Columbia Gas Company has agreed to pay the city of Springfield, Massachusetts $850,000 as a settlement for damage and injury that resulted from a natural gas explosion last year in the downtown area.
The city will get $650,000 to compensate for the damage the blast caused to streets and sidewalks, injuries to 18 municipal employees-most of them firefighters- and other expenses. Mayor Domenic Sarno said the gas company is giving the city $200,000 to develop an urban renewal plan for the affected area
Columbia Gas Company acknowledged responsibility for the explosion that occurred on the Friday evening following Thanksgiving. A worker punctured a high-pressure line while investigating a reported gas leak. A company spokesperson would not reveal how much was paid to settle more than 800 claims from affected businesses and individuals.
