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Thursday’s opinion and order from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission that focused on a settlement with Peoples Natural Gas Co., over the firm’s role in the fatal 2021 gas explosion and fire in Tyrone, contained references to a PUC case against the contractor whose actions caused the explosion — a case resolved two years ago with the imposition of an administrative penalty.

The contractor was Glenn Johnston Inc. of McKeesport, whose workers on the day of the explosion were using a horizontal drilling rig to create a path under the street for a water line connection when the drill bored a two-inch hole on both sides of a six-inch plastic gas main in front of the house that ultimately blew up and burned.

In the runup and immediate aftermath of that inadvertent penetration of the gas line, the company’s crew committed five violations of the PA One Call Law, for which the PUC’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) imposed a $50,000 fine, paid by the company in June 2024, although without admission of fault, according to electronic documents from the PUC.

The crew “failed to exercise due care and to take all reasonable steps necessary to avoid injury to or otherwise interfere” with the gas line, according to the I&E complaint.

The crew “failed to employ prudent techniques within the tolerance zone, such as hand-dug test holes, vacuum excavation or similar devices to ascertain the precise position” of the line, according to the complaint.

The crew “failed to immediately notify 911 (given that) the damage result(ed) in the escape” of gas from the line, according to the complaint.

The crew “failed to utilize the best practices published by the HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) Consortium,” according to the complaint. Those best practices include “meticulous site feasibility studies, thorough geotechnical investigations, proper drill path planning, specialized training for personnel and stringent safety procedures to prevent utility strikes,” according to an online source.

The crew “failed to schedule and conduct a preconstruction meeting” with Peoples, according to the complaint.

Prior to drilling, the company had created a One Call ticket that led to Peoples marking the street to denote the location of the gas line under the street, according to the complaint.

The Mirror left a voicemail Friday at the office of Glenn Johnston Inc. but hasn’t heard back.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.