During a meeting with Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) this morning, officials from the Transco Pipeline Company agreed to reimburse several local fire departments and emergency responders for the costs associated with responding to a testing incident last month.

    Doug Whisenant, Transco’s Senior Vice President, agreed to make the payment during a one-hour meeting with Smith today in the Congressman’s Hamilton Office.

    Last week, Smith reached out to 10 fire companies from throughout his Congressional District in the towns of Hamilton, Washington Township, Bordentown, Chesterfield, and Allentown that responded to the false alarm on the night of October 21, which occurred when Transco was testing the pipeline. In total, that bill comes to $2,820.

    “Even a false alarm costs our local first responders and volunteer fire companies.  I am pleased that Transco has recognized this,” Smith said.

    Tomorrow, Smith will meet with lead researchers from the federal Transportation Research Board (TRB), who are in the process of studying issues dealing with the safety of pipelines, especially when built in high-density areas.

    “Tomorrow’s meeting is another important step forward in making sure that the most stringent federal safety standards are complied with.  Safety issues top all other considerations,” Smith said.