By Peter Hall | Pennsylvania Capital-Star
A deadly 2023 chocolate factory explosion in Berks County fueled by leaking natural gas was the impetus for a package of gas safety bills, the third of which passed Wednesday in the state House.
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House Bill 1522 would require property owners to install flammable gas detectors in residences, businesses and other buildings that have appliances using natural gas, propane or other liquified petroleum gases. Owners of single family homes or apartment buildings would be required to install detectors only after a sale or change in tenancy.
The other two measures , which apply to gas utilities and steam pipeline owners, passed in January and are awaiting consideration in the state Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee.
Prime sponsor, Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D-Berks), whose district includes the site of the R.M. Palmer Company factory explosion in West Reading, said the legislation directly addresses the causes of the blast. It killed seven workers, injured 10 others and leveled one of the three buildings in the plant.
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The explosion and fire caused $42 million in property damage. A nearby apartment building was also destroyed, displacing three families.
“There is an empty space in our community left by the seven lives we lost that day,” Cepeda-Freytiz said in remarks on the House floor. “Their families deserve action — action that ensures no other community has to endure the same heartbreak. I will continue to push for these bills as they move through the Senate.”
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Last month, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission filed a formal complaint against UGI Utilities, Inc. following an investigation.
Investigators and safety engineers with the PUC “determined that natural gas leaked underground from a retired plastic service tee connected to a vintage Aldyl-A plastic pipeline” that ran under Cherry Street, which splits the Palmer site.
Aldyl-A polyethylene is a type of plastic used starting in the 1960s for underground gas lines. It was revolutionary for its corrosion resistance but early examples were prone to degradation.
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The gas migrated inside the factory and was ignited by an unknown source. A corroded underground steam pipe contributed to the incident, the PUC said. It cited a National Transportation Safety Board report that said the gas line was installed too close to the steam line and that the heat contributed to the degradation of the plastic fitting that leaked.
House Bill 1525 would require the owners of steam pipelines in public rights-of-way to register the lines with the Pennsylvania One Call System, a privately funded nonprofit that provides services locating underground utility lines before construction.
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Another proposal, House Bill 1526, would require the PUC and natural gas pipeline operators to work together to develop a program to manage degrading plastic pipes.
The flammable gas detector bill passed Tuesday was amended to exclude residence halls and other buildings owned by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Instead, the system’s board of governors must develop a comprehensive fuel gas safety program to identify, evaluate and mitigate risk from flammable gas.
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PASSHE would also be required to install gas detectors where appropriate within three years of the effective date of the legislation.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@penncapital-star.com.
