2008 Woodie Awards
State fines Atmos Energy, contractor $80K
Issue date: 8/7/08 Section: NEWS
DALLAS (AP) - A state regulator has fined Atmos Energy and one of its subcontractors $80,000 after finding violations connected to a deadly natural gas-related explosion in McKinney.
The May 16 explosion destroyed two homes and sent three people to hospitals, including 71-year-old Nancy Foster, who later died. The Dallas County medical examiner's office ruled Foster's death last month at Parkland Memorial Hospital was because of complications from burns.
In a report released Tuesday, the Texas Railroad Commission documented eight violations, six by Atmos and two by M.J. Sheridan of Texas, whose work crew cut the pipeline.
The Railroad Commission report cited Atmos for violations in the areas of procedures, records, operator qualification and drug and alcohol testing. The commission faulted M.J. Sheridan for shortcomings in damage prevention.
Frank Branson, an attorney for the Foster family, said he was astounded by the commission's findings.
"This takes you through the handbook of what not to do," he said in Tuesday's online edition of The Dallas Morning News.
Ray Granado, spokesman for Atmos Energy, late Tuesday said in a statement that the company had just received the Commission's report.
"We support our employees, who we believe took appropriate actions at the time of the incident," the statement said. "We continue to review our practices and protocols in the wake of this tragedy, and will respond further at the appropriate time."
The May 16 explosion destroyed two homes and sent three people to hospitals, including 71-year-old Nancy Foster, who later died. The Dallas County medical examiner's office ruled Foster's death last month at Parkland Memorial Hospital was because of complications from burns.
In a report released Tuesday, the Texas Railroad Commission documented eight violations, six by Atmos and two by M.J. Sheridan of Texas, whose work crew cut the pipeline.
The Railroad Commission report cited Atmos for violations in the areas of procedures, records, operator qualification and drug and alcohol testing. The commission faulted M.J. Sheridan for shortcomings in damage prevention.
Frank Branson, an attorney for the Foster family, said he was astounded by the commission's findings.
"This takes you through the handbook of what not to do," he said in Tuesday's online edition of The Dallas Morning News.
Ray Granado, spokesman for Atmos Energy, late Tuesday said in a statement that the company had just received the Commission's report.
"We support our employees, who we believe took appropriate actions at the time of the incident," the statement said. "We continue to review our practices and protocols in the wake of this tragedy, and will respond further at the appropriate time."
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