PORTLAND, Maine — Summit Natural Gas of Maine has requested a meeting with state regulators over a recommended $150,000 fine stemming from state inspections that found the company damaged sewer lines during pipeline installations in the Kennebec Valley.
An attorney for the company said in the request that the company “takes the [Maine Public Utilities Commission’s] allegations and concerns very seriously” and that it has already implemented some of the commission’s recommendations.
The fine joins another three pending cases the Maine Public Utilities Commission has initiated against the company, with proposed penalties totaling $300,000. Summit has requested meetings with regulators to discuss what commission staff deemed to be probable violations in each case.
The latest violation notice, issued Oct. 10, said Public Utilities Commission inspectors found the company damaged sewer lines in 25 places. In 26 others, Summit placed natural gas pipelines too close to sewer or water lines, according to the Public Utilities Commission, which issued three other notices of probable violation to the company in July.
The meeting request allows the company to take up issues outlined in any of the commission’s notices to come to an agreement over a penalty and corrective measures. Any disagreements would go to the Public Utilities Commission commissioners for a decision.
That includes recommended fines of $100,000 for problems with employee training, $30,000 for not following proper procedures in fusing plastic pipes and $20,000 for improperly fusing butt joints.