Senate Bill S9136

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S9136          REVISED MEMO 08/13/2018

SPONSOR: BONACIC
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public service law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of flammable gas to clean or blow the the gas piping
of a major electric generating facility

 
PURPOSE:

This bill prohibits the use of flammable gas to clean or blow the gas
piping of major electric generating facilities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1:Amends the Public Service Law to prohibit the use of flammable
gas to clean or blow the gas piping of major electric generating facili-
ties. Further it requires the Public Service Commission to approve an
appropriate safety plan for any nonflammable gas blows conducted at a
major electric generating facility.

Section 2:Effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

On February 7, 2010 the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown,
Connecticut was severely damaged, and six workers were killed, when an
explosion occurred at the facility. It was later determined that the
explosion was the result of the use of high pressure flammable gas to
blow debris out of the gas piping in preparation for the plant to become
operational. In the wake of this tragedy the state of Connecticut passed
legislation to prohibit the use of flammable gas to clean or blow the
gas piping of electric generating facilities.  This bill creates a simi-
lar requirement in New York State law.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or
repeal of any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed
to be completed on or before such effective date.