After Gas Disaster, US Reps Want More Oversight Of Gas Utilities

ANDOVER, MA — U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) and Lori Trahan (D-Lowell) say the Sept. 13 gas explosions that killed one and left thousands in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence without gas for months are the clearest sign Congress needs to strengthen oversight of natural gas companies. Last year, a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board placed blame on Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, which serves the three communities.

"The lines were over-pressurized and set off a series of disasters that brought carnage I thought I had left behind in Iraq to the Merrimack Valley," Moulton said Tuesday in testimony to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

The explosions damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings and injured 24 people. Recovery from the explosions is expected to last into 2020 and cost well over $1 billion. Moulton said increased oversight of gas utilities should include requirements for a professional engineer approve all public utility engineering drawings pipeline safety regulators to have sufficient staff. He also recommended ending professional engineer license exemptions for public utility work.

He also said Congress needs to look into why the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration gave Massachusetts’ system a score of 97.4 out of 100 less than a month before the Sept. 13 explosions.

"Peace of mind exploded that day as well," Moulton said.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).