NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Columbia Gas has accepted blame for the 2019 explosion that leveled a home along Park Lane in North Franklin Township, damaged many others and injured several people. The company says it failed to include that home on maps for a gas line improvement project. The damaged and destroyed homes have all been rebuilt and repaired, but after years of investigating, Thursday, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission imposed a $990,000 civil penalty against Columbia Gas as part of an agreement reached by utility regulators and the gas company. The agreement also calls for enhanced training for Columbia’s employees and improved mapping protocols for work on gas lines, among other safety measures. In response to the settlement, a Columbia Gas spokesperson released a statement reading, in part, “This revised joint settlement reinforces our focus on operational excellence and commitment to system maintenance and modernization. We are confident that the enhanced procedures, training, and safety practices we have implemented will enable us to continue to maintain the safe operation of our system for our customers in North Franklin Township and across our Pennsylvania service territory.” Communications Manager Lee Gierczynski went on to say, “We thank the community of North Franklin Township for its patience and understanding throughout this process, and we will continue to work to earn the trust and confidence of our customers there by delivering on our mission to provide safe and reliable energy solutions to meet their needs.”