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Testimony to NYS Public Service Commission
(2010-01-07)
Good Evening. Thank you for convening both daytime and evening hearings on this most important matter. I am David Weprin and through the end of last year, I served eight years as the City Council Member covering the location of the explosion and the surrounding Queens communities. Let me start off by noting that a personal tragedy affecting the Boudram family, the loss of a beloved wife and mom – something that ought never happen, brings us here today. The City Council passed, and the Mayor signed into law, legislation of which I was the prime sponsor that named the street around the corner from this public school not just in memory of Mrs. Ghanwatti Boodram but also to serve as a constant reminder that no one – from this community, from Queens, from any community tolerates the actions and inactions that led to such a tragic loss of life, loss of home and dislocation that occurred on April 24, 2009.
Three days following this disaster, at its first meeting after the tragedy, Community Board 13 unanimously approved a motion that demanded a full investigation and explanation to the public be made to the public, development of a remedial plan to repair and renovate gas utilities in this community, promulgation of an evacuation protocol, and complete evaluation of all gas and electric lines in the community board. [source Community Board 13 Minutes, April 27, 2009.]. I also held a town hall meeting in this same school to give residents and others concerned a voice to express their concerns and frankly their fears following this most unfortunate tragedy.
The PSC staff's investigation summary details what happened that day. In noting a failure that afternoon to follow Con Edison's own procedures and identifying further new proceduers since implemented by the electric and gas utility, PSC staff did not recommend something that should appear plain to anyone: the need to train and retrain personnel who must engage in difficult and stressful situations that, if mishandled, can lead to what we all wished did not happen on April 24. The best managers and coaches put their personnel in a position to win; that involves practice, study and more practice and study; in this case, it appears Con Edison did not recognize this simple imperative.
The Commission should add this training component to its final report and recommendations. I otherwise concur and welcome the finding and recommendations noted in the PSC staff summary (http://www.dps.state.ny.us/Summary_of_DPS_Staff_Investigation.pdf).
I remain concerning about the record of the utility involved over the last half-decade. One gets a feeling that the next disaster may be just around the corner. Making improvements, no matter how laudable, AFTER the fact, disserves the public. Look at Con Ed's record since 2005: failure of feeder cables, leaving 100,000 people without electricity in July 2006; a steam pipe eruption into a 12-story geyser of water, concrete and mud on Lexington Avenue in 2007; a manhole gas leak in Sunnyside, also in 2007, which led to the death of one person (Kunta Oza); and less than two years later another manhole gas leak, this time in here Floral Park, killing another (Mrs. Boodram). PSC staff and the commission must further explore this record and what further changes it may necessitate at the utility.
I look forward to the final report. Thank you.
