Amendment #1 to H3873

Requiring DPU to investigate gas leak explosions

Mr. Chan moves to amend the bill by inserting after Section 5 the following new section:-

Section 1F of Chapter 164 of the General Law is amended after subsection (9) with the following new subsection:-

(10) After it is found that a gas leak caused an explosion by either the gas distribution company or a local or state public safety official, the Department shall open a full investigation within 24 hours after the explosion and shall require the distribution gas company to retain and preserve all materials related to the explosion, including, but not limited to, gas pipes, customer call recordings and records, inspection reports, maps of the gas line, and leak survey records, and make said materials for the Department for its investigation. The Department shall convene at least one public hearing in the community where the explosion occurred. Should it be determined by the Department that the distribution gas company was responsible for the explosion; the Department shall direct the distribution gas company to take specific action to prevent a future explosion and may issue a civil penalty not to exceed $250,000. Nothing in this clause shall prevent a gas distribution company from taking actions necessary to protect the public from a gas leak or from conducting repairs and replacements of gas lines subsequent to said explosion.