Queens Gazette

Stopping Future Gas Leaks




With nearly half of the 6,302 miles of pipeline transporting natural gas installed before 1940 in New York City, there were a reported 9,906 gas leaks in 2012.

Although most gas leaks prove harmless, dissipating into the air or ground, they can become deadly if near an ignition source and National Grid and Con Edison, the city’s two distributors of natural gas, have embarked on a gas safety program to install shut-off valves in all single and two-family homes.

“The plan is to comply with Local Law 30, as mandated by the Fire Department and the city, for the installation of shut-off valves by Dec. 31, 2019,” said Simone Weems, National Grid project manager for gas construction at the January 13 meeting of the Queens Borough Cabinet.

The five-year process for National Grid, which serves the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, began last November in Queens when 297 homes in Corona had the shut-off valves installed to help ensure that the safety devices are accessible to first responders in the event of an emergency.

Shut-off valves will be installed outside the home near the street or curb by Hallen, an authorized National Grid contractor and completed in Queens by March 2016.

“We are now moving on to Kew Gardens and other areas of Queens,” said Weems, adding, “We’re knocking on doors a week ahead of time to set up appointments (to have the valve installed) and to explain that it is required.”

Weems advised that if someone comes to your door saying they are from National Grid or Hallen they should have photo identification. If they do not, don’t let them in and immediately call the police, she said.

“We need access to the gas meter and all of the [gas] appliances,” Weems said, adding the work normally takes between two and four hours to complete.

“We have to do this work, so we encourage you to comply,” she said, noting if you do not make an appointment, you risk having gas service shut off, in accordance with the NYC Building Code, Local Law 30.

Con Edison Director of Public Affairs Carol Conslato, said 579 properties are yet to have shut-off valves installed in northwest Queens. “We have a target of 120 [homes completed] a year,” she said.

The installation of shut-off valves in commercial and high-rise residential buildings throughout Queens was previously completed in 2010, said Weems.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.