Fines multiplied in Gov.’s pipeline safety bill

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s pipeline safety bill is moving through the legislature. The measure passed by the House Judiciary Committee Friday.

The bill would increase fines the state Public Service Commission can hand out in connection with pipeline safety violations. The current fine levels have been the same since 1969.

The move is in response to last December’s natural gas line explosion near Sissonville in Kanawha County, but the proposed changes would not have applied in that incident.

The PSC only has power to issue civil penalties on pipelines that begin and end in West Virginia. The Sissonville line, owned by Columbia Gas Transmission, traveled from here to other states.

West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association President Robert Orndorff spoke to the judiciary committee before it voted on the bill. He says it’s incumbent upon the industry to operate safe pipelines.

“The pipeline industry in West Virginia, throughout this nation, is the safest regulated industry through the (federal) Department of Transportation,” Orndorff said. “Our incidents are dramatic, but not very often, which is a good thing.”

The Sissonville explosion destroyed homes and a section of Interstate 77. The NTSB is continuing its investigation into the blast.

The governor’s bill raises the state’s civil penalties to the same level as federal penalties.

Fines for violations cannot exceed $200,000 per day per violation under the terms of the bill. The current fine level is up to $1,000 a day. The bill says the maximum civil penalty can be up to $2 million for a series of violations. The cap is currently $200,000.

The judiciary committee approved an amendment that would keep gas companies from passing the cost of the fine on to customers through PSC-approved rates.

Orndorff said he couldn’t see a company trying to do that.

“If we were to have an accident and it would be perceived it was the company’s fault my assumption is the company would assume that as a cost against the profits of operating that company,” he said.

The bill now heads to the full House of Delegates for consideration.

Wood County teen dies in accident

An 18-year-old died after an accident on Route 14 in Wood County Friday.

Wood County Sheriff’s deputies said Brendon Wigal was driving southbound on Route 14 at about 6 a.m. when drifted into the northbound lanes and struck another car.  That vehicle was driven by Emily Babbitt, 23, of Racine, Ohio.

Police said Wigal was pronounced dead at the scene.  Babbitt and a passenger were sent to Camden Clark Medical Center.  Babbitt is in good condition; the passenger was released.

Wigal is from Vienna, police said.  The family dog that was in the car also died.

Man tried to break in at State Police Detachment, troopers say

A Wyoming County man is facing charges after police say he tried to break in to the State Police Detachment in Jesse.

Bailey Fritz III, 42, is charged with attempted breaking and entering, destruction of property, and possession of marijuana.

Police say he was unsuccessful, but tried to gain entry to the detachment on Feb. 11.

Fritz has been arraigned and is behind bars at the Southern Regional Jail.

Sequester could hurt W.Va. airports

Automatic federal spending cuts could seriously affect airports in West Virginia.

The Federal Aviation Administration says air traffic control towers at several airports – including Huntington, Bridgeport, Lewisburg and Parkersburg – could close if the so-called sequestration takes effect.

The FAA could also get rid of some staff members at airports.

If Congress does not reach a deal, the sweeping federal cuts go into effect March 1.

Lincoln voters reject proposed school bond

School leaders in Lincoln County will have to regroup now that voters have soundly rejected a proposed $24 million dollar school bond.

Vote totals released on Saturday showed 595 people voted for the bond while 1,777 voted against the 15 year long bond that would have built two new schools and renovated several others.

The projects that will have to wait include the following:

- A new $18 million consolidated elementary school for Midway and Duval with space for 600 students.

- A new $12 million Guyan Valley middle school for more than 270 students in grades six through eight.

- More than $6 million in new athletic facilities at Lincoln County High School, including a new football field and running track.  Another $3 million would have been put into additional classrooms and other improvements.

- About $1.7 million in upgrades and additions at West Hamlin Elementary School.

The state School Building Authority had allocated $17 million for the Lincoln County projects with a bond passage requirement.  Members of the SBA will now consider other ways to spend that money.

Wirt levy gets enough votes

Big cuts will not have to be made to the operating budget in Wirt County.

An operating levy was approved there on Saturday 791-317.  The 70% approval rating was well above the 60% requirement for passage.

It was the third time voters in Wirt County were asked to consider the levy.  It came close to passage in November when almost 59% of voters were in favor of it, but that was not enough for the mandated supermajority.

Without the levy, which generates more than $200,000 every year, county officials had said they would have to cut more than 20% from the budget.

Wirt County is the only county in West Virginia to have an operating levy.  It pays the salaries of non-elected county employees, the regional jail bills and funds county maintenance.

Man Hit and Killed by KRT Bus; Name Released

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Police have released the name of a man who was hit and killed by a KRT bus Thursday morning.

Police say Joseph Bias, 40, was at the corner of 4th Avenue and Stockton Street in Charleston when a KRT bus hit and killed him.

At this time, police are still investigating how the accident happened, but believe that Bias stepped on the street as the KRT bus turned onto 4th Avenue and was hit.

The accident happened about 5 a.m. while it was still dark. Police are investigating if visibility was a factor.

Five passengers were on the bus at the time of the accident. At this time, no charges are expected to be filed against the driver.

The driver of the bus has requested several days off from work because of the accident.

He is expected back at work Monday.