Merrimack Valley ExplosionsStories on the 9/13/18 gas explosions and fires that rocked three communities$56M Explosions Settlement Between Columbia Gas, Massachusetts ApprovedThe settlement with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent, NiSource, was agreed to in July and approved Wednesday, the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced in...Local CoverageOct 8, 2020Columbia Gas To Pay $56M Settlement In Merrimack Valley Explosions InvestigationThe $56 million payment from parent company NiSource -- a larger sum than the $53 million criminal fine imposed by a federal judge -- will form the basis of a...Local CoverageJul 2, 2020$143 Million Columbia Gas Settlement Gets Final Approval From JudgeThe resolution of a class action civil case comes two weeks after Columbia Gas agreed to plead guilty in a criminal proceeding, acknowledging it violated the federal Pipeline Safety Act.Local CoverageMar 12, 2020Columbia Gas Will Leave Mass. As It Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge After DisasterThe office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said Wednesday that it has secured a guilty plea from Columbia Gas, 17 months after the utility’s deadly pipeline disaster in...ResumeLocal Coverage02:52Feb 26, 2020Deadline To File Claim In Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions ApproachingFriday is the deadline to file a claim in the $143 million class action settlement stemming from 2018's natural gas explosions and fires.Local CoverageJan 31, 2020Advertisement$143M Columbia Gas Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval From JudgeColumbia Gas must begin mailing claim forms to about 175,000 residents and business owners who are eligible to collect payments. Local CoverageOct 11, 2019Mayor, Lawmakers Object To $143M Gas Explosions SettlementLawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera and four state lawmakers have proposed a new payout plan that includes $20 million for public safety improvements in light of a recent major gas leak...Local CoverageOct 8, 2019State Halts Columbia Gas Pipeline Work Amid ConcernsThe Department of Public Utilities ordered Columbia Gas to stop all work on its gas distribution systems in all service territories, including Lawrence, Springfield and Brockton, unless explicitly approved by...Local CoverageOct 4, 2019Lawyers Propose Plan For $143M Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions SettlementThe proposal calls for six categories of lump sum payouts, ranging from up to $50 for a "nominal" disruption to up to $15,000 for a "major" disruption.Local CoverageSep 26, 2019Lawrence Dedicates Square To Leonel Rondon On Anniversary Of Columbia Gas DisasterA new plaque honors the teen who died one year ago in an explosion caused by faulty pipe work on a Columbia Gas line. In an unnerving twist, the faint...Local CoverageSep 13, 2019A Year After Merrimack Valley Explosions, Lawrence Mayor Says Community Is Still RepairingLawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Bob Oakes to discuss the work left to be done for the city to fully recover. ResumeLocal Coverage05:47Sep 13, 2019Looking Back At The Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions, 1 Year LaterA year ago Friday a series of gas explosions shook the Merrimack Valley region. Here are some numbers to help explain what's happened since this deadly disaster first occurred. Local CoverageSep 13, 2019Columbia Gas Must Inspect 700 Lines Abandoned After Last Year's Merrimack Valley ExplosionsThe state's Department of Public Utilities will monitor the progress of Columbia Gas as the utility inspects 700 gas lines abandoned after last year's Merrimack Valley explosions.Local CoverageSep 12, 2019How Money In A Columbia Gas Settlement Fund Might Be DistributedAttorney Kenneth Feinberg, who managed a fund for Boston Marathon bombing victims, explains how a fund for victims of last year's gas pipeline explosions might work.Local CoverageJul 30, 2019Columbia Gas Reaches $143 Million Agreement With Residents, Businesses For Gas ExplosionsThe settlement applies to thousands of businesses and residents in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover that had sued Columbia.ResumeLocal Coverage02:31Jul 29, 2019Businesses Still Struggle To Bounce Back From Columbia Gas Explosions After Nearly A YearNearly a year after the deadly Columbia Gas explosions, one-third of affected businesses are not operating like they were before the disaster.ResumeLocal Coverage03:40Jul 9, 2019Columbia Gas Reaches Settlement With Family Of Teen Killed In ExplosionsAlso Tuesday, officials announced a campaign to reinvigorate the local economy by encouraging people to shop in the area.Local CoverageJul 9, 2019Columbia Gas Reaches $80 Million Settlement With Communities Affected By Gas ExplosionsAndover, Lawrence and North Andover will receive a settlement to cover the costs of digging up about 50 miles of roadway for gas line replacement, as well as associated overtime,...Local CoverageMay 7, 2019Columbia Gas Settles With Lawrence Family Hurt In ExplosionsThe utility and the family didn't disclose the settlement amount, but said it includes providing a motorized wheelchair, a mobility van and modifications to the family's Lawrence home.Local CoverageApr 30, 2019'No More Slaps On The Wrist': Markey, Trahan Propose Pipeline Bill With Far Stiffer PenaltiesThe legislation is in response to the explosions and fires in Merrimack Valley last year.Local CoverageApr 8, 2019Next Page
