DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas - For the third time this year, Atmos Energy has been cited for allegedly violating minimum safety regulations set out by the government.
The citation follows three house explosions over a three-month period.
A just-released report documents a fatal house explosion in Irving, Texas, last January. In it, the Texas Railroad Commission excoriates Atmos for failing to maintain its equipment as required by law.
The findings in the report are among the main reasons Atmos Energy is about to embark on what may be the largest pipeline removal initiative
in Texas history.
In the explosion early in the morning on Jan. 31, natural gas leaked into an Irving residence and ignited. The resulting explosion seriously injured Peggy Mantheiy, who survived. Her husband Joe died a few days later.
Although Atmos Energy crews spent several days repairing natural gas leaks around the Mantheiy's neighborhood, no official cause of the leak has been reported until now.
According to Texas Railroad Commission investigators, "there was a leak on a... compression coupling nut."
It was a "grade one" leak - so powerful that it can be seen in video from the scene bubbling up through the foundation.
The leaking natural gas compression coupling was just a few feet away from the Mantheiy residence, under the ground, attached to the main gas line which runs east and west.
In the days following the explosion, Atmos crews identified 32 similar leaks all over the neighborhood.
That was enough for state regulators to request "replacement of the service lines and their couplings across the entire Irving distribution system."
The findings in the latest report mirror an explosion report issued April 28. In it, Railroad Commission investigators recommended "replacement of all steel service lines in Mesquite" following the blast that leveled Kristi Samons’ house in November.
In the days following her house explosion, workers discovered not only a leaking compression coupling behind her house, but 61 other leaks in the surrounding neighborhood.
Two weeks earlier, the Texas Railroad Commission released another report documenting an explosion in Lancaster in November 2009. In that case, gas leaking from a pipe connection found its way from under the street into a residence. One person was severely burned when the house exploded.
Again, Atmos was cited for "violations of the minimum safety regulations."
Showing posts with label Atmos Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atmos Energy. Show all posts
Friday, July 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Atmos Energy accused of dishonesty in Texas gas explosion
MESQUITE, Texas – A local television station has accused Atmos Energy of being dishonest in denying its natural gas resulted in an explosion that destroyed a local home.
The Mesquite couple that owns the home is outraged over what it feels is a potentially deadly mistake made by Atmos Energy.
The Samons' house exploded Nov. 20, 2009. Atmos crews said natural gas was not involved, and it wasn't their problem. Atmos claimed a build-up of carbon monoxide was responsible for the blast that leveled the home.
WFAA-TV of Dallas-Fort Worth contended in on-air news coverage on Jan. 6 that it had learned that not only was Atmos wrong, but that gas leaks were found behind the Samons' house and all over the neighborhood, and gas fittings with a legacy of failure were involved.
The station, News 8, began investigating natural gas compression coupling failures in 2007.
Kristin Samons was lying on her sofa that afternoon when an explosion ripped through her house. It destroyed the back of her home and threw her across her living room.
"It was just a loud sound, and at the same time my body was just flying across the room," Samons said. She escaped the destruction with only a bump on her head.
Atmos Energy crews quickly declared that a build-up of carbon monoxide, not natural gas, was to blame.
"That didn't make sense to me, and no, I didn't accept it," Samons said.
Two weeks later, insurance company investigators insisted Atmos re-investigate. This time, natural gas safety inspectors with the Texas Railroad Commission were called in. State investigators discovered two natural gas compression couplings leaking at the main under the alley behind the Samons' home.
A follow-up survey of the entire neighborhood turned up something disturbing - gas leaks at more than 24 other locations. "That tells me there's a problem and somebody needs to do something quickly before somebody else around here gets hurt or killed," Samons said.
Atmos crews spent the next several days scouring the neighborhood near Town East Mall detecting and repairing leaks.
Sharon Dornon lives across the street.
"They came over and checked my yard for gas leaks," she said. "They checked David's and Jerry's next door, and they said we had a leak also."
Others in the neighborhood were told by Atmos officials that they were just conducting routine operations.
