Summit to pay $307,000 for safety violations
The Maine Public Utilities Commission and Summit Natural Gas of Maine have reached a consent agreement that requires Summit to pay $307,000 in penalties for safety violations stemming from work done by the company and subcontractors during the 2013 and 2014 construction seasons.
Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported that the safety violations ranged from workers not being trained properly to improper welds and pipeline connections.
“This is a very significant fine or penalty for Summit, but quite proportional to the importance we attach to gas pipeline safety in Maine,” PUC Commissioner Bruce Williamson told MPBN.
In the 31-page consent agreement, Summit also agreed to implement safety-related changes in its hiring of contractors and other construction-related practices specified in the document.
"Safety is the foundation of Summit’s approach to providing natural gas service," Summit CEO Kurt Adams told MPBN in a statement. "Since coming on as CEO of the company in 2015, we have worked hard to strengthen our pipeline safety standards in an effort to ensure the integrity of our system. With our new standards in place, we are eager to move forward focused on our goal of providing safe, reliable and clean-burning natural gas to people and businesses in Maine."
PUC Chairman Mark Vannoy told MPBN that since the time of the violations Summit has improved its operations.
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