“The explosion caused by a leaking natural gas line on Feb. 27 that killed one man, destroyed one home and damaged 30 others in Royal Oak was a terrible tragedy that may have been prevented. While state agencies and local public safety departments are still trying to understand exactly how the explosion happened, we already know that there are over 3,100 miles of aging iron pipes carrying natural gas across Michigan, and many sections of those pipelines are at risk of corrosion, cracking and rupturing. The owners of these pipelines, responsible agencies and contractors must be held accountable when the lines are allowed to age, leak and cause catastrophes or safety standards are not met. I will be working with the Michigan Public Service Commission, the utility companies, and our local communities to determine the best way to replace the aging pipelines, draft regulations that protect the public and ensure that our communities don’t see more disasters like the one that occurred earlier this year.”
