Pipeline safety staff with the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission are recommending Cascade Natural Gas pay nearly $5.7 million for dozens of alleged safety violations that led to a fire and fatality in 2023. 

UTC staff’s recommendation stems from their investigation of an incident on Sept. 22, 2023. A Southern Pines Trucking driver hauling a liquefied natural gas, or LNG, trailer pulled away from an active LNG transfer in Toppenish, releasing around 83 barrels of LNG, according to a release. The escaping LNG formed a vapor cloud, which ignited upon contact with a nearby ignition source. 

One of the on-site contractors sustained severe burns and died two days later. Another contractor was not physically harmed while the truck driver was treated for burns and released from the hospital.  

Equipment and vehicles were damaged but there was no other environmental harm, UTC staff reported. The investigation found 66 alleged violations of state and federal pipeline safety laws and regulations. 

“Cascade Natural Gas is evaluating the allegations made by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in this complaint.  Safety is a core value at Cascade, and we take these allegations seriously,” the company said in a statement to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

The commission, which is not obligated to follow the pipeline safety staff’s recommendation, will review the complaint and supporting evidence before making a final decision.  

No timeline for a decision was announced by the UTC. 

In February, UTC pipeline safety staff recommended a $1 million penalty be levied against the company for failing to adhere to the terms of a past settlement agreement resulting from a finding the company was not properly addressing leaks in its pipelines. The commission has yet to issue a decision on that recommendation as well. 

Cascade Natural Gas is based in Kennewick and serves 222,000 customers across the state.