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Officials discuss safety of natural gas
Kelsey Kruzich / Staff Photo: Although an explosive device was detonated at this natural gas regulator station on June 17, the gas didn't ignite thanks to safeguards built into the system.
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
Natural gas regulator stations are safe and don’t pose a risk to the general public, officials from Atmos Energy and the city of Plano said Tuesday.
The comments come a month after an explosion occurred at an Atmos regulator station in the 3600 block of West Parker Road. The homemade explosive device damaged the regulator and resulted in a small leak, which was shut off by Atmos workers.
Anson Chi, 33, was critically injured by the explosion and has since been arrested and indicted on federal weapons charges. He is currently in custody while awaiting trial. No one else was injured by the explosion.
Atmos spokeswoman Jennifer Ryan said the regulator, which takes highly pressurized natural gas and decreases the pressure so the gas can be fed into neighborhoods, received only minor damage. She said all of the company’s safeguards worked as planned and prevented the natural gas from igniting.
The company routinely conducts first responder training with local agencies to ensure everyone is on the same page if an emergency does occur, Ryan said. Atmos met with officials from Plano Tuesday at the company’s Plano facility on Mapleshade Lane.
“I was reassured in the meeting that we all have one common objective and No. 1 priority, and that is the safety of our citizens,” Tilley said. “We both want to educate the public, but we don’t want them to live in fear.”
Several residents who live near the site of the explosion have asked for a chain-length fence to be installed at the site to help keep people away, Tilley said. The decision on fences will be left up to Atmos, but Tilley said he didn’t think a fence would have prevented the June 17 explosion.
“This was a very unfortunate incident that took place, but there are extremists throughout our nation and if someone wants to cause damage, they are going to be able to do it regardless of what precautions are taken,” Tilley said. “All you can make it more inconvenient for them.”
Ryan said no decision has been made on the feasibility of installing a fence around regulator stations. She said all options are being considered, and added that it is not a simple decision since Atmos serves 1,600 communities in 12 states.
Regulator stations are common throughout the natural gas industry, which operates 2.4 million miles of pipelines in the United States, Ryan said.
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