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Panel to Discuss West Virginia Explosion, Spill

The federal Chemical Safety Board is coming to Charleston to release findings about a New Cumberland metal recycling plant explosion that killed three workers in December 2010.

At the July 16 meeting, the board will also update the public on its investigation of a January chemical spill. The Freedom Industries tank leak contaminated drinking for 300,000 people for days.

In March, metal recycler AL Solutions in New Cumberland settled to pay a $100,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a $97,000 penalty to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The settlement requires Al Solutions to process or dispose of 2.4 million pounds of titanium and zirconium stored at New Cumberland and Weirton facilities by December. Al Solutions also must implement safety procedures for the New Cumberland plant.

NTSB Determines Cause of December 2012 Sissonville Pipeline Explosion

Federal investigators have determined the cause of a Colombia Gas Transmission pipeline explosion in West Virginia in December 2012.

In a report released Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the explosion was caused by external corrosion and a lack of recent inspections. The agency said the corrosion could have been discovered by the pipeline operator.

On December 11, 2012, a 20-inch high-pressure natural gas pipeline running through Sissonville, West Virginia ruptured with so much force that a 20-foot-long segment of pipe was thrown more than 40 feet from where it had been buried.

The released natural gas ignited and burned so hot that it charred 800 feet of roadway along nearby Interstate 77, destroyed three homes, and melted the siding on houses hundreds of feet from the rupture site.

Pa. Environmental Officials Hope to Have Well Controlled By End of Week

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officials say they hope the gas well that went up in flames last week can be controlled by Friday.

“Obviously, there’s a number of contingencies that could occur, from weather, to unanticipated problems,” said Scott Perry, spokesman for the DEP.

A fire last week caused significant damage to a gas well that had been hydraulically fractured. It’s just north of the West Virginia border.

Perry says the well was going to be going through a process where water is removed from the well, when the explosion occurred. The investigation is ongoing.

“The most critical question is why did this well fail,” said Perry.

“There was an uncontrolled release of gas, and that was ignited from a source that was yet to be determined.”

Gas is still venting at the site. One worker at the site when the explosion occurred is missing. Officials told media outlets Wednesday remains were found at the site, and the worker is presumed to be dead.