HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1849 FILED ON: 1/17/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2922
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Tackey Chan
_______________
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:
An Act requiring investigation gas leak explosions by the Department of Public Utilities.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Tackey Chan | 2nd Norfolk |
Stephen L. DiNatale | 3rd Worcester |
Lori A. Ehrlich | 8th Essex |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1849 FILED ON: 1/17/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2922
By Mr. Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2922) of Tackey Chan, Stephen L. DiNatale and Lori A. Ehrlich relative to requiring the investigation of gas leak explosions by the Department of Public Utilities. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE
HOUSE
, NO. 2607 OF 2011-2012.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
An Act requiring investigation gas leak explosions by the Department of Public Utilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
(10) After it is found that a gas leak caused an explosion by either the gas distribution company or a local or state public safety official, the Department shall open a full investigation within 24 hours after the explosion and shall require the distribution gas company to retain and preserve all materials related to the explosion, including, but not limited to, gas pipes, customer call recordings and records, inspection reports, maps of the gas line, and leak survey records, and make said materials for the Department for its investigation. The Department shall convene at least one public hearing in the community where the explosion occurred. Should it be determined by the Department that the distribution gas company was responsible for the explosion; the Department shall direct the distribution gas company to take specific action to prevent a future explosion and shall issue a civil penalty not to exceed $250,000. Nothing in this clause shall prevent a gas distribution company from taking actions necessary to protect the public from a gas leak or from conducting repairs and replacements of gas lines.
