Bill
S 2271
Requires gas companies to identify, inspect, and ensure accessibility of shut-off valves and gate boxes near public‑way projects to improve safety and prevent leaks during excavati
Note on source material
- The materials provided include several inconsistent entries (a federal reporting requirement and an employer‑disclosure heading). This summary focuses on the actual bill text and docket that were filed in the Massachusetts Senate as "Senate No. 2271" (filed Jan. 16, 2025) by Senator Paul R. Feeney — an Act relative to natural gas shut‑off valves, gate boxes and public safety.
Bill at a glance
- Title: An Act relative to natural gas shut-off valves, gate boxes and public safety (Mass. S.2271)
- Sponsor / Petitioner: Paul R. Feeney
- Subject committees: Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy; currently referred to Governmental Operations (Assembly)
- Key status milestones: Filed Jan 16, 2025; Passed Senate June 9, 2025; Delivered to Assembly and referred to Governmental Operations. Hearings scheduled Nov 13, 2025 (rescheduled).
Purpose and intent
- To increase public safety around natural gas infrastructure by requiring improved identification, inspection, testing, accessibility, and protection (gate boxes) of gas shut‑off valves and related valves/gates during public‑way projects, excavations, maintenance, and blasting.
Key provisions and requirements
- Notice and coordination
- When a municipality or the Commonwealth undertakes a significant public‑way project that will expose confirmed natural gas infrastructure, they must provide written notice to the gas company.
- The gas company must survey the project area for Grade 1 or Grade 2 leaks and set repair/replacement schedules for all known or newly detected Grade 1 or 2 leaks, and provide those schedules to the municipality or Commonwealth.
- Shut‑off valves, gate boxes, accessibility
- The gas company must ensure any shut‑off valve in the significant project area has a gate box installed or a reasonable alternative that ensures public safety.
- Any critical valve not inspected/tested within the prior 12 months must be verified operational and accessible.
- Excavation, maintenance and blasting by gas company employees
- Before planned excavation, maintenance on gas mains/services, or blasting, gas company employees must locate, identify, mark all gas gates and valves, verify they are cleared, operational and accessible at ground level, and leave them so after work.
- Reporting and correction of location errors
- The gas company must provide written confirmation to the municipality/Commonwealth that gates and valves were cleared, inspected, tested, and are capable of accepting a gate key.
- If locations were previously recorded incorrectly, the company must provide corrected (undated) information.
- Penalties for noncompliance
- Failure to verify gates/valves are cleared, operational and accessible before and after excavation/blasting: fine up to $10,000.
- Failure to submit written confirmation of such verification: fine of $200 per day.
Who is affected
- Gas distribution companies operating in Massachusetts (primary compliance responsibility).
- Municipalities and the Commonwealth (notification duties; recipients of inspection/repair schedules).
- Contractors and gas company crews performing excavations, maintenance or blasting (operational practices).
- Residents and the general public (intended beneficiaries through improved safety and leak mitigation).
Potential impacts
- Safety: Improved visibility, accessibility and testing of shut‑off valves and gates should reduce response times in emergencies and lower risks during excavation/blasting.
- Operational costs: Gas companies may incur additional costs for surveying, testing, gate box installation, record correction, and documentation.
- Administrative burden: Municipalities and gas companies will need systems for notification, inspection confirmations, and schedule sharing.
- Enforcement: Financial penalties create an enforcement mechanism to encourage compliance.
Related/administrative notes
- Companion/related measures referenced in the docket: A 1037 (companion), SD 1882 (replaces), prior-session bills S 7303, S 1480, S 2449.
- No effective date is specified in the provided text; implementation timing would depend on enactment language if amended/approved.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
