Natural Gas Leaks Worsening In Arlington

This post is a press release from the City of Arlington.

ARLINGTON, MA – National Grid, the gas utility company in Arlington, recently reported that there were 181 natural gas leaks in town in March of 2023. That is ten more leaks than were reported at the end 2022, one of which is a large volume leak. Eight leaks were reclassified as more dangerous.

Together with the Select Board, Arlington’s Town's Gas Leaks Task Force is calling for National Grid to repair their large volume leaks quickly, as they are harmful to health, climate, and public safety.

There are large volume gas leaks across from Arlington High School, at main intersections, and near daycares and health facilities. Following the Select Board’s resolution in March, the Town has gotten National Grid to plan repairs at four of the utility's large volume leaks in town, but dozens more large volume leaks remain, as do hundreds of minor leaks.

National Grid is responsible for leak repairs under state law. The timeline for repairs is determined by the risk they pose to people and the environment. Whereas the state allows National Grid a period of years to make repairs, the Select Board resolution called for repairs to 14 large volume leaks by July 2023. National Grid’s response to the Select Board did not comply with the requested timeline.

The Gas Leaks Task Force recently evaluated gas leaks that National Grid claimed were recently repaired or downgraded as less dangerous. In most cases, the leaks remained. Field observations indicate that there may be two- to three-times more leaks than National Grid reports.

Whenever you smell a gas leak, call National Grid at 1-800-233-5325.

About the Gas Leaks Task Force

The Arlington Town Manager’s Gas Leaks Task Force was formed in 2016. Staffed by the Town environmental planner, the Task Force consists of the assistant engineer, the tree warden, representatives from the Tree Committee, a representative from Sustainable Arlington, and community volunteers from Mothers Out Front. Learn more about gas leaks at arlingtonma.gov/gasleaks

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.