$56M Explosions Settlement Between Columbia Gas, Massachusetts ApprovedThe settlement with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent, NiSource, was agreed to in July and approved Wednesday, the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced in...Local CoverageOct 8, 2020
Columbia Gas To Pay $56M Settlement In Merrimack Valley Explosions InvestigationThe $56 million payment from parent company NiSource -- a larger sum than the $53 million criminal fine imposed by a federal judge -- will form the basis of a...Local CoverageJul 2, 2020
$143 Million Columbia Gas Settlement Gets Final Approval From JudgeThe resolution of a class action civil case comes two weeks after Columbia Gas agreed to plead guilty in a criminal proceeding, acknowledging it violated the federal Pipeline Safety Act.Local CoverageMar 12, 2020
Columbia Gas Will Leave Mass. As It Pleads Guilty To Federal Charge After DisasterThe office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said Wednesday that it has secured a guilty plea from Columbia Gas, 17 months after the utility’s deadly pipeline disaster in...ResumeLocal Coverage02:52Feb 26, 2020
Deadline To File Claim In Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions ApproachingFriday is the deadline to file a claim in the $143 million class action settlement stemming from 2018's natural gas explosions and fires.Local CoverageJan 31, 2020
$143M Columbia Gas Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval From JudgeColumbia Gas must begin mailing claim forms to about 175,000 residents and business owners who are eligible to collect payments. Local CoverageOct 11, 2019
Mayor, Lawmakers Object To $143M Gas Explosions SettlementLawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera and four state lawmakers have proposed a new payout plan that includes $20 million for public safety improvements in light of a recent major gas leak...Local CoverageOct 8, 2019
State Halts Columbia Gas Pipeline Work Amid ConcernsThe Department of Public Utilities ordered Columbia Gas to stop all work on its gas distribution systems in all service territories, including Lawrence, Springfield and Brockton, unless explicitly approved by...Local CoverageOct 4, 2019
Lawyers Propose Plan For $143M Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions SettlementThe proposal calls for six categories of lump sum payouts, ranging from up to $50 for a "nominal" disruption to up to $15,000 for a "major" disruption.Local CoverageSep 26, 2019
Lawrence Dedicates Square To Leonel Rondon On Anniversary Of Columbia Gas DisasterA new plaque honors the teen who died one year ago in an explosion caused by faulty pipe work on a Columbia Gas line. In an unnerving twist, the faint...Local CoverageSep 13, 2019
A Year After Merrimack Valley Explosions, Lawrence Mayor Says Community Is Still RepairingLawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Bob Oakes to discuss the work left to be done for the city to fully recover. ResumeLocal Coverage05:47Sep 13, 2019
Looking Back At The Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions, 1 Year LaterA year ago Friday a series of gas explosions shook the Merrimack Valley region. Here are some numbers to help explain what's happened since this deadly disaster first occurred. Local CoverageSep 13, 2019
Columbia Gas Must Inspect 700 Lines Abandoned After Last Year's Merrimack Valley ExplosionsThe state's Department of Public Utilities will monitor the progress of Columbia Gas as the utility inspects 700 gas lines abandoned after last year's Merrimack Valley explosions.Local CoverageSep 12, 2019
How Money In A Columbia Gas Settlement Fund Might Be DistributedAttorney Kenneth Feinberg, who managed a fund for Boston Marathon bombing victims, explains how a fund for victims of last year's gas pipeline explosions might work.Local CoverageJul 30, 2019
Columbia Gas Reaches $143 Million Agreement With Residents, Businesses For Gas ExplosionsThe settlement applies to thousands of businesses and residents in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover that had sued Columbia.ResumeLocal Coverage02:31Jul 29, 2019
Businesses Still Struggle To Bounce Back From Columbia Gas Explosions After Nearly A YearNearly a year after the deadly Columbia Gas explosions, one-third of affected businesses are not operating like they were before the disaster.ResumeLocal Coverage03:40Jul 9, 2019
Columbia Gas Reaches Settlement With Family Of Teen Killed In ExplosionsAlso Tuesday, officials announced a campaign to reinvigorate the local economy by encouraging people to shop in the area.Local CoverageJul 9, 2019
Columbia Gas Reaches $80 Million Settlement With Communities Affected By Gas ExplosionsAndover, Lawrence and North Andover will receive a settlement to cover the costs of digging up about 50 miles of roadway for gas line replacement, as well as associated overtime,...Local CoverageMay 7, 2019
Columbia Gas Settles With Lawrence Family Hurt In ExplosionsThe utility and the family didn't disclose the settlement amount, but said it includes providing a motorized wheelchair, a mobility van and modifications to the family's Lawrence home.Local CoverageApr 30, 2019
'No More Slaps On The Wrist': Markey, Trahan Propose Pipeline Bill With Far Stiffer PenaltiesThe legislation is in response to the explosions and fires in Merrimack Valley last year.Local CoverageApr 8, 2019