The state House has passed two bills aimed at addressing natural gas safety concerns in the wake of the March 2023 fatal explosion at a West Reading chocolate factory.
The March 24 blast, which took the lives of seven workers when it leveled an R.M. Palmer Co. plant on South Second Avenue, was the result of a natural gas leak, according to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The final report found that a cracked, out-of-use fitting allowed natural gas to leak into the basement of what was known as Building 2. The gas accumulated there and was ignited by an unknown source, causing an explosion and fire that killed seven workers, injured 10 and destroyed the building.
The old fitting developed cracks due to exposure to high temperatures, largely caused by steam escaping through a nearby pipe, the report found.
The new legislation, introduced by Rep. Johanny Cepeda Freytiz, a Reading Democrat, was crafted to prevent future, similar disasters from happening.
“As we approach the three-year anniversary of the devastating R.M. Palmer factory explosion, we continue to feel the impact it had on our community, including the loss of seven of our neighbors,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “The measures outlined in these bills will save lives and ensure that we learn from this tragedy, so no one else has to suffer as our community has.”
House Bill 1525 would require all owners and operators of pipelines transporting steam located in public rights-of-way to register with the Pennsylvania One Call System so property owners and construction workers know where steam lines are located.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 183-16 on Wednesday.
House Bill 1526 would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to work with natural gas pipeline operators to develop guidance and management programs to address threats to degrading plastic pipelines.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 110-89 on Wednesday.
Both bills will move to the state Senate for consideration.
A third bill in this legislative package remains in the House.
House Bill 1522 would require buildings that use natural gas to install alarms to detect leaks. It is expected to be brought to the House floor soon for consideration.