Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for their scheduled hearing, Pipeline Safety: Reviewing the Status of Mandates and Examining Additional Safety Needs. 

In September of last year, a series of devastating gas explosions struck the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. The explosions claimed the life of 18 year old Leonel Rondon and injured dozens more. The disaster also caused millions of dollars in property damage to homes and businesses. Rep. Trahan, who represents the communities impacted, has been in close contact with individuals and businesses as they seek to settle claims with Columbia Gas and its parent company, NiSource and continue their recovery. 

You can download footage of Rep. Trahan’s testimony HERE. The text of her full remarks can be found below: 

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Testimony of The Hon. Lori Trahan

U.S. Representative (MA-3)

Before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

Pipeline Safety: Reviewing the Status of Mandates and Examining Additional Safety Needs”

Capitol Visitor Center, HVC 210

April 2, 2019

Chairman Lipinski and Ranking Member Crawford, thank you for allowing me to testify today on an issue that has been weighing on so many hearts and minds in my District for the past 28 weeks…

… Ever since a series of preventable errors triggered gas-fueled explosions across Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts.  

The explosions destroyed homes and damaged businesses… caused multiple injuries and took a young life.

To briefly recap events: At four in the afternoon on Thursday, September 13^th, a cascade of explosions rocked over 130 homes and businesses, burning several to the ground.

Terrified residents had no idea what was happening or why or when it would stop.

While the National Transportation Safety Board likely won’t issue its final report and recommendations for several more months, its interim report revealed shocking details that demand action. 

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts was replacing gas pipelines in the area; and major errors were made throughout the process.

One of the biggest was the mishandling of a gas pressure sensor line.  This sensor signals to an automated system whether to adjust gas flow.  

However, when the new pipeline was installed, the sensor line remained in the old, abandoned pipeline.  

The lack of flow in the old line led the sensor to call for more and more gas in the new line.

Across the country, people saw the consequences on the evening news.

This should never have happened. 

In November, the Board recommended that Columbia Gas revamp its engineering review process to more securely plan for whenever public safety may be at risk. 

It recommended that company records be updated with critical details, such as the location of sensor lines – as industry standard practice calls for. 

The Board also recommended that the company implement a “management of change” process to identify and mitigate potential risks ahead of project-work. 

Finally, the Board urged Massachusetts to repeal a law that exempted gas companies from securing the seal of a professionally licensed engineer on these projects.  

Indeed, it is my understanding that more than a dozen states have such exemptions in place.

To their credit, the Commonwealth’s Governor and Legislature quickly acted to repeal the exemption. 

Furthermore, I’m told that Columbia Gas is in contact with the Board to implement the industry recommendations.

Nevertheless, I urge the Committee to be bold by strengthening safety standards and mandating professional engineer reviews.

Over the past seven months, I’ve met with many victims of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions. 

I heard stories of courage and commitment – nowhere more so than in Lawrence, a community known as the “City of Immigrants.” 

One local hero, Police Officer Ivan Soto, learned that his home was one of those on fire. 

Nevertheless, once he knew his family was safe, Officer Soto returned to duty to help as many people as he could. 

Doctors Yeri Park and Chelsea Harris were graduate medical residents at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.  

Neither is from Lawrence. Dr. Park is from Los Angeles, in fact. 

But they and their colleagues sprang into action to help victims and offer surge support as the local hospital already had its hands full. 

But despite their heroics, there is no replacing some of what was lost. 

Luis Suazo owns a bodega. 

He is one of many first-generation immigrants who started his own successful business in Lawrence. 

But he could lose it all. 

His regular customers are still financially strapped from the disaster.

That’s a feeling he is intimately familiar with himself; he’s currently navigating an extended damage claims review process.  

Plus, quite frankly, many residents are fearful that there may be more explosions, so they stay indoors.  

That means less foot traffic and fewer customers in the Suazo Market. 

Finally, Leonel Rondon. 

Leonel was a student celebrating his new driver’s license that day.  

Then, a house exploded, and a piece of chimney collapsed onto the car he was in, killing him. 

His sister, Lucianny, testified at a Senate field hearing in Lawrence last November.  She said we hope there will be justice for [Leonel] and the community.  Nobody should ever have to go through what my family has gone through ever again.”

I invite you to come to the Merrimack Valley: 

See the damage for yourself; 

Meet those who suffered losses as well as those who came to the rescue.   

Finally, I implore this committee to approve a strong reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Act this year.  

I stand ready to work with you on legislation to prevent such a disaster from happening again.   

Thank you.

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