Conference committee gets to work on natural gas bills

House and Senate bills meant to reduce safety risks, environmental harm and costs posed by natural gas leaks have been sent to a conference committee to iron out differences in the bills.

Both bills would require companies to reduce the number of gas leaks by upgrading their aging infrastructure and to facilitate communication between companies and municipalities to ensure that road repairs and infrastructure upgrades are coordinated.

To do this, the bills would require companies to identify and classify gas leaks and to prioritize their repair. Grade 1 would be hazardous leaks that require immediate repair; Grade 2 leaks represent a probable future hazard and must be repaired within one year; and Grade 3 would be non-hazardous leaks that must be repaired within one year or re-evaluated during the next scheduled survey.

The House bill would also require gas companies to ensure that gas shutoff valves are accessible and are in working condition.

Natural gas leaks from aging infrastructure in Massachusetts cost consumers approximately $1.5 billion during an 11-year period, according to a report released last summer by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, and natural gas leaks account for roughly half of the methane emissions from large, stationary facilities in Massachusetts.

The replacement of failing natural gas infrastructure would enable the state to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, from 1990 levels, by 2020, the report concludes.

The conference committee responsible for reconciling the House and Senate natural gas bills was named in mid-April. Rep. John Keenan of Salem and Sen. Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield will chair the six-member committee, which will include Rep. Mark Cusack of Braintree, Rep. Len Mirra of West Newbury, Sen. Barry Finegold of Andover and Sen. Don Humason of Westfield.