Tag Archives: explosion

NTSB tells PHMSA to fix its horrible pipeline safety methods

Tired of reporting on explosions unprevented by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). just issued a damning set of recommendations to PHMSA, plus to an alphabet soup of other organizations to ride herd on PHMSA to try to get some improvement. How about instead we stop building new pipelines and get on with solar power?

NTSB said its motivation was three recent explosions it reported: the 2009 Palm City, Florida flying pipeline that almost hit a high school, the 2010 San Bruno, California PG&E Pipeline Rupture and Fire, and the 2012 Sissonville, West Virginia I-75 house destruction, about which NTSB said:

These three accidents resulted in 8 fatalities, over 50 injuries, and 41 homes destroyed with many more damaged.

And NTSB reporting on PHMSA’s failures goes back way farther than that, Continue reading NTSB tells PHMSA to fix its horrible pipeline safety methods

Radar saw fracked methane pipeline explode near reservoir, Jackson, MS

If a pipeline explodes and only trees are burnt, does anybody care? This one was picked up by National Weather Service radar. Have you ever heard of solar panels exploding?

Josh and Toni Hardy, MSNewsNow, 14 January 2015, Pipeline fire burns out; leaves behind scorched patch of forest, Continue reading Radar saw fracked methane pipeline explode near reservoir, Jackson, MS

No eminent domain for water-threatening unnecessary Sabal Trail pipeline –GA Rep. Dexter Sharper District 177

The state representative for Valdosta and parts of Lowndes County cited their two resolutions and enumerated lack of need for a pipeline, threatening letters from Sabal Trail, alternative routes next to a school, ill effects on business including on forestry and agriculture and private property valuations, potential sinkholes due to drilling under the Withlacoochee River, including on the preferred route, or anywhere in the fragile karst limestone containing the Floridan Aquifer, plus Spectra Energy’s own SEC filings say it doesn’t have insurance to cover the kinds of safety problems in Spectra’s own history nor those pointed out by Southern Natural Gas Company. Dexter Sharper noted local evidence that solar power is cheaper and safer, and echoed the Lowndes County Democratic Party in writing:

“…we have a moral obligation to leave our children and grandchildren with an earth as safe, beautiful, and majestic as the one bequeathed to us by our parents and grandparents.”

For all these reasons, on behalf of my constituents and the citizens of Lowndes County and the state of Georgia, I oppose the Sabal Trail pipeline anywhere in the County of Lowndes or the State of Georgia.

I urge that FERC reject any permit for the Sabal Trail pipeline, or at the very least move it entirely out of the State of Georgia.

Filed 7 January 2015 with FERC as Accession Number: 20150107-5100, “Comment of Dexter Sharper, Georgia State Representative, District 177, under CP15-17.” Continue reading No eminent domain for water-threatening unnecessary Sabal Trail pipeline –GA Rep. Dexter Sharper District 177

Christmas Eve Williams pipeline explosion evacuates residents

Merry Christmas from the fossil fuel industry!

Amy Wadas wrote for KDKA CBS Pittsburgh 25 December 2014, Pipeline Explosion Pushes Residents Out Of Homes On Christmas Eve,

Neighbors say flames were so bright they light the sky orange. The explosion was also so loud, they say it rocked their homes.

“I went upstairs to change and get ready for bed. I came down and looked out the side window. There’s a big ball of fire blowing up out of that thing,” neighbor Tracy Sampson said.

Tracy Sampson lives right next to Continue reading Christmas Eve Williams pipeline explosion evacuates residents

Giant fireball from 4-inch pipeline in Gilchrist County, FL 2012-06-27

The proposed 36-inch Sabal Trail pipeline next to that old FGT line would have 81 times as much gas; maybe more, since it’s apparently also higher pressure.

Gainesville.com staff reported 27 June 2013, Ruptured gas line explodes in Gilchrist,

A high-pressure natural gas pipeline exploded into a gigantic fireball and 30-foot-high flames in Gilchrist County on Tuesday night after a tree fell and ruptured the line, authorities said.

The tree also took down a power line, which officials said likely ignited the escaping gas.

Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Haz-Mat team and district chief responded to the scene in Bell at around 6:30 p.m. to assist Gilchrist County units.

An emergency crew from the natural gas company helped the rescue units find and secure a shut-off valve for the 4-inch line. The crews stood by while the residual gas burned off.

