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Pipe pressure before gas explosions was 12 times too high
The pressure in natural gas pipelines prior to a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from the state's U.S. senators to executives of the utility in charge of the pipelines.
Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent the letter Monday seeking answers about the explosions from the heads of Columbia Gas, the company that serves the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas.
"The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has reported that the pressure in the Columbia Gas system should have been around 0.5 pounds per square inch (PSI), but readings in the area reached at least 6 PSI — twelve times higher than the system was intended to hold," the letter said.
The pressure spike registered in a Columbia Gas control room in Ohio, the senators said in the letter, which requests a reply by Wednesday.
See also: Columbia Gas pledges $10M toward relief efforts in Lawrence, Andover, North Andover
Previously: 60-80 Homes Burn; Gas Line "Incident" in Northern Massachusetts
(Score: 3, Insightful) by urza9814 on Wednesday September 19 2018, @02:09PM (1 child)
OK, so let's suppose they do want to pass a law to prevent this in the future. You claim that the details about how it happened this time are none of their damn business, so how exactly are they supposed to prevent it in the future without knowing how it happened in the past?
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday September 19 2018, @05:27PM
In fact, no. That is a valid concern of theirs if they can manage to weasel their way into having some authority over what is primarily a local matter. Should they manage that, they need to grab a big ole cup of Shut The Fuck Up until those with primary responsibility and authority have done their jobs. Then, by all means, hold hearings focused specifically on what they have the authority to do something about. Grabbing the microphone away from the people who are actually in charge and might bear actual responsibility for the sake of getting on camera is a dick move though.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.