Amendment ID: S2372-18-R1

Redraft Amendment 18

safety of residents, first responders, and gas workers

Mr. Wolf, Ms. L'Italien, Messrs. Lewis and Donnelly, Ms. Gobi, Ms. Jehlen and Ms. O'Connor Ives move to amend the amendment by inserting, after section ___, the following new section:-

"SECTION XX: Section 144 of Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c)(1) Upon the undertaking of any planned project involving excavation for purposes of performing maintenance on or construction involving any gas mains or services by gas company employees, or any blasting work, the gas company shall ensure that its employees first locate and identify and mark all gas gates and valves, and verify that all are cleared, operational and accessible in clear sight at ground level in advance of any excavation; and that said gas gates and valves are left cleared, and operational following any such project.

(2) The gas company shall ensure that any shut off valve in the significant project area has a gate box installed upon it by its employees to ensure continued public safety.

(3) The gas company shall provide the municipality or the commonwealth with written confirmation that the gas gates and valves have been cleared, inspected and tested by its employees and found to be capable of accepting a gate key; and, shall provide the municipality or commonwealth with undated, correct information if the location of gates or valves is determined to have been previously improperly located.

(4) Failure to undertake verification that gas gates and valves have been cleared, and are both operational and accessible prior to the start of and following an excavation, or blasting work, shall be subject to a fine of up to $10,000. Failure to submit written confirmation of such verification shall be subject to a fine of $200 per day."