Gainesville.com posted video from Gainesville Fire and Rescue. It’s quite impressive, and unfortunately unembeddable, so follow the link to see it.

WCBJ TV reported 27 June 2012, Gas Line Explosion Lights up Road, Continue reading Giant fireball from 4-inch pipeline in Gilchrist County, FL 2012-06-27

Sabal Trail on Dirty Dozen and Flint River

Second day in a row, the Albany Herald covered the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline making the Georgia Water Coalition Dirty Dozen list. The Flint River would be affected just like the Withlacoochee River, and in Florida the Suwannee River and the Santa Fe River are in the same karst limestone that contains our drinking water in south Georgia and Florida in the Floridan Aquifer. These newspaper articles follow two previous Albany ones, a couple of Valdosta ones, and local, state, and national TV and newspaper coverage of protests and opposition to Spectra’s hazardous boondoggle. Sabal Trail’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad PR week continues….

Jennifer Parks, Albany Herald, 22 October 2014, Proposed gas pipeline, Flint make Dirty Dozen list: Textile manufacturer pollution, state water policy issues cited as problems for Flint River, Continue reading Sabal Trail on Dirty Dozen and Flint River

Major fire at Didcot natural gas plant in Oxfordshire, England

Usually it’s pipelines that explode, but 20 firetrucks rushed to a methane power plant in Didcot, Oxon, tonight. Somebody remind me: why are we building more of these when solar power is cheaper, faster, cleaner, and never leaks or explodes?

BBC 19 October 2014, Major fire at gas-fired Didcot B power station, Continue reading Major fire at Didcot natural gas plant in Oxfordshire, England

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line explosion, Centerview, MO 2014-10-13

A third explosion in Missouri on Panhandle Eastern’s 200 Line in six years. Panhandle is the parent company of Florida Gas Transmission (FGT), famous for throwing a pipe across the Florida Turnpike in 2009, near a high school.

Chris Oberholtz wrote for KCTV5.com 13 October 2014, Emergency crews respond to pipeline rupture, fire near Centerview,

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO (KCTV) – Emergency crews are on the scene of a pipeline rupture and fire near Centerview, MO.

The location is Northwest 701 Road and Northwest Division Road. This is a rural area with no homes threatened.

Sandi Wilsom wrote for KMZU 100.7 FM 13 October 2014, Update: Report of Gas Pipe Explosion in Centerview, MO, Continue reading Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line explosion, Centerview, MO 2014-10-13

300-foot fireball near Hughesville, MO, Panhandle Eastern Pipeline 2013-11-29

A 30-inch pipeline explosion was visible 30 miles away. The 36-inch Sabal Trail pipeline would carry 44% more fracked methane than that Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company Line 400, and could be even more destructive. “The most intense, scared feeling I’ve ever felt in my life,” said one witness.

Troy Diggs and Michelle Pekarsky reported for fox4kc.com 29 November 2013, Pipeline explosion sends fireball 300 feet into air, Continue reading 300-foot fireball near Hughesville, MO, Panhandle Eastern Pipeline 2013-11-29

Pilot Grove, MO PEPL explosion 2008-08-25

Not in a High Consequence Area (HCA)? 300x225 8/26/08 #13 -Different view of the possible failure origin after the pipe was turned over., in Pilot Grove, MO PEPL explosion, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 25 August 2008 Then a pipeline explosion may not even rate pictures on the news, even if your house or field or forest or river is what explodes. That’s what happened near Pilot Grove, Missouri 25 August 2008 on the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline 200 Line.

PHMSA, the so-called Pipeline and Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration, doesn’t actually know when the “impressed curent cathodic protection system” was energized, and doesn’t have the results of the last hydrostatic test, which was in 1955, 53 years before the pipeline corroded until it exploded. PHMSA’s Administrator just resigned, after continuing to let pipeline companies set the very definitions of accidents. Do you want to trust your air, water, property values, or safety to such an industry or such an agency?

Dennis Rich reported for the Sedalia Democrat 29 November 2013, Pipeline explodes near Hughesville,

Another Panhandle Eastern pipeline in the area ruptured on Aug. 25, 2008, near Pilot Grove in Cooper County and caused $1,046,359 in damages, according to a company pipeline failure investigation report.

Actually, it was Continue reading Pilot Grove, MO PEPL explosion 2008-08-25