Mass. pols want answers in gas blasts

Massachusetts U.S. senators are looking for answers from Columbia Gas, which serves areas north of Boston where dozens of explosions were started last week.

The pressure in pipelines running through Andover, North Andover and Lawrence was 12 times higher than normal rates, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey said in a letter sent to Columbia Gas on Monday.

“The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has reported that the pressure in the Columbia Gas system should have been around 0.5 pounds per square inch (PSI), but readings in the area reached at least 6 PSI — 12 times higher than the system was intended to hold,” the letter said. “We write to request that you provide us with information in order to help understand why this terrible disaster occurred..”

One person died and dozens were injured in the blasts.