Federal gas pipeline explosion investigation (Mississippi)

Cited as the case that produces the PHMSA federal-report machinery. Not developed further here.

Same thing on a federal level when they have a big gas pipeline. I had an explosion in Mississippi a few years ago, actually when they were building it. Anything like that happens, the utility has to give a report — it's now part of TSA. What's TSA? Transportation Security Administration. It used to be part of the Department of Commerce or Energy, but it's PHMSA — Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. There's a federal organization in Atlanta, and they get a report, and these reports cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, because the government has an interest in making sure it doesn't happen again. Just like OSHA — there's an industrial accident, someone gets hurt, they go in and they will fine people. They don't really care about what caused it so much, they just want to fine the company.