2 companies agree to payments over Ewing explosion

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Two companies have agreed to pay New Jersey a total of $1.6 million and implement safety procedures for problems found in an investigation of an explosion that leveled a neighborhood, killing one person and injuring seven.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced the settlement Wednesday, calling it the largest penalty of its kind in the board's history.

Pipeline company Henkels & McCoy will pay $600,000, while utility company PSE&G will pay $725,000 for issues related to the explosion. PSE&G also will pay another $275,000 for alleged violations of the Underground Facilities Protection Act that were not linked to the March 2014 explosion in Ewing Township.

Both companies also agreed to new safety measures.

The state settlement doesn't prevent private parties, such as homeowners, from suing the companies.

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