Pipe fractured in Pine County explosion was ‘susceptible to integrity issues’

(Carlton County Fire News)PINE COUNTY, Minn. – The United States Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is overseeing the investigation into the natural gas pipeline explosion that happened in Pine County. LF-ERW pipe of this vintage is known to be susceptible to integrity issues.”The order tells Northern Natural Gas Company, who owns the pipeline that exploded, to fix the problem and investigate what happened. Northern Natural Gas has an extensive Asset Modernization Program that is being executed. Northern Natural Gas’ Asset Modernization Program was developed nearly a decade ago to address vintage facilities and integrity risk. Within four months and one day from the explosion, Northern Natural Gas Company must also submit a “Remedial Work Plan”.