The town has officially committed to a comprehensive plan for repairing our aging gas infrastructure. This outcome reflects the persistence of every person who raised their hand to demand safer streets and a healthier environment. We will continue to monitor the progress of these repairs to ensure the work is …
August 24, 2019
Final supporters
Like many Massachusetts communities, Reading has a systemic and growing gas leak problem due to an aging gas infrastructure. At the end of 2018, National Grid identified over 130 unrepaired gas leaks in Reading - some of which are over 20 years old. (https://heetma.org/gas-leaks/gas-leak-maps/) Independent researchers typically find 1.5 to 3 times as many leaks as utilities report.
Not only does this situation raise safety issues, gas leaks affect our health, our environment and our planet:
- Breathing gas fumes exacerbates respiratory illnesses
- Gas leaks suffocate the roots of trees and plants
- Natural gas is 87% methane, a potent greenhouse gas 84x more harmful than carbon dioxide in its impact on climate change during its first 20 years in the atmosphere
Gas utilities are not incentivized to fix non-emergency leaks, as they pass on the cost of lost and unaccounted for gas to consumers, and they receive a higher return from investing in new pipelines than from maintaining existing infrastructure.
We can no longer sit back and entrust the health and safety of our community and planet to National Grid.
Please sign (full name, please) this formal request to the Town of Reading, drafted by the Green Sanctuary Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, that the Town engage an independent auditor to accurately identify and measure ALL gas leaks in Reading.
This audit will provide the Town with the information it needs to work with National Grid to prioritize the repair of our largest and most harmful gas leaks in Reading, within the time frames of current legislation.
Update 8/3/19: Information added: underreporting of leaks by utilities; new requirements that utilities must repair large volume gas leaks within strict time limits; declaration of the drafters of the petition; clearer wording about the nature of the formal request to the Town of Reading.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 6, 2019
53 Comments
For years there has been a gas odor emanating from the sewer on the corner of Woburn and Sanborn Streets. There's a new odor of gas at the intersection of Linden and Woburn Streets. Please fix these!
Thank you for calling this system-wide problem to the attention of people who are in a position to do something about it. A lovely spruce tree at the corner of our property suffered for years until a many-times-reported gas leak was finally fixed.
The horror, fear, expense and “inconvience” of the Lawrence/Andover leaks/ explosions are still so memorable, makes for immediate attention to be taken any HINT of gas leaks in our town. If leaks have been “identified” and still “unrepaired” in our location seems criminal to me. I am a National Grid customer. Had no idea how bad the situation is in Reading.
All reasonable measures should be taken to understand the magnitude of the problem. National Grid has an inherent conflict of interest which can be eliminated by using an independent auditor.
Aside from the excellent health and environmental reasons to fix the leaks, a serious/dangerous leak could go unreported since people are "used to" smelling gas around town.
I appreciate your efforts on this issue
I smell gas frequently but the issue isn’t resolved. Nothing is found when National Grid comes out. Seems strange
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The town has officially committed to a comprehensive plan for repairing our aging gas infrastructure. This outcome reflects the persistence of every person who raised their hand to demand safer streets and a healthier environment. We will continue to monitor the progress of these repairs to ensure the work is …
August 24, 2019
Final supporters
Like many Massachusetts communities, Reading has a systemic and growing gas leak problem due to an aging gas infrastructure. At the end of 2018, National Grid identified over 130 unrepaired gas leaks in Reading - some of which are over 20 years old. (https://heetma.org/gas-leaks/gas-leak-maps/) Independent researchers typically find 1.5 to 3 times as many leaks as utilities report.
Not only does this situation raise safety issues, gas leaks affect our health, our environment and our planet:
- Breathing gas fumes exacerbates respiratory illnesses
- Gas leaks suffocate the roots of trees and plants
- Natural gas is 87% methane, a potent greenhouse gas 84x more harmful than carbon dioxide in its impact on climate change during its first 20 years in the atmosphere
Gas utilities are not incentivized to fix non-emergency leaks, as they pass on the cost of lost and unaccounted for gas to consumers, and they receive a higher return from investing in new pipelines than from maintaining existing infrastructure.
We can no longer sit back and entrust the health and safety of our community and planet to National Grid.
Please sign (full name, please) this formal request to the Town of Reading, drafted by the Green Sanctuary Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, that the Town engage an independent auditor to accurately identify and measure ALL gas leaks in Reading.
This audit will provide the Town with the information it needs to work with National Grid to prioritize the repair of our largest and most harmful gas leaks in Reading, within the time frames of current legislation.
Update 8/3/19: Information added: underreporting of leaks by utilities; new requirements that utilities must repair large volume gas leaks within strict time limits; declaration of the drafters of the petition; clearer wording about the nature of the formal request to the Town of Reading.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 6, 2019
53 Comments
What a shame that South Main Street is finally paved to already be dug up at least 5 times to repair leaks. I've reported smelling gas between the Avon St. Condos and Perfectos several times and it continue to emanate gas.
For years there has been a gas odor emanating from the sewer on the corner of Woburn and Sanborn Streets. There's a new odor of gas at the intersection of Linden and Woburn Streets. Please fix these!
Thank you for calling this system-wide problem to the attention of people who are in a position to do something about it. A lovely spruce tree at the corner of our property suffered for years until a many-times-reported gas leak was finally fixed.
The horror, fear, expense and “inconvience” of the Lawrence/Andover leaks/ explosions are still so memorable, makes for immediate attention to be taken any HINT of gas leaks in our town. If leaks have been “identified” and still “unrepaired” in our location seems criminal to me. I am a National Grid customer. Had no idea how bad the situation is in Reading.
All reasonable measures should be taken to understand the magnitude of the problem. National Grid has an inherent conflict of interest which can be eliminated by using an independent auditor.
Aside from the excellent health and environmental reasons to fix the leaks, a serious/dangerous leak could go unreported since people are "used to" smelling gas around town.
I appreciate your efforts on this issue
I smell gas frequently but the issue isn’t resolved. Nothing is found when National Grid comes out. Seems strange
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What a shame that South Main Street is finally paved to already be dug up at least 5 times to repair leaks. I've reported smelling gas between the Avon St. Condos and Perfectos several times and it continue to emanate gas.