Gas or Consequences? New York’s Aging Pipelines Provide Property Claims And Litigation Lessons

Hidden dangers lurk beneath the streets of New York City by virtue of over 6,000 miles of aging pipelines transporting natural gas to thousands of buildings. The city’s underground network of pipelines is one of the oldest in the country; The Center for an Urban Future reports that the average age of the pipes is 56 years old. Complicating matters is that many of the apartment buildings are more than 75 years old and often contain internal gas distribution piping systems that have not been maintained, inspected, or repaired/replaced since installation. The gas is relied upon for heating the buildings and, in apartment buildings, for cooking.