One tree stands dead in an otherwise lush, leafy neighborhood. For the arborist, the tree's demise is a mystery. It could be ants, constricted tree roots, disease, road salt or a host of other factors. Or it could be gas. An initiative in Massachusetts, led in part by high-profile environmental attorney Jan Schlictmann, contends that a huge number of trees in many communities have died or been damaged by low-grade leaks from natural gas lines. Schlictmann and some partners founded The Massachusetts Public Shade Tree Trust, and have been trying to persuade municipalities across the state to join the effort to identify the damage, put a price on it, and move the utilities to remediate the problem.
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