"Public safety, as well as the safety of our employees, is Atmos Energy's number one priority," said Atmos Energy Spokesman Ray Granado. "We will continue to assist and cooperate with the ongoing investigation." (Source: Brett Shipp, WFAA-TV Dallas-Fort Worth, Jan, 6, 2010)
The Mesquite couple that owns the home is outraged over what it feels is a potentially deadly mistake made by Atmos Energy.
The Samons' house exploded Nov. 20, 2009. Atmos crews said natural gas was not involved, and it wasn't their problem. Atmos claimed a build-up of carbon monoxide was responsible for the blast that leveled the home.
WFAA-TV of Dallas-Fort Worth contended in on-air news coverage on Jan. 6 that it had learned that not only was Atmos wrong, but that gas leaks were found behind the Samons' house and all over the neighborhood, and gas fittings with a legacy of failure were involved.
The station, News 8, began investigating natural gas compression coupling failures in 2007.
Kristin Samons was lying on her sofa that afternoon when an explosion ripped through her house. It destroyed the back of her home and threw her across her living room.
"It was just a loud sound, and at the same time my body was just flying across the room," Samons said. She escaped the destruction with only a bump on her head.
Atmos Energy crews quickly declared that a build-up of carbon monoxide, not natural gas, was to blame.
"That didn't make sense to me, and no, I didn't accept it," Samons said.
Two weeks later, insurance company investigators insisted Atmos re-investigate. This time, natural gas safety inspectors with the Texas Railroad Commission were called in. State investigators discovered two natural gas compression couplings leaking at the main under the alley behind the Samons' home.
A follow-up survey of the entire neighborhood turned up something disturbing - gas leaks at more than 24 other locations. "That tells me there's a problem and somebody needs to do something quickly before somebody else around here gets hurt or killed," Samons said.
Atmos crews spent the next several days scouring the neighborhood near Town East Mall detecting and repairing leaks.
Sharon Dornon lives across the street.
"They came over and checked my yard for gas leaks," she said. "They checked David's and Jerry's next door, and they said we had a leak also."
Others in the neighborhood were told by Atmos officials that they were just conducting routine operations.
"Public safety, as well as the safety of our employees, is Atmos Energy's number one priority," said Atmos Energy Spokesman Ray Granado. "We will continue to assist and cooperate with the ongoing investigation." (Source: Brett Shipp, WFAA-TV Dallas-Fort Worth, Jan, 6, 2010)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Gas pipeline explosion in Texas injures three, melts window blinds
AMARILLO, Texas - A natural gas pipeline explosion shook the town of Bushland on Nov. 5. The ensuing fire was so intense that it launched flames hundreds of feet into the sky and melted the window blinds of nearby homes.
One nearby home was completely destroyed, while surrounding houses sustained damages.
A total of 60 people were evacuated to Bushland Middle School.
Witnesses reported seeing flames from their homes that reached hundreds of feet into the air. Even people as far as 20 miles away reported witnessing the fire from their homes.
Three people were injured in the blast, according to officials. The victims reportedly sustained burns and were transported to the Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo for treatment by doctors and nurses. Police officials have not released the identities of the victims. It has not been determined what caused the explosion.
El Paso Natural Gas and Atmos Energy crews are conducting an investigation.
One nearby home was completely destroyed, while surrounding houses sustained damages.
A total of 60 people were evacuated to Bushland Middle School.
Witnesses reported seeing flames from their homes that reached hundreds of feet into the air. Even people as far as 20 miles away reported witnessing the fire from their homes.
Three people were injured in the blast, according to officials. The victims reportedly sustained burns and were transported to the Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo for treatment by doctors and nurses. Police officials have not released the identities of the victims. It has not been determined what caused the explosion.
El Paso Natural Gas and Atmos Energy crews are conducting an investigation.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Company hits gas line in Tennessee, then calls for permission to dig
BRISTOL, Tenn. - The company responsible for a March 10 natural gas leak in downtown Bristol called in a dig request after the fact, a state official said on March 11.
Even though failing to acquire a permit before digging is a misdemeanor, it remains unclear if any charges will be filed against McCall Commercial Fencing, based in Johnson City.
