Hank Phillipi Ryan Investigates

WHDH Hank Phillipi Ryan investigates the fact that thousands of potentially hazardous gas leaks go unrepaired for years

Boston Globe News

An Act Relative To Natural Gas Leaks

A bill filed by Representative Lori Ehrlich of the 8th Essex will enhance public safety,  protect our environment and create green jobs for our economy. The bill will hold gas companies responsible for damage to trees and other vegetation and require repair of all gas leaks. Lori Ehrlich is leading the commonwealth on a true green jobs bill.  A hearing by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications & Energy will be held June 16th, 1:00, room B-2 at the Statehouse.  Please contact your legislators and urge them to support this bill!

Full text of the bill:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4948        FILED ON: 3/22/2010

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

^{_______________}

PRESENTED BY:

Lori Ehrlich

^{_______________}

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act Relative to Natural Gas Leaks.

^{_______________}

PETITION OF:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

^{_______________}

In the Year Two Thousand and Ten

^{_______________}

An Act Relative to Natural Gas Leaks.

                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 144.  The following shall constitute the Natural Gas Leak Classification Standard for the Commonwealth.

Grade 1.A leak that represents an existing or probable hazard to persons or structures. Such leak requires immediate repair until the conditions are no longer hazardous.

Grade 2A. A leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous to persons or structures but justifies scheduled repair based on probable future hazard to persons or structures or any leak that is within the drip line or root zone of any tree.  Repair is required within 6 months with monthly monitoring. 

Grade 2.  Any leak that is recognized as being non-hazardous to persons or structures but damages public or private vegetation.  Repair is required within 15 months with monitoring every six months. 

Grade 3.  Any leak that is non-hazardous to persons, structures or vegetation and is expected to remain non-hazardous to persons, structures or vegetation.  Repair is required within 36 months.  Monitoring is required annually not to exceed 15 months.

The Chairman of the Department of Public Utilities shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the Natural Gas Leak Classification Standard.  Such rules and regulations shall require that companies subject to the Chairman’s supervision that are responsible for the maintenance and repair of natural gas lines report to the Chairman on an annual basis the grades of any leaks detected as part of any mandated compliance surveys.  The rules and regulations shall require the repair of any Grade 1, 2A, 2 and 3 leaks where excavation of a public way in the ordinary course makes such repair technically feasible.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 242 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 7A the following section:-

Section 7B.  Any person responsible for the maintenance and repair of any natural gas pipeline shall be liable for any damage to trees on public or private property caused by the leaking of natural gas.  Such person shall be liable for single damages only if the leak is repaired in according with the Natural Gas Leak Classification Standard established by section 144 of chapter 164, otherwise double or triple damages shall be allowed depending on whether the acts were knowing or willful.

WCVB Newscenter Team5 Investigates gas company in three part segments:

Thousands Of Gas Leaks Kill Mass. Trees

Gas Companies Fall Short On Safety Regulations

Gas Co. Failing To Fix Hazardous Leaks

Gas Safety Inc. has reported over 330 leaks in Newton that have been within the root zones of trees. Some of these leaks have represented existing hazards and required continuous action by National Grid until the hazardous conditions no longer existed.  National Grid crews responded to a hazardous leak reported by Gas Safety Inc. on Monday 5-10-2010 at 318 California Street in the Nonantum section of Newton.

318 California Street Newton, Massachusetts 5-10=2010

 Several trees by Newton City Hall on Homer Street have visible signs of gas damage and high gas readings were reported to national Grid on 5-14-2020 are pictured here:

Homer Street by Newton City Hall gas affected tree 5-14-2010

Homer Street by Newton City Hall gas affected tree 5-14-2010

Homer Street by Newton City Hall gas affected tree 5-14-2010

Homer Street by Newton City Hall gas affected tree 5-14-2010

May 12,

More problems in Cleveland

Blast levels 3 Cleveland homes; 11 people hurt

May 16

Michigan Explosion May 15, 2010:

Natural gas leak likely caused apartment building explosion in Kentwood

Kentwood Michigan 5-15-2010

351 Watertown Street Newton, Massachusetts hazardous conditions in manholes

Over 300 leaks have been detected within root zones of trees in the city of Newton Massachusetts. Many hazardous leaks have been detected that required continuous action by National Grid until the conditions no longer existed.  Hazardous conditions in manholes in the Nonantum section of Newton at 351 Watertown Street  were reported on 5-3-2010. National Grid crews responded and imediately started to clear the manhole structures of the potentially explosive conditions. Hazardous conditions in manholes if ignited can cause subsurface fires and manhole covers to fly off as evidenced in the recent report from Philadelphia. If you smell gas or see dead or dying vegetation contact your local gas company to investigate.

WCVB Boston team 5 investigative report:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/23482724/index.html

Over 275 leaks have been detected within the root zones of trees within  the City of Newton and reported to National Grid. Some of these leaks have represented existing hazards to structures and required continuous action until the hazards no longer existed.

257 Webster Street @ Murray Road 4-26-2010

A hazardous leak was detected at 257 Webster Street on 4/26/2010. National Grid workers took continuous action until the hazardous conditions no longer existed.

258 Lexington Street Newton, Massachusetts 4-27-2010

On 4/27/2010 a  hazardous leak was detected at 158 Lexington Street. National Grid crews took continuous action until the hazardous condition no longer existed.

On 4/29/2010 multiple leaks were detected outside the Horace Mann School, 687 Watertown Street at Ablemarle Drive. Gas a was detected along the Watertown Street side and on Ablemarle Road, affecting several trees.

Horace Mann School 687 Watertown Street Newton, Massachusetts 4-30-2010

Further down Ablemarle Road, another leak was detected at the City of Newton Parks building, affecting several newly planted trees and some older cherry trees.

250 Ablemarle Road Newton, Massachusetts 5-1-2010

1279 Washington Street Newton Massachusetts

991 Watertown Street Newton Massachusetts

Gas Safety Inc. reported potentially hazardous gas leaks in West Newton on friday morning. National Grid responded and took continuous action until the hazardous conditions no longer existed. Steel plates covering excavations were at 1279 Washington Street and 991 Watertown Street on 4/24/2010 with National Grid works crews at the site. 

Over 200 leak locations have been reported by the Gas Safety Inc.  Newton gas leak /  tree survey to National Grid Gas Company. Two older Cherry Trees here at 195 Waltham Street by Crafts Street.

195 Waltham Street Newton, Massachusetts

  Across the street at the large traffic island, the gas leakage continues damaging two large mature trees.

Waltham Street @ Crafts Street Newton, Massachusetts