NY 1 – September 10, 2014
by Jon Weinstein
Even while the investigation into what exactly caused the East Harlem explosion continues, there are already a series of changes in place when it comes to monitoring gas leaks and the gas pipeline system in the city. NY1’s Jon Weinstein filed the third part of his series.
In its preliminary report, the National Transportation Safety Board said its investigators found a gas leak in a section of piping underneath Park Avenue.
The investigation isn’t complete, but Con Edison is already making some changes.
Starting this fall, the entire gas system—thousands of miles—will be patrolled once a month instead of once a year.
“So 12 a year versus one a year, so that we at least get out there and catch things before they become a problem,” says Michael Clendenin of Con Ed.
Con Ed won’t speak to the specifics of the East Harlem explosion that killed eight people – the utility says it will wait for the NTSB’s findings.
It’s likely to face a number of lawsuits. For now, employees showed us how they’re monitoring the system and trying to prevent dangers from arising.
“This unit would identify and pickup any methane plumes that we come across,” Con Ed Supervisor John Dimiceli says, pointing to a piece of equipment in his truck.
There is a roving inspection team.
Using sensors on the bottom of this truck, they’re looking for above normal amounts of gas in the atmosphere.
We were with them as the alarm went off on 90th and West End. The procedure calls for them to stop immediately and investigate.
“Right now we have a .1 percent reading, which indicates there’s gas in the air, but not dangerous enough to do any kind of damage. But we’re still not finished investigating,” says Dimiceli.
In this instance, in order to get into one of the buildings, the FDNY was called.
Con Ed says gas leaks are broken into three tiers based on severity, and that’s how the time frame for repairs is determined. Some are fixed right away.
While this was a minor leak.
“There’s no such thing as a small leak. A leak is a leak,” Dimiceli says.
The FDNY is now more involved. It is responding to every gas leak called into 911 or 311.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito says there is a need to continue learning from what happened.
“As long as the dialogue is open and we can learn from these unfortunate situations, that’s the way we arrive at a better place,” says Mark-Viverito.
Con Ed also continues to emphasize if you smell a gas leak, you should immediately call it in either to 911 or 1-800-752-6633.
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