Earlier this month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completed its first public hearing on a pipeline accident in more than a decade.  The en banc hearing held March 1-3 was on the San Bruno, California natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion that occurred on September 9, 2010.  The accident killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes in a suburb of San Francisco.

In addition to all five Board Members who comprised the Board of Inquiry, the technical panel included 10 NTSB investigators and specialists: Ravi Chhatre (IIC), Mike Brown, Mike Budinski, Karl Gunther, Matt Nicholson, Dana Sanzo, Carl Schultheisz, Bob Trainor, and Frank Zakar. Also, Senior Aviation Investigator, Lorenda Ward was detailed to the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations as the hearing officer.  The NTSB called a total of 28 witnesses to testify during the 3-day hearing.

The proceedings received extensive news coverage; 21 members of the new media attended the hearing, and many more watched the webcast.  Chairman Hersman indicated that the San Bruno accident investigation is a high priority for the NTSB and set a goal of completing the investigation within 12 months of the accident.

Click here to view witness video shown at the San Bruno hearing.