Comment

Comment by guest_blog on August 22, 2013 at 6:10pm

Sissonville residents sue over gas pipeline explosion

By Kate White

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Several Sissonville residents sued NiSource and its subsidiary, Columbia Gas Transmission, in Kanawha Circuit Court on Monday over December's massive gas line explosion and fire.

In seven separate lawsuits, the residents allege the companies and others didn't "exercise due care" in maintaining the transmission pipeline that ruptured.

The Dec. 11 explosion and blaze destroyed houses, sent flames shooting nearly 100 feet into the air on both sides of Interstate 77, and melted asphalt and guardrails on the highway. No one was killed or seriously injured.

The blast occurred on a 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission line segment that was installed in 1967, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report.

The lawsuits, filed for the residents by Warner Law Offices of Charleston, allege the companies failed to adequately train employees in safety inspection in regard to maintaining the gas transmission lines. They also claim inadequate training in emergency response.