West Roxbury Pipeline Operations Slated to Start Despite 'Significant Public Safety Concerns'

WEST ROXBURY, MA — The West Roxbury Lateral pipeline will reportedly begin operations, with national grid approval, Thursday despite long-running protests from neighboring residents and over "significant public safety concerns" expressed this week in a letter from Boston's police and fire commissioners.

According to that letter, sent Monday, Boston Police were informed by Spectra Energy that, with a go-ahead from the national grid, the company intends to activate its pipeline, on Dec. 1. The line runs near an active quarry and a densely populated residential area, sparking two years' of protests from neighbors deeply worried for potential safety hazards.

As shared in the Globe, a statement from Spectra reads:

“The West Roxbury Lateral will provide National Grid with additional supplies of clean burning, affordable natural gas for homes, hospitals, businesses, and schools in the city of Boston. The Algonquin system has operated safely in the region for more than 60 years. The . . . project facilities are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to meet or exceed federal safety standards and regulations.”

Mayor Marty Walsh has expressed concerns of his own, and earlier this year filed a federal lawsuit that could halt the project. Local Congressman Stephen Lynch has joined those calls, citing pipeline explosions reported elsewhere in the country and the potential safety hazard this could pose.

Patch has included the police and fire commissioners' letter to Spectra in its entirety below:

We write to you today to express our significant public safety concerns with the sharing of information related to the pipeline which has been installed in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, a densely populated area in the City of Boston. While we have had conversations with Spectra representatives regarding these concerns, it has come to our attention that contrary to our prior understanding, Spectra now intends to move product into the pipeline without collaborating with both the Boston Police and Fire Departments to ensure the safety of the citizens of Boston. Specifically, Spectra employee Joseph Bruno has originally informed the Boston Police Captain Steve McLaughlin that Spectra would share teh security plan for the Grove Street meter station with Boston Police and Fire. Subsequently, on Thursday, November 17th, Mr. Bruno informed Captain McGlaughlin that Spectra would not be sharing the security plan, and that such information is not public. While both Boston Police and Fire were invited to a "walk through" of the facility the week of December 5th, Captain McLaughlin was also informed that Spectra planned to transmit gas into the pipeline on Dec. 1st should National Grid be prepared to receive gas, so any subsequent walk through will not allow for the City's public safety agencies to provide feedback, or additional resources if needed, to maintain the area around the pipeline and the safety of the public.

We therefore ask that prior to the pipeline becoming operational, we are advised of the security plan for Grove Street meter station, and we receive a heat release map to determine the appropriate evacuation perimeter should a leak in the pipeline occur. Without this vital information, Boston Police and Fire will be unable to assess additional security that may by needed, and unable to effectively respond in case of emergency.

Additionally, we would ask that upon Spectra receiving information that the pipeline, or any accompanying facilities or equipment be compromised such that a public safety emergency may arise, Spectra immediately contact 911 in the City of Boston to ensure an immediate public safety response. Lastly, we would ask that Spectra put gas detectors in any buildings, such as schools, that have facility maintenance personnel along the pipeline route and provide Boston Fire with gas detection equipment to assist in further detecting gas leaks along the route. We feel that these measures are necessary to protect the public, and ensure effective cooperation and communication between Spectra and Boston's public safety agencies.

We look forward to discussing this important matter with you further. Please contact one or both of us at your earliest convenience.

It is signed by Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn and Police Commissioner William Evans.

In a statement shared with The Boston Globe Wednesday, the Houston-based energy company said it was reviewing the commissioners' letter, and will respond. As of noon Thursday, a Boston Police spokesman said he was unaware of any response to the commissioner. Patch is awaiting comment from Boston Fire.

Patch will update this story.

Photo Credit @MeloDeego, courtesy to Patch, from a 2015 pipeline protest at which a dozen were arrested