Edison, New Jersey natural gas explosion

The Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion and Fire occurred in Edison, New Jersey, on March 23, 1994, where a 36-inch (910 mm) diameter natural gas pipeline broke and exploded into flames next to the Durham Woods apartment complex along New Durham Road at its junction with Interstate 287. The cause of this breakage was given by the NTSB as mechanical damage caused by a backhoe that gouged out 1/4” of steel off the pipe. This was the result of an insurance situation where the owner of a personal vehicle buried their truck to receive insurance monies. This was done on a property adjacent to the complex. The resulting fire destroyed or severely damaged 14 of the apartment buildings. Over 1,500 apartment residents were evacuated, 125 resident apartments, 9 complete buildings, were destroyed and their occupants were left homeless. Miraculously, no one died as a direct result of the explosion.

NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found a gouge in the pipe, probably caused by excavation equipment years earlier which, in combination with brittle pipe material and excessive operating pressures, most likely led to the rupture. The NTSB also found fault with the use of manual shut-off valves, which were difficult to reach thus preventing operators from promptly cutting off gas that fueled the fire. NTSB cited that the pipeline had a lack of automatic or remotely-controlled shutoff valves. The NTSB also cited Texas Eastern for its failure to adequately monitor excavation activity on its right of way. =="One call" system==

"One call" system

In response to the fire, New Jersey passed regulations requiring excavators to call a telephone hotline prior to digging so that pipeline companies can mark the precise locations of their pipes on the dig site. Prior to 1996, the "one call" concept had become an accepted national practice. Subsequent to the accident, New Jersey lawmakers continued to call for tougher federal laws on pipeline safety. ==Tenants' lawsuits==

Tenants' lawsuits

Following the fire, over 2,000 tenants of Durham Woods and nearby residences sued Texas Eastern and 29 other defendants, including the township, Durham Woods' landlord, and the excavator who cracked the pipeline. By 1997, over half of these suits had been settled, most for $25,000 or less, but with $585,000 going to Sandra Snyder's estate. By 2000, Texas Eastern had paid nearly $65 million in settlements. ==References==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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