UGI PENN NATURAL GAS
gas_distribution Incident — DUNMORE, PA
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | UGI PENN NATURAL GAS |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | DUNMORE |
| State | PA |
| County | LACKAWANNA |
| Coordinates | 41.41414, -75.62522 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
ON DECEMBER 4, 2014, BETWEEN 1:00 AM AND 2:23 AM, A 2"" MEDIUM-PRESSURE (60 PSIG MAOP) HIGH-DENSITY PLASTIC MAIN INSTALLED IN MAY OF 2014 ON SMITH ST., IN DUNMORE, PA, AND OWNED BY UGI PENN NATURAL GAS, INC., WAS CAUSED TO LEAK AFTER ITS SIDEWALL WAS ERODED BY THE ABRASIVE EFFECT OF SAND AND GRAVEL MOBILIZED BY A HIGH-PRESSURE JET OF WATER EMANATING FROM AN 1880 CAST IRON WATER MAIN WHICH WAS OPERATED AT 100 PSI BY PA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY. POST INCIDENT INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE WATER MAIN WAS HEAVILY CORRODED AND A THIN SECTION ON THE TOP OF IT RUPTURED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE WATER MAIN WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BENEATH THE GAS MAIN. ESCAPING GAS MIGRATED TO 413 SMITH STREET, AND AT 3:51 AM THE GAS IGNITED CAUSING AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE, AND RESULTING IN A FATALITY AT 413 SMITH STREET. 413 AND 411 SMITH ST. WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED AND ADJACENT STRUCTURES INCURRED MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGES. 5/30/2018 UPDATED COST ESTIMATE OF DAMAGES AND SUBMITTED REPORT AS FINAL.
About This Pipeline Incident
Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.