Better reporting, maintenance recommended for gas utilities

Task force seeks more inspectors and increase in fines to improve safety

M.H. ‘‘Jim” Estepp, former County Council member and chairman of the task force, said the group did not include the Adelphi explosion in the report since it occurred so recently, but generally called for better maintenance and reporting for local gas companies in his group’s findings.

The report recommended that the county require an annual ‘‘State of the System” report from Washington Gas and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. outlining their gas system condition and all improvement plans. The report also recommended an annual report of leaks be submitted from those gas providers.

‘‘It is a serious matter ... We pretty much are dealing with a self [enforced] industry,” Estepp said. ‘‘The current practice of allowing the industry to police itself ... we believe should be phased out.”

The report requested that at least three additional inspectors be added under the state Public Service Commission to monitor natural gas distribution. It also recommended giving the county the authority to increase fines from $1,000 to $5,000 for violations of local ordinances. The increase would be aimed at punishing contractors who hit and rupture gas lines but are rarely held accountable.

Ralph Fisher, head of operations for Washington Gas, had no comment on the substance of the report but said Washington Gas would file a written response.

‘‘I can assure you that this report has been read by everybody in our company,” he told the council.

Washington Gas has been working to repair gas leaks in about a 100-square-mile area of Prince George’s ever since the explosion in District Heights. In that case, the company traced the problem to what it said were deteriorating rubber seals in the pipelines’ couplings.

E-mail Judson Berger at jberger@gazette.net.