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National Transportation Safety Board investigating deadly Dallas gas blast

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National Transportation Safety Board investigating deadly Dallas gas blast

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a deadly gas explosion on Atmos Energy Corp.'s Dallas system as the company conducts a related pipeline replacement project in the area.

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The fatal Feb. 23 explosion occurred at the residence highlighted in yellow, and separate fires took place Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 at the homes highlighted in green.

Sources: National Transportation Safety Board; Atmos Energy Corp.

The NTSB, an independent agency that assesses the root cause of incidents and makes policy recommendations, said in a March 1 news release that the board plans to look at Atmos' operations and approach to managing the integrity of its gas system. The board also said it would evaluate the role environmental factors played in the Feb. 23 explosion.

In the wake of the explosion, Atmos began conducting leak surveys in the area. After finding an unexpected number of leaks, the company decided to shut off service to 2,800 customers and replace all the distribution mains and service lines in that part of northwestern Dallas. The customers may be without gas service for up to three weeks during the accelerated upgrade, according to the company. Atmos executives said March 1 that a combination of uncommonly heavy rains and geologic conditions put pressure on the pipeline system and caused leaks.

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The NTSB tagged the failed pipe connection, known as a service tee, as evidence, but ongoing rains have made evidence collection difficult.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board

The heavy rains have continued, complicating the NTSB's pipeline excavation and evidence collection process, the board said.

The fatal gas-fueled explosion Feb. 23 killed a 12-year-old girl and injured several other people, and in the days leading up to the explosion, two other homes on the same street experienced separate fires, according to the NTSB.

The NTSB found a leak at a pipe connection point in front of the house where the explosion happened, and the board is testing the 6-foot-long distribution mainline from that location. Investigators plan to do pressure tests on customer gas lines in that area over the coming days, the board said March 1.

Atmos, the Railroad Commission of Texas and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are participating in the investigation process.