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AFTER THIS HOME WAS LEVELED YESTERDAY. >> COLUMBIA GAS IS HEREBY SHUTDOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. KATELYN: WITH THAT DECLARATION, AND A LETTER HANDED DIRECTLY TO COLUMBIA GAS OFFICIALS, THE UTILITY COMPANY BARRED FROM DOING ANY WORK IN THE TOWNSHIP. THE GAS COMPANY, TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN EXPLOSION AT THIS HOME ALONG PARK LANE. >> OUR CUSTOMES DESERVE SAFE AND RELIABLE DELIVERY OF NATURAL GAS . WE FAILED TO DELIVER ON THIS MISSION. FOR THAT, WE ARE DEEPLY SORRY. KATELYN: THE COMPANY WAS REPLACING OLD GAS MAINS AND INSTALLING NEW GAS REGULATORS. THOSE REGULATE PRESSURE LEVELS OF GAS ENTERING HOMES. THIS HOME EXPLODED BECAUSE IT WAS CONNECTED TO THE SECTION OF MAIN BEING UPGRADED, BUT CREWS NEVER INSTALLED THE NEW REGULATOR. >> THE NEW SYSTEM WAS ENERGIZED AND BECAUSE THE PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS NOT ADDED, THE ELEVATED PRESSURE LED TO THE LEAK, WHICH LED TO THE EXPLOSION. >> THE FACT THAT A MISTAKE OF THIS MAGNITUDE OCCURED IS INCREDIBLE IRRESPONSIBLE AND IS INCREDIBLY NEGLIGENT. KATELYN: THE TOWNSHIP WANTS COLUMBIA GAS TO NOT ONLY REIMBURSE THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT TO PAY FOR CLEANUP, AND ANSWER TO THE COMMUNITY, WHO THEY SAY ARE LEFT CONFUSED, ANGRY AND OUTRAGED. >> HOW DO YOU ENSURE A FRAZZLED COMMUNITY THAT A NEGLIGENT ACT WHICH RESULTED IN LITERALLY A HOUSE BLOWING UP IS SIMPLY AN ISOLATED EVENT KATELYN: THAT MEETING IS SCHEUDLED FOR AUGUST 13 AT 5:00 P.M, THE TOWNSHIP SAYS THEY ARE EXPECTING A HUGE CROWD SO THEY

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A home in the Pittsburgh area that was leveled by an explosion did not have a pressure regulator that should have been installed by its gas company as part of a project to upgrade and replace gas mains in the area, the head of the utility said Thursday."The responsibility of this incident is that of Columbia Gas," said Mike Huwar, president of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. The house in North Franklin Township was located on a different street than the other homes associated with the project, and it slipped through both the initial project design and a secondary field survey, Huwar said."As a result, the necessary upgrade of adding a pressure regulator at the home was not done," he said. "Therefore, when the new system was engaged, and because the pressure regulator was not added, the elevated pressure led to a leak which caused the explosion.""The fact that a mistake of this magnitude occurred is incredibl irresponsible and is incredibly negligent," said North Franklin Township Supervisor Bob Sabot. North Franklin Township supervisors handed Columbia Gas a 'cease and desist' order on Thursday, barring them from doing any work throughout the township."Columbia Gas is hereby shut down in this community until further notice," said Sabot. "No further upgrading of lines, changing of meters, regulators or any other so-called upgrade work will be permitted in North Franklin Township."The homeowner and three volunteer firefighters were taken to hospitals after the explosion. Neighbors living several streets away reported feeling the impact of the powerful blast that reduced the house to debris."Our customers deserve safe, reliable delivery of natural gas. We failed to deliver on this mission -- and for that, we are deeply sorry," Huwar said.The township is holding a community meeting on Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. at the fire department and is inviting Columbia Gas to attend and answer questions from the community."How do you ensure a frazzled community that a negligent act which resulted in literally a house blowing up is simply an isolated event," asked Sabot. "We expect them to make amends and to cleanup our neighborhoods and begin to restore confidence at a public meeting on Aug. 13."