Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
PURA hearing examines alleged falsified pipeline safety records at Spicer Plus; regulator cites missing cathodic surveys and an expired technician qualification
Summary
At a March 24 PURA hearing, regulators alleged Spicer Plus Inc. failed to keep required cathodic protection survey records at two sites and that a technician performed patrols after a required qualification expired; Spicer’s witnesses said records and procedures have since been tightened and denied knowledge of intentional falsification.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority held a public evidentiary hearing March 24 on docket 25-11-05 to consider a proposed civil penalty against Spicer Plus Inc. for alleged pipeline safety violations. Interim PURA Chairman Tom Weil opened the hearing, which focused on missing or deficient cathodic protection survey records for two jurisdictional propane sites and on one technician’s expired qualification.
Kevin Dowling, a PURA public utilities engineer in the agency’s gas pipeline safety unit, testified that he audited Spicer’s records at the company’s Salem office during visits Aug. 26–28 and Sept. 2, 2025, and found gaps tied to federal pipeline safety rules in 49 CFR part 192. Dowling said the GPSU cited two principal issues: a cathodic protection survey record that “appeared visibly altered” for a Hebron site (20 Liberty Drive) and missing annual survey documentation for a Mystic site (18–22 West Main). “When I compared the 2021 cathodic protection survey record for 20 Liberty Drive in Hebron with the 2020 record from the binder, I realized that the records looked very similar…exact copies except for the dates and form review sign-offs,” Dowling testified, adding that supervisor sign-offs on the 2021 page were missing.
Dowling also described a separate compliance concern involving technician qualifications. He told the panel that Spicer’s electronic operator‑qualification records (Energy WorldNet) showed technician James Riley performed patrols after his qualification for…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
