‘Weak engineering management’ led to Columbia Gas disaster, federal prosecutors say

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts on Monday formally took blame for failing to safeguard against overpressurization that it long knew could lead to “a dangerous and catastrophic” event like the explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley in 2018 — and killed an 18-year-old.

Columbia president Mark Kempic took the witness stand in US District Court, swore an oath, and told the judge he was pleading guilty to a criminal felony charge, on behalf of the company, because it was guilty of reckless disregard and flagrant indifference to minimum safety standards.

The guilty plea, along with a $53 million fine and a promise to leave the state were among the conditions of a negotiated plea bargain designed to bring legal resolution to a community still reeling from the disaster.

Leonel Rondon, 18, was killed in the blasts that overtook Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover in September 2018.

Flames and explosions forced residents and business owners from their properties; 131 buildings were destroyed.

It all was avoidable, federal prosecutors said.

The company failed to monitor for overpressurization or heed warnings, and it knew at least one inexperienced field engineer was in over his head, federal prosecutor Neil Gallagher said.

The company’s reliance on inconsistent and outdated records and maps, along with lack of communication demonstrated “weak engineering management,” he said.