Ehrlich Sponsors Legislation to Curb Gas Leaks

I was riding with my daughter Tara who lives in the East Bay area of California when she pointed her hand and said: “There’s San Bruno.” She was referring to the town where in September 2010 a gas leak caused a massive explosion which killed six people and sparked a fire that destroyed an entire neighborhood.

But gas explosions are a problem here in Massachusetts also. Just a few weeks ago in neighboring Winthrop, a home was destroyed by a gas leak. Thankfully the owners were away at the time. In Somerset last February, a natural gas leak caused an explosion that flattened a home and killed Rose Marie Rebello, 62, and her dog. The massive explosion sent debris throughout the area, injured a firefighter and a utility worker, and forced 200 neighbors to evacuate.

In Gloucester in January, 2009, an explosion critically injured a police officer who was inside the home. In December 2008 an explosion killed a Scituate man and in November 2009 an explosion destroyed a North Reading home. Luckily the owner of the house was walking his dog and his wife was at work

While these disasters grab the headlines, gas leaks are all around us and may affect our lives in other deleterious ways. I have a friend from Jamaica Plain who claims that trees are dying along the Arborway because of natural gas leaks.

“There are over 20,000 flammable leaks in the state under our feet, homes, schools and offices,” said Swampscott’s “Lady on the Hill," Rep. Lori Ehrlich. Ehrlich filed four bills before the legislature intended to place tighter regulations on the leaking gas infrastructure.

Ehrlich said that the reason natural gas leaks are such a problem is because the state has the second-oldest gas system in the country, and it uses corroding cast-iron pipes.

Bob Ackley, a former gas leak compliance officer, and Boston University professor Nathan Phillips conducted a study last fall that found 4,000 leaks across the City of Boston. Ackley said the gas companies have no incentive to fix the leaks. “They don’t seem to be addressing the issue,” he said.

In Massachusetts, the federal DOT estimated that 8-12 billion cubic feet of unaccounted for natural gas  escapes into the environment each year, nearly 2 percent of our total usage.

Ehrlich said that the most important piece of the legislation would establish a natural gas leak classification. Grade one leaks, which are those deemed most likely to cause an explosion, would have to be fixed immediately. Grade two and three leaks would need to be fixed within one and three years, respectively.

How much will this cost the state?

Nothing. The cost and repair of fixing these leaks will be the responsibility of the utility companies. In fact, this will save the taxpayers money in many ways. First it will preserve our infrastructure by prolonging its life through responsible maintenance. It will also save ratepayers from having to pay for all of that lost gas (estimated at $19 million/year), replace dying trees, and prevent catastrophic property damage. “This bill is a win, win for the Commonwealth,” said Ehrlich.

Ehrlich’s legislation has the backing of 40 co-sponsors in the legislature as well as groups such as the New England Gas Workers Association, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and various environmental organizations

“This is an urgent problem with a good policy fix that will hold gas companies accountable, save lives and money. Recent natural gas explosions and fatalities have shown that it's a clear public safety hazard. Leaks also cause extensive damage to public and private property and cost ratepayers a bundle," said Ehrlich.

The legislation recently passed favorably out of Committee and is heading to the House floor for debate and a vote.