Persons detecting the odor must evacuate the area and abstain from using open flames or operating electrical equipment, to reduce the risk of fire and explosion.
[4][5] In addition to leaks from natural gas pipes, methane and other gases migrating from landfill garbage disposal sites can also cause chlorosis and necrosis in grass, weeds, or trees.
[9] The Conservation Law Foundation produced a map showing around 4000 leaks reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
[9] In 2017, Rhode Island released an estimated 15.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, about a third of which comes from leaks in natural gas pipes.
[10] In 2021, University of Geoscience(Beijing) affiliates Jian Rui Feng and Wen-men Gai, along with Chief Engineer of the Guangzhou Metro Group Co Ya-bin Yan, launched a case study modelling a subway within Guangzhou, China and potential evacuation plans and actions that could mitigate risk to personal against gas leaks via virtual computations.
[11] Legislation passed in 2014[12] requires gas suppliers to make greater efforts to control some of the 20,000 documented leaks in the US state of Massachusetts.
It provides a mechanism for increased revenue from ratepayers (up to 1.5% without further approval) to cover the cost of repairs and replacement of leak-prone materials (like cast iron and non-cathodically protected steel) on an accelerated basis.
[13][14] Leaks, statistics on leak-prone materials, and financial statements are reported annually to the Department of Public Utilities, which also has responsibility for rate-setting.
[16] A federal study prompted by US Senator Edward J. Markey concluded that Massachusetts consumers paid approximately $1.5 billion from 2000–2011 for gas which leaked and benefited no one.