Natural Gas Company to Pay More than $1M in Fines over Oklahoma City Blast

Oklahoma Natural Gas will pay more than $1 million in fines for a gas explosion in Oklahoma City.

The Jan. 2 blast destroyed one home and damaged about 50 others. One person was burned and two people were treated for breathing problems.

ONG has agreed to pay $1.01 million to settle complaints by the Transportation Department of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The proposal says no money will come from customer rates and it must be approved by the Corporation Commission.

The complaints say ONG failed to properly investigate a leak the day before the explosion; didn’t investigate or document investigations of at least eight previous leaks; and didn’t perform or document performance of surveillance after the leaks.

ONG spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said the company takes full responsibility and apologizes.