Advocates To Spend More Than $250,000 In Support Of McCaffery In Critical PA Supreme Court Race To Protect Constitutional Right To Clean Air, Pure Water  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Research By Public Health Experts Shows ‘Damning’ Evidence Of Harms From Natural Gas Development; Industry Rejected The Reports As ‘Junk Science’

-- Spotlight PA: Potter County Township Wants To Make It Easier For Other Places In PA To Fight Oil/Gas Wastewater Injection Wells

-- Inside Climate News: Answers About Old Conventional Gas Wells Repurposed As Injection Wells For Oil/Gas Wastewater May Never Be Fully Unearthed

-- Energy News Network: Ohio Oil & Gas Industry Spills, Releases Boost Worries About Drilling Under State Parks

-- Hilco Redevelopment Breaks Ground For Bellwether District In South Philadelphia On Former Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery Site

-- WHYY/BillyPenn: What To Know About The Bellwether District, The Giant Complex Now Rising On The Site Of The Former Philadelphia Refinery

-- Courier Times: Nooses And Slurs vs. Contested Firing: PA Workplace Discrimination Cases Yield Very Different Outcomes; Case Of Oil & Gas Employee vs. Starbucks Manager

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mountain Valley Natural Gas Pipeline’s Costs Rise Again As Timeline Extends

-- Inside Climate News: Federal Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Begins Regulating 400,000 Miles Of Natural Gas Gathering Pipelines, Industry Isn’t Happy  [8.6 to 16 inches]

-- Utility Dive: PJM Interconnection Asks FERC To Approve Capacity Market Reforms In Push To Bolster Grid Reliability After Winter Storm Elliot

-- Utility Dive: Investments In PJM-Area Natural Gas And Traditional Power Plants Hurt Private Equity Funds’ Performance Due To Nonperformance Penalties From Winter Storm Elliot

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming College Clean Water Institute’s Matt Kaunert Speaks About Declining Populations Of Hellbenders In Pennsylvania

[Posted: October 18, 2023]


10/23/2023

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