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Proceedings sought for New Mexico gas explosion

[March 29, 2013]  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico pipeline safety regulators say New Mexico Gas Co. violated state laws and federal regulations during work that occurred before a 2012 explosion in a Santa Fe subdivision.

The Public Regulation Commission's staff is asking the commission to hold formal proceedings on the accident that injured two company workers when they cut into a pipeline with a hacksaw.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican (http://bit.ly/14ycumJ), the staff's petition recommends that the company be required to take steps to prevent similar accidents.

Investigators say violations include not properly purging the line of gas before working on it and not having workers wear flame-retardant clothes.

The company disputes some of the investigators' finding. A company spokeswoman declined to comment because the matter is under investigation.

[Associated Press]

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