The National Transportation Safety Board met on Sept. 24, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. (EDT), to determine the probable cause of the Sept. 13, 2018, series of explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts.
The explosions and fires occurred after high-pressure natural gas was released into a low-pressure gas distribution system in the northeast region of the Merrimack Valley. The system over-pressure damaged 131 structures, including five homes that were destroyed. Most of the damage was a result of structure fires ignited by gas-fueled appliances. One person was killed and 22 individuals, including three firefighters were transported to area hospitals.
The urgent safety recommendations issued earlier in the investigation are available at https://go.usa.gov/xVx73.
WHO:
NTSB investigative staff and board members
WHAT:
An open to the public board meeting
WHERE:
NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center, 420 10th St., SW, Washington, DC
WHEN:
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, 9:30 a.m. (EDT)
The public meeting will also be webcast. A link to the webcast will be available shortly before the start of the meeting at http://ntsb.windrosemedia.com/.
Abstract
Watch the Board Meeting archive video on the NTSB YouTube Channel
Presentations
Opening Statement - Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt
Staff presentations
Closing Statement - Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt
Webcast
NTSB public events are also streamed via live webcast. Webcasts are archived for a period of 3 months from the date of the meeting. Webcast archives are generally available by the end of the event day for public meetings, and by the end of the next day for technical conferences.
If you wish to obtain a copy of an NTSB meeting, please contact the NTSB Records Management Division at (202) 314-6551, or 800-877-6799. You may also request this information from the NTSB website, or write to the following: National Transportation Safety Board, Records Management Division (CIO-40), 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20594.
