Weymouth Compressor Station

Safety and air quality

The federal government highly regulates compressor stations which must meet rigorous safety and air quality standards.

Safety

Compressor stations employ a variety of safety systems and practices to support safe operations. All compressor stations are monitored around the clock by highly trained personnel, and we have a team of capable local technicians who work to keep the facility in good operating condition.

We’ve also been working closely with first responders in Weymouth, Quincy, and Braintree to ensure they are familiar with the facility and the safety features in place.

As part of our commitment to safety, we engage with first responders and local officials in the communities where we operate to address any planning needs.

Air quality

The emissions from the Weymouth Compressor Station are strictly regulated, and we operate the facility with public health and safety as our priority. The controlled venting of natural gas, which is sometimes required at gas facilities, is a safe and routine procedure which is part of regular pipeline maintenance activities.

Compressor stations are designed to safely vent natural gas during maintenance, testing, or if a shutdown is required, at which point the natural gas is vented through stacks specifically designed for that purpose. Once natural gas is vented, it naturally and safely dissipates. Households also vent natural gas when replacing a furnace, stove or gas dryer and these appliances use natural gas as a fuel, similar to the compressor unit at the station.

At this facility, we publicly report any venting of natural gas over 10,000 standard cubic feet—an amount that would supply about 15% of gas used by one average Boston-area household annually. You may see these notifications as they are sometimes shared on websites, social media, and in news content.