The pipe pressure before the gas explosions was 12 times too high

Pressure in pipelines before a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from US state senators to officials of the service company in charge of the pipelines.

The United States Democratic Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent the letter Monday to seek answers on the explosions of the leaders of Columbia Gas, the company serving the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas.

The Federal Administration for Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials reported that pressure in the Columbia gas system was expected to be around 0.5 psi, but surveys in the region were minus 6 PSI meant to hold, "said the letter.

The pressure spike recorded in a Columbia Gas control room in Ohio, Senators said in the letter, which requests an answer by Wednesday.

"We are writing to ask you to provide us with information to help Americans understand why this terrible disaster has occurred, if the society was sufficiently prepared to respond to an incident of this magnitude and how we can avoid tragedy. similar in the country. " future, "the senators wrote.

Dozens of explosions and fires occurred last Thursday killed one person and injured more than two dozen others. Approximately 8,600 clients were affected and many had to evacuate their homes for several days and could be deprived of gas for weeks.

The explosions are under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB President Robert Sumwalt said the investigation was partly focused on pressure sensors connected to a gas line that was shut down shortly before the explosions.