Questar may face fine over Saratoga Springs blast

State regulators want to penalize Questar Gas Co. $40,000 for a natural-gas explosion that killed a young mother and a gas company employee in Saratoga Springs earlier this year.

Questar says release of the report and recommendation by the Utah Department of Public Utilities is premature because an investigation is continuing.

The explosion and fire leveled the home of Greg and April Roper on Feb. 6, killing April Roper, 24, and Questar employee Larry Radford, 48. The Ropers' 18-month-old daughter, Olivia, was slightly injured by the blast, which officials said also caused minor damage to a nearby home.

A police statement shortly after the accident said a contractor had struck a plastic pipe, releasing natural gas.

The Utah Division of Public Utilities' Pipeline Safety Section investigated the explosion. On Aug. 6 the division filed a notice of probable violations and proposed civil penalties.

The notice says the division "has recommended that Questar Gas be preliminarily assessed a civil penalty of $40,000, the maximum amount possible" in the situation. The proposal is awaiting action by the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities.

"It has been determined that Questar Gas committed a probable violation by failing to ensure maximum precautions for the safety of the general public and company personnel and by not following its plans and procedures," says the notice, which was hand-delivered to a Questar vice president in Salt Lake City.

"Although Mrs. Roper and her daughter, Olivia Roper, were evacuated from the house, Questar Gas permitted Mrs. Roper to accompany Questar Gas employee Mr. Larry Radford into the house when the house was not safe for the public to enter. This conclusion is based upon the investigation conducted by the DPU (Department of Public Utilities), the action taken by Questar Gas and Mrs. Roper, statements by witnesses, and the fact that the house exploded shortly after Mrs. Roper and Mr. Radford entered it. ... "

April Roper should not have been allowed to re-enter the home "until there had been a definitive, documented finding that the house was safe for the public to enter," it adds.

Darren Shepherd, spokesman for Questar, said the company had sought a protective order from the PSC "to hold the report until we get a chance to go over and review it with the division. ...