Natural Gas Pipeline Raises Explosion Fears
The installation of a natural gas transmission line in the middle of Manhattan prompted this recent headline in the Village Voice: “Will a New High-Pressure Gas Line Help New Yorkers—Or Blow Them Up?”
The Village Voice quoted residents who are concerned about the danger of explosion. It
cited the 2012 pipeline explosions in West Virginia, Texas and Massachusetts and noted 82 “significant incidents” involving gas pipelines in 2011. The article also reminded readers of the famous 2010 gas-line explosion in San Bruno, Calif., which leveled 35 houses and killed eight people.
The New York pipeline has made headlines from the start. Last May, the New York Times reported details of the $1.2 billion project, which runs through Staten Island, Bayonne, Jersey City and Manhattan, totaling 15.2 miles of pipeline. The Times reported that the project’s supporters and opponents “cited safety concerns, including the possibility of accidental explosions beneath densely populated areas, industrial sites and bodies of water.”
Any pipeline accident that causes “a fatality, substantial property damage, or significant environmental impact” is investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board: Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigation. Its Office of Pipeline Safety provides guidelines and regulations regarding pipelines in the United States.
International safety guidelines are provided by the International Pipe Line & Offshore Contractors Association. The organization provides detailed safety instructions for crew members, executive management, construction managers, project managers, project engineers and superintendents.
Pipeline explosions are often a concern for construction workers. If you have been injured in an explosion from a natural gas line or any other source, contact the New York and New Jersey construction accident attorneys at the Ginarte law firm. The lawyers at Ginarte are dedicated to getting compensation for the construction accident victims.
