Hundreds of natural gas leaks found in Attleboro area

By News Staff

Reporting by Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

A troubling find in the Attleboro area where hundreds of natural gas leaks were discovered in several different communities.

The discovery was made public after a survey done by an environmental group called, "The Home Energy Efficiency Team."

The group, known as "HEET" says they found more than 200 natural gas pipe leaks in seven Massachusetts Communities, including Attleboro, Mansfield, and Seekonk. This, raising safety, environmental, and financial concerns, coasting taxpayers extra for the wasted resource.

"Natural gas leaks are potentially explosive and the utilities survey them constantly to make sure that that chance is minimized," says Audrey Schulman, President of HEET.

Residents of Attleboro, where half of the total leaks were found, are shocked. It raises safety concerns for businesses like Russell Morin Catering Company in the city, "First and foremost is the safety of our employees," says Ralph Morin, Manager of the catering company.

Workers at the company say every spring they can see natural gas bubbling up from the cracks in their concrete. "There’s a strong smell of gas and it usually wafts inside the building," says Morin.

Another nearby resident said he had no idea the leaks were happening in his own back yard, right where his three children play.

"I’ve got a wife and three kids, I’ve got a one year old, a five year old, and an eight year old.  Hearing about a gas leak… there’s potential danger for our family, so not hearing about it is very concerning," said Thomas Ouellette.

HEET says the issue is mainly due to old pipes. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts supplies the local areas with natural gas. The company says the number of leaks changes every day. In a statement, they said:

"Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has a very aggressive plan to replace its aging infrastructure over the next 15-20 years. In 2015, approximately $45 million has been invested across Columbia Gas service territories in MA."

To check and see if your residence is one of the 200 affected in the Attleboro area, you can look at the HEET website, here. 

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