Gas leaks policies and data - Middlesex County (Lincoln Town Clerk)

Dear Muchrack: We are in receipt of your request and will provide a timely response.

Susan F. Brooks
Town Clerk/Cemetery Agent
Town Archives Co-Director
16 Lincoln Rd.
Town of Lincoln, MA 01773
781-259-2607

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From: Higgins, Timothy S.
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2017 3:04 PM
To: 'requests@muckrock.com '
Cc: 'Brooks, Susan'
Subject: FW: Public Records Law Request: Gas leaks policies and data - Middlesex County (Lincoln Town Clerk)
Importance: High

January 12, 2017

Beryl Lipton
MuckRock
411A Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

Dear MuckRock:

In response to your records request, received in our office on January 5, 2017, regarding the matter of natural gas leaks in Lincoln, we have attached all of the relevant information that is in our possession. As you are probably aware, the principal responsibility for monitoring and regulating the Public Utilities in Massachusetts rests with the State Department of Public Utilities. And requested information that is not in our possession may be available at the Office of the DPU.

For the Town,

Timothy S. Higgins
Town Administrator
Town of Lincoln
16 Lincoln Road
Lincoln, MA 01773

From: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com> [mailto:requests@muckrock.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 12:21 PM
To: Brooks, Susan
Subject: Public Records Law Request: Gas leaks policies and data - Middlesex County (Lincoln Town Clerk)

January 5, 2017
Lincoln Town Clerk
16 Lincoln Road
Lincoln MA 01773

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all directive materials and data regarding the location and repair of gas leaks within this municipality.

Please include any ordinances, policies, procedures, or related materials regarding:

• the necessity of gas companies to report existing gas leaks to municipal officials
• the necessity of gas companies to survey areas for the existence of gas leaks
• the necessity of gas companies to repair known gas leaks

Please also include any data, statistics, maps, and other materials detailing the location and severity of known gas leaks in the areas under the jurisdiction of this municipality. Please include any data acquired from the Department of Public Utilities regarding gas leaks within this municipality.

Please include all requests from gas companies for construction and digging related to gas leaks.

Please include all requests for repair made by this municipality to companies regarding gas leaks. Please also provide all responses.

Please provide all data, statistics, maps, and other materials regarding the decay or destruction of trees and other foliage in relation to the presence of gas leaks.

If further clarification is necessary, please contact the MuckRock office at 617-299-1832.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Beryl Lipton

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Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 31654
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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