PITTSBURGH (AP) — A newspaper reports Pennsylvania has more than 10,000 miles of dangerously leaky, decades-old natural gas distribution pipes and it could cost $11 billion to replace them all.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Tuesday that federal records show Philadelphia has the highest concentration of leaky gas lines in the state. In 2013, Philadelphia Gas Works reported 89 leaks per hundred miles of gas line — eight times the national average.
According to the newspaper’s analysis, accidents involving gas distribution lines have killed more than 120 people nationwide, injured more than 500 others and caused more than $775 million in damage since 2004.
Peoples Natural Gas and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania plan to spend more than $1 billion to replace pipe over the next few years.
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