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EYEWITNESS LOCAL NEWS
PIPELINE SAFETY LEGISLATIONfrom Eyewitness News Online WV House Approves Steeper Pipeline Safety Fines Reported by:  Associated PressWeb Producer: Jeff Morris Reported: Feb. 28, 2013 1:16 PM EST Updated: Feb. 28, 2013 10:57 PM EST
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Fines would soar for safety violations involving nearly three-fourths of West Virginia's natural gas pipelines under legislation approved by the House of Delegates. The measure passed 91-7 to the Senate on Thursday follows the December inferno triggered when a line ruptured in Sissonville. No one was killed, but the resulting fire destroyed a section of highway and four homes. Federal rules oversee that and other interstate transmission lines. Thursday's bill would apply to an estimated 11,100 miles of pipeline that run within the state's borders. Fines levied by the Public Service Commission would increase from $1,000 to $200,000 per violation. The maximum penalty would rise from $200,000 to $2 million. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin proposed the measure. It was amended to ensure violators can't recoup fines by hiking utility rates. Fines would soar for violating safety rules for certain West Virginia natural gas pipelines under legislation approved by the House of Delegates. The measure passed 91-7 to the Senate on Thursday follows the December inferno triggered by a ruptured gas line in Sissonville. No one was killed, but the resulting fire destroyed a section of highway and four homes. Federal rules oversee that interstate transmission line. Thursday's bill would apply to about 10 percent of the pipelines that gather natural gas from well sites. It would increase fines levied by the Public Service Commission from $1,000 to $200,000 per violation. The maximum penalty would rise from $200,000 to $2 million. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin proposed the measure. It was amended to ensure violators can't hike utility rates to recoup fines. Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
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