Complaint filed against Cascade Natural Gas Corporation

OLYMPIA – State regulators say that Cascade Natural Gas Corporation is unable to provide required documentation for nearly 40 percent of its high-pressure pipelines in the state of Washington.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission filed a complaint against the company Tuesday. The commission’s pipeline safety staff has requested that the commission impose the maximum penalty of $4 million following allegations that the company failed to maintain records and documentation of the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure for at least 116 pipeline segments.

A hearing before the three-member commission has not yet been scheduled, and the commission is not bound by the recommendation.

A phone message left with Cascade Natural Gas Corporation was not immediately returned.

Kennewick-based Cascade Natural Gas Corporation serves almost 200,000 residential and business customers in 68 communities throughout the state, including Aberdeen, Bellingham, Bremerton, Walla Walla and Yakima.