Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) released the following statement on the final report of the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency investigating the disaster. In April, Congresswoman Trahan, along with Congressman Seth Moulton and Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren introduced the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act, legislation that responds to deficiencies uncovered during the preliminary investigation into the September 13 disaster.

Large portions of that legislation were passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in July. The House Transportation and Infrastructure as well as the Energy and Commerce committees are currently reviewing the legislation as they work on advancing a broader pipeline safety bill.

Earlier this month, the Merrimack Valley commemorated the one-year anniversary of the deadly explosions and fires that took the life of Leonel Rondon.

“Today’s NTSB meeting offered additional insight into the tragic events of September 13, 2018. This preventable disaster is a tragic demonstration of the need for Congress to strengthen pipeline safety laws. That is why I am proud to stand with Senator Markey, Senator Warren, and Congressman Moulton to fight for the Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act – legislation the mobilizes the NTSB’s safety recommendations to make sure that no other community across the country has to go through what Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover went through last year,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

“As the recovery process continues in our communities, I am glad that the Board’s investigators provided a thorough explanation of how events unfolded that day, as well as some closure to those impacted by this disaster, especially Leonel Rondon’s family,” continued Congresswoman Trahan.

On November 26, 2018, Senator Markey hosted a Senate Commerce Committee field hearing in Lawrence with Senator Warren, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), then-Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06), and then-Congresswoman-elect Lori Trahan. The hearing focused on the September 13 natural gas pipeline explosions and fires that killed Leonel Rondon, injured more than two dozen, and damaged more than 100 structures.

During the hearing, the Board’s investigators reported two probable causes of the gas explosions: “The NTSB determines that the probable cause of the over pressurization of the natural gas distribution system and the resulting fires and explosions was Columbia Gas of Massachusetts’ weak engineering management that did not adequately plan, review, sequence and oversee the construction project that led to the abandonment of a cast iron main without first relocating regulator sensing lines to the new polyethylene main. Contributing to the accident was a low pressure natural gas system designed and operated without adequate overpressure protection.” The Leonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act addressed both of these causes by closing loopholes related to engineering reviews and mandating measures to shut down the flow of gas in an emergency.

###