HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) – Pipeline safety engineers from the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) are continuing to investigate a home explosion in Redbank Township that injured a woman and destroyed buildings on the property.
(Photos by Dave Cyphert of ProPoint Media Photography)
The reported explosion on the evening of May 28 seriously damaged a home and adjacent greenhouse (Kemmer’s Greenhouse) along Pine Run Road in the village of Mayport in Redbank Township, Clarion County, and sent one person to the hospital for treatment.
Investigators from I&E – the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) – are coordinating their pipeline safety review with the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and have also conferred with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
As part of the preliminary investigation, engineers have identified three pipelines located near the site, including two natural gas transmission lines operated by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada), along with a natural gas line supplying the house and greenhouse operated by Empire Energy.
Two of those pipelines (the Empire Energy line and one of the TC Energy lines) have been placed out of service as part of the ongoing investigation. The third line is a TC Energy interstate transmission line under the jurisdiction of PHMSA and is not impacted by this investigation.
Pipeline safety engineers have been on-site since shortly after the incident was reported to the PUC and continue working to determine whether natural gas service was involved in the incident and whether there were any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations.
I&E investigators thanked emergency responders and other agencies for their quick work addressing the incident and ongoing cooperation.
Reporting Pipeline Safety Incidents
The Pipeline Safety Division encourages residents and businesses located near pipelines to understand how to recognize and report unusual incidents involving those lines – including the sounds, smells, and sights of possible leaks.
Pipeline operators are required to regularly provide safety and awareness information to property owners along their routes, along with emergency contact information.
If you suspect a leak, call 9-1-1 or local emergency responders and the pipeline operator from a safe location.
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Home Explosion That Injured Redbank Township Woman Destroyed Three Buildings Declared Accidental
