Wed Sep 18 02:46:58 UTC 2024: ## Deer Park Pipeline Explosion Raises Questions About Security Measures
**DEER PARK, Texas** – Following Monday’s pipeline explosion in Deer Park, residents and experts alike are questioning the adequacy of security measures in place. The incident occurred after an SUV collided with an above-ground valve, which was reportedly protected only by a chain-link fence.
“That’s not saving no one,” said Lakeisha Reece, a resident who lives nearby. “It’s just a fence.”
Michael Felt, a pipeline design expert, acknowledged the lack of stronger protection. “We’re looking at something in hindsight,” he said. “The best thing you can do is try to design to prevent anything from happening, whether it’s intentional or unintentional.”
Felt noted that many storefronts and even ABC13’s gasoline storage tank have concrete barriers to prevent vehicle collisions. While not mandatory, he suggested such measures could have been beneficial in this case.
“That would be a nice design feature,” Felt said. “It’s not required, but it’s a nice design feature.”
Eyewitness News reached out to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates pipelines, to inquire if the Energy Transfer pipeline met all safety and security requirements.
Following the incident, experts like Felt emphasized the importance of thorough review. “Any time an event like this occurs, all the pipeline operators have to go back and look at their integrity systems. Is there something they can do to improve it?” he asked.
The incident has sparked debate about the need for increased security measures for critical infrastructure, particularly in light of potential intentional attacks.
First Piper 