Federal inspectors say third party construction may have damaged a Texas Eastern Transmission Co. trunk line that ruptured Mar. 24 at Edison, N.J.
The resulting blast and fire flattened eight buildings in a nearby apartment complex and heavily damaged six others. One person died of an apparent heart attack, and about 100 others suffered bums or smoke inhalation.
National Transportation Safety Board and Transportation Department investigators were working on the theory that the pipe may have been gouged during construction of an asphalt plant near the rupture site.
The 36 in. line was installed in 1961, and the apartments were built in the mid-1980s. The line was last pigged in 1986. Inspection found no abnormalities in that section of the line, leading the company to believe the damage to the pipe occurred after that.
A spokesman last week said Texas Eastern did not know when an 80 ft section of damaged line would be replaced and service resumed. The company has increased deliveries to U.S. northeast markets through two 20 in. trunk lines.
Five days after the accident, Texas Eastern said it had advanced more than $1.5 million in cash and temporary housing to more than 250 displaced families.
The Transportation Department ordered the line's normal pressure to be reduced 30% to 680 psi and a smart pig be run through the line from Lambertville, N.J., to Linden, N.J., when service resumes.
New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman asked state regulators to require new inspections for all gas transmission lines in the state.
NTSB will issue a report on the probable cause of the accident in 9-12 months.
