MURRYSVILLE, Pa. -- A burst gasoline pipeline shot gas up into the air, raining down on a restaurant and polluting a nearby stream.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in that Murrysville mess. But experts say it could have been much worse.

A Team 4 investigation finds there are hundreds of miles of gasoline pipelines in our area and plenty of concern over whether they're safe.

The following is a transcript of a report by Team 4's Paul Van Osdol that first aired March 18, 2009, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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We've learned that just a year before the Murrysville explosion, the company that operates the pipeline was fined for safety violations -- and the federal agency that fined them has been criticized for not doing more to keep pipelines safe, despite the fact that new laws went on the books after a series of disastrous pipeline explosions a decade ago.

Ten years ago, a pipeline ruptured in Bellingham, Wash., spilling 237,000 gallons of gasoline that burst into flames, killing three boys who had been fishing nearby.

Just a year later, another pipeline explosion -- this time in Carlsbad, N.M. Twelve people who had been camping were killed.

In the wake of those accidents, Congress in 2002 toughened safety standards for pipelines and gave greater enforcement power to federal safety inspectors. But that did not slow the pace of accidents.

The most serious in western Pennsylvania have been natural gas line explosions like the one that leveled a house in Plum Borough last year, killing Richard Leith and seriously wounding his 4-year-old granddaughter. (See Slideshow Photos)

The carnage could have been much greater last November, when a gasoline pipeline ruptured in Murrysville, spewing thousands of gallons of gas 75 feet into the air and forcing schools and an elderly home to evacuate. A massive explosion was avoided when the manager of Hoss's restaurant quickly turned off the gas.

Van Osdol: "What do you think would have happened if you hadn't turned off that gas?"

Margie McAndrew, manager: "Devastation. It's very scary. I mean, we all could have lost our lives."

Federal records show last year there were 274 significant pipeline ruptures causing $395 million in property damage. That compares to 258 ruptures causing just $113 million in damage in 2002, when the law changed.

Team 4 went to the man in charge of keeping the nation's pipelines safe.

Van Osdol: "Why are you seeing more significant incidents last year than in previous years?"

Jeffrey Wiese, U.S. Department of Transportation pipeline safety administrator: "The activity that generates one of the greatest threats to pipeline safety -- excavation damage -- really has been skyrocketing since that time."

But excavation was not being done in Murrysville, and Congressman Jason Altmire says the federal pipeline agency needs to do a better job.

Altmire, D-Pa.: "It's clear that the number of inspectors as well as the side issue of the quality of inspections both have to improve."

The Murrysville pipeline is part of a national network -- 170,000 miles of pipe carrying gasoline, crude oil and other hazardous liquids.

There are 552 miles of gasoline pipeline in western Pennsylvania cutting through cities, suburbs and countryside.

This pipeline here in Murrysville is owned by Sunoco. It is a big player in the industry and, in the past decade, it has had several major pipeline breaks resulting in millions of dollars in fines.

In February 2000, a Sunoco pipeline near Philadelphia cracked and spilled 192,000 gallons of crude oil into the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Sunoco paid a $3.6 million fine.

In January 2005, another Sunoco pipeline ruptured, spilling 260,000 gallons of oil into the Kentucky and Ohio rivers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined Sunoco and a subsidiary $2.5 million.

Then in November 2007, just one year before the Murrysville rupture, the feds cited Sunoco for violations of the pipeline safety regulations -- specifically, failing to document that meter fittings were strong enough and pipeline maps were accurate. Sunoco was fined $200,000.

Sunoco would not agree to an on-camera interview. A company spokesman told me by phone, "Sunoco is committed to safe, reliable, environmentally sound operations along all of our pipelines and at all our facilities. We take that responsibility very seriously."

Sunoco has appealed the most recent fine, and it will be no surprise if there's a reduction. Records show the pipeline agency has proposed $27 million in fines but actually assessed less than half that -- only $12 million in fines.

Van Osdol: "Why such a big difference there?"

Wiese: "Note they are proposed violations, so there is a due process that can go on for several years until you get to the final order."

But a local environmental activist says reducing fines gives companies little incentive to improve safety.

Myron Arnowitt, Clean Water Action: "Companies that are failing to do the right thing do need to pay an economic penalty for it."

The bottom line for victims of the Murrysville leak -- they just want to know that they will be safe.

Bob Miller, evacuee: "You would hope there would be steps taken to prevent that happening again."

McAndrew: "You just don't realize, my life could have ended that day because of one little spark. People need to know what's in their backyard."

The federal pipeline safety agency is still investigating the Murrysville incident. A report is expected to be released in the next month.

Map: Locations Of All Pipelines In Western Pa. Counties