A Scottdale man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to falsifying a document related to X-rays that checked the integrity of natural gas pipeline welds in the region, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady.
Joshua D. Springer, 42, reported in August 2017 that a weld site on the Marine East 2 pipeline had been X-rayed and met safety standards, according to an indictment. Federal authorities said the weld site hadn’t been properly X-rayed and certified.
Springer worked as a radiograph technician on a section of the Mariner East 2 pipeline between Houston and Delmont from May to December 2017, according to the indictment. Between May and June 2018, he conducted similar testing on the pipeline from Delmont to Blair County.
Brady said in an announcement that Springer falsified about 77 records because of problems with the original X-rays. He is free on unsecured bond. Sentencing on the charge of false writing or document to the government is set for Aug. 24.
