Maine Natural Gas Company to Pay $307K for Safety Violations
Summit Natural Gas of Maine has agreed to pay the state a $307,000 fine for safety violations, including a potentially catastrophic gas leak in Augusta, Maine.
The state Public Utilities Commission said the violations stem from construction work performed by the natural gas company and subcontractors beginning in 2013. Commissioner Carlisle McLean said the commission’s investigation “may have prompted” Summit Natural Gas to take a hard look at its management and contracting practices. Chairman Mark Vannoy noted that Summit overhauled its quality assurance processes, oversight of subcontractors and internal company training and construction manual. The company also hired a new CEO, Kurt Adams, in 2015.
In a statement, Adams said the company has strengthened pipeline safety standards and will focus on providing “safe, reliable and clean-burning natural gas.”
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