McCall called the Tennessee Regulatory Agency on March 10, about 30 minutes after one of its workers hit an underground gas line, said Bill Turner, executive director of Tennessee One-Call, the state group tasked with monitoring underground utilities.
"They called in ... 2:30 eastern time," Turner said in a phone interview with a local newspaper. "It was not an emergency call, it was just a normal dig request."
About 2 p.m., a half-hour earlier, the workers had hit the line while drilling fence post holes in a parking lot behind a downtown pottery business.
In Tennessee, failure to call before digging is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 48 hours in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.
Atmos Energy, the Dallas, Texas,-based company that owns the underground gas line, could bill the fence company for the cost of natural gas lost as well as for capping the leak. "They're still calculating the total cost," Atmos Energy spokesman Joel Amos said.
Bristol Tennessee City Manager Jeff Broughton said the city will not seek to recover the cost of police and fire department manpower needed to clear sections of downtown Tuesday. "We don't typically act on something like that," Broughton said.
The accident sent gas shooting upward into the air and prompted emergency officials to evacuate businesses in the immediate area, re-route traffic and shut down that section of State and Shelby streets. Fire officials called it a very dangerous situation.
It isn't unusual for businesses to call after the fact, Turner said. "It's not legal, but sometimes these contractors roll the dice, do the work and then – if they hit something – call in. The law says you're supposed to give three working days notice."
State agencies have no authority to prosecute, however. "That's up to the local authorities," Turner said. "We're having problems getting localities to prosecute, because they've got murderers and rapists to deal with."
Larry Borum, chief gas pipeline safety officer for the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which sets the rates and service standards of privately owned utilities, said third-party damage is the leading cause of problems with underground utilities nationwide.
"This contractor won't face the TRA, but we're working to get some legislation passed that would change that," Borum said in a phone interview. "Tennessee's damage loss prevention law has little or no enforcement." (Source: David McGee and Michael Owens, Bristol Herald Courier, March 12, 2009)
Even though failing to acquire a permit before digging is a misdemeanor, it remains unclear if any charges will be filed against McCall Commercial Fencing, based in Johnson City.
McCall called the Tennessee Regulatory Agency on March 10, about 30 minutes after one of its workers hit an underground gas line, said Bill Turner, executive director of Tennessee One-Call, the state group tasked with monitoring underground utilities.
"They called in ... 2:30 eastern time," Turner said in a phone interview with a local newspaper. "It was not an emergency call, it was just a normal dig request."
About 2 p.m., a half-hour earlier, the workers had hit the line while drilling fence post holes in a parking lot behind a downtown pottery business.
In Tennessee, failure to call before digging is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 48 hours in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both.
Atmos Energy, the Dallas, Texas,-based company that owns the underground gas line, could bill the fence company for the cost of natural gas lost as well as for capping the leak. "They're still calculating the total cost," Atmos Energy spokesman Joel Amos said.
Bristol Tennessee City Manager Jeff Broughton said the city will not seek to recover the cost of police and fire department manpower needed to clear sections of downtown Tuesday. "We don't typically act on something like that," Broughton said.
The accident sent gas shooting upward into the air and prompted emergency officials to evacuate businesses in the immediate area, re-route traffic and shut down that section of State and Shelby streets. Fire officials called it a very dangerous situation.
It isn't unusual for businesses to call after the fact, Turner said. "It's not legal, but sometimes these contractors roll the dice, do the work and then – if they hit something – call in. The law says you're supposed to give three working days notice."
State agencies have no authority to prosecute, however. "That's up to the local authorities," Turner said. "We're having problems getting localities to prosecute, because they've got murderers and rapists to deal with."
Larry Borum, chief gas pipeline safety officer for the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which sets the rates and service standards of privately owned utilities, said third-party damage is the leading cause of problems with underground utilities nationwide.
"This contractor won't face the TRA, but we're working to get some legislation passed that would change that," Borum said in a phone interview. "Tennessee's damage loss prevention law has little or no enforcement." (Source: David McGee and Michael Owens, Bristol Herald Courier, March 12, 2009)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)