Thousands of Natural Gas Leaks Found In Boston 179
poofmeisterp writes "Due to old cast iron underground pipelines, natural gas leaks run amok in Boston, MA. '"While our study was not intended to assess explosion risks, we came across six locations in Boston where gas concentrations exceeded the threshold above which explosions can occur," Nathan Phillips, associate professor at BU, said in a statement.' With 'a device to measure methane' in a vehicle equipped with GPS, Duke and Boston University researchers created a nice little map showing the methane levels in parts per million at different points in the city. 'Repairing these leaks will improve air quality, increase consumer health and safety, and save money,' study researcher Robert B. Jackson, of Duke, said in a statement. 'We just have to put the right financial incentives into place.' It looks like money is an issue. Imagine that."
"Money is an issue" (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm sorry, but money is always an issue for literally everything. We live in a world of finite workers and resources, and thus the abstraction of that, which we call money, is an important limiting factor on any task, no matter what the risk or rewards. The amusing irony is that treating money like its not a factor makes money more of a factor, by causing the limitations to appear at unexpected times.
Re:"Money is an issue" (Score:4, Insightful)
1.6 mil workers in USA not employed.
Plastic/Steel/Copper pipes. I think Steel and Copper can be recycled.
Cost is valued based on revenue generated, not based on "Finite resources".
How about not wasting gas into the air? (Score:3, Insightful)
Financial Incentives (Score:4, Insightful)
Given that this is Boston... (Score:4, Insightful)
Someone should attach a circuit board along with some wires and blinking lights to the gas pipelines. That should get the government right on top of the problem.
Re:Thousands what? (Score:5, Insightful)
"leaks" you fucking moron
Learn to read for fuck's sake.
3,300 natural gas leaks
Re:"Money is an issue" (Score:4, Insightful)
We always manage to find money for war (including the war on some drugs) and the TSA.
Unlike those, fixing the leaks would have a quantifiable benefit in addition to the more difficult to quantify safety improvements.
I would suggest spinning it as a potential terrorist threat, but fear the 'solution' would be DHS patrolling the streets confiscating lighters.