County Bill Would Hasten Replacement of Indoor Mercury Service Regulators
Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday afternoon on a bill that is designed to replace indoor mercury service regulators more quickly. This is the device that has been blamed for causing the explosion and fire at Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring that resulted in the deaths of seven people, injured dozens and dislocated many more.
When an indoor mercury regulator does not work properly, gas can build up and cause an explosion and fire, Council President Tom Hucker explained during a news briefing Jan. 25.
The Aug. 10, 2016 accident was “entirely preventable,” Hucker said, which is why he wants to make sure all indoor mercury service regulators are replaced at properties in the county. Washington Gas has agreed to replace the regulators but has told the county that some of the regulators were installed so long ago, they do not have records on their locations.