LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Federal officials are presenting to Massachusetts residents their findings and recommendations following last September’s natural gas disaster in the Merrimack Valley.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt will discuss the investigative report Friday at the Lawrence Public Library along with U.S. Senator Edward Markey, Congresswoman Lori Trahan and state and local officials.
The NTSB, which investigates major pipeline incidents, released the final version of its report Thursday. Last month, it concluded Columbia Gas of Massachusetts poorly planned a pipeline replacement project and then inadequately responded to the disaster.
“Columbia Gas of Massachusetts’ weak engineering management that did not adequately plan, review, sequence and oversee the construction project,” NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said.
The company has said the report will help it and others learn from the tragedy.
“The NTSB’s work is an important step in the effort to enhance pipeline safety. Our own understanding of events generally aligns with that of the NTSB. We look forward to reading the final report and welcome it because it will help us, our industry partners, the public and others learn from this tragedy. As we’ve said since that tragic day, we take responsibility for what happened.”
A teenager died, dozens of others were injured and more than 100 structures were damaged in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover in the Sept. 13, 2018, fires and explosions.
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