Gas leak near your home? A Dallas lawmaker thinks you should know [The Dallas Morning News]

Jan. 18–Updated on Jan. 17: Revised to include additional comments and information about the proposed bills.

Texas homeowners would know much sooner about dangerous gas leaks in their neighborhoods — and gas companies would have until late 2020 to replace older, decaying pipes — under legislation proposed by a Dallas lawmaker.

State Rep. Rafael Anchia on Wednesday filed a sweeping reform package — 11 bills total — that attempts to hold natural gas companies more accountable and prevent tragedies like the gas explosion that killed Linda Rogers last year in northwest Dallas.

“A 12-year-old girl was blown up while sleeping in her home,” Anchia said. “An entire community is grieving and we must never let this happen again. My proposals would increase transparency and public safety and hold bad actors accountable.”

The child’s home sat in the lawmaker’s district.

Many of the Democrat’s proposals seek to fix problems identified in an investigation by The Dallas Morning News last September, examining regulatory failings and gas leak explosions on Atmos Energy’s pipelines.

One bill would give Atmos and other gas companies 72 hours to alert neighbors after a leak is discovered in their neighborhood. Companies would have to give written notice in both English and Spanish. There’s no such requirement now.

Another measure would require gas companies to publish online maps showing the exact location of leaks. Currently, gas companies must file reports with the state every six months listing where leaks were discovered and repaired, but most people don’t even know that information exists.

The News’ investigation began after Linda died in the February 2018 explosion. Two other gas fires/explosions had occurred near her home, and Atmos was investigating leaks in her neighborhood the night before she died. But it did not cut off gas service or evacuate the area.

Reports showed a gas leak was discovered behind her home nearly two months before her house exploded. Her death is still under federal investigation. The News’ reporting found that leaking natural gas lines operated by Atmos Energy in north and central Texas had blown up more than two dozen homes since 2006, killing nine people and injuring at least 22.

Another bill would force companies to speed up replacement of leak-prone pipe — cast iron, wrought iron and bare steel — by Dec. 31, 2020. Atmos Energy has previously said it was working to remove all cast iron pipe on its Mid-Tex system, which includes Dallas, by 2021.

Last year, Atmos began replacing pipelines in a large swath of northwest Dallas after finding many more leaks in the area. Several homeowners complained publicly that they didn’t know about the leaks or replacements going on near them.

An Atmos spokeswoman said the company needed time to review the specific language in the bills, but looked forward to “working with Rep. Anchia on legislation that would further advance our shared goal of being the safest provider of natural gas.”

Also, Atmos said this week that it wants to charge Dallas customers higher rates to help offset its costs last year to replace aging pipes and gas service lines.

The Railroad Commission declined to comment on the bills. Its main priority is protecting the public and environment, agency spokeswoman Ramona Nye said Thursday. She said it vigorously enforces state rules and expects gas pipeline operators to follow them.

Some of Anchia’s reform measures have been suggested before, only to be repeatedly rejected by lawmakers. For instance, one bill would simply rename the Railroad Commission, which hasn’t overseen trains since 2005. Lawmakers have filed bills every session during the last decade to rechristen it. That still hasn’t happened.

Another Anchia bill would limit when the agency’s three elected commissioners can accept campaign contributions. For example, they couldn’t take money from companies with a contested case before the commission.

The Legislature considered, but ultimately rejected, a similar bill by Sen. Robert Nichols in 2013.

“Perception is very important — we need our citizens to feel like things are being run on the up and up,” said Nichols, a Republican who represents 19 counties in East Texas. He noted that he and other state lawmakers can’t take donations right before, during or right after the legislative session.

Will 2019 be any different? It’s hard to say.

Nichols said that he hadn’t read all of Anchia’s bills, but that he still supports the name change and the campaign donation limits.

“We always care about public safety, whether it be pipelines, highways, whatever,” he said. It’s a question of tradeoffs, he added — weighing any extra burden and costs of such proposals against the potential benefits.

“We have to make choices,” Nichols said.

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