PG&E touts pipeline safety efforts

Even though they signed it in closing documents on their properties, about 60 percent of private owners living right near utility gas lines don’t even know it.
That was one of the underlining messages from a representative for Pacific Gas & Electric who spoke to San Benito County supervisors Tuesday. A PowerPoint presentation, followed by questions and answers in the board chambers, came as the publicly owned utility is getting set to unroll an outreach program to private property owners in the county regarding pipeline safety.
That program is part of broader efforts to prevent disasters like the San Bruno explosion in September 2010 that killed eight people. PG&E operates a 6,750-mile natural gas transmission system, according to the presentation given Tuesday.
“There is not a good sense in the community that there is an active pipeline,” said Darren Cline, one of the PG&E representatives reaching out to local government entities to inform them about the next steps in the company’s “Community Gas Safety” program.
Cline and Eric Daniels from PG&E provided broader context on the safety program in light of their expectation for a door-to-door effort in the coming months to visit those private property owners within 500 feet of the transmission lines. The utility is engaging with the public as it conducts safety work to further enhance the pipeline’s security.
Aside from going door to door, PG&E plans to get the word out about its efforts by mailing letters, putting out newsletters and hosting open housing community meetings, the representatives said.
They said PG&E would do the following:
–       Check areas around pipelines to ensure safety crews have immediate access to them in emergencies
–       Confirm pipes can be properly inspected and operated
–       Make sure the area provides a clear visual indicator of underground facilities
–       Prevent tree roots from damaging underground pipe by exposing it to corrosion
PG&E has gone as far as using airplanes for flyovers to monitor any potential interference with the pipeline.
County officials honed in on the tree-related plans due to the recent passage of an ordinance that strictly regulates any cutting of mature trees. Supervisors in April gave final approval to the law banning the cutting down of mature trees, with some exemptions.
Supervisor Jerry Muenzer broached the tree topic as he represents the Ridgemark Golf & Country Club gated community—where the club’s removal of trees, which upset neighboring residents, sparked a legal battle and the resulting county tree ordinance.
“Do we need to look at our tree ordinance?” Muenzer said at the meeting.
County Administrative Officer Ray Espinosa stressed how PG&E doesn’t want to “hinder any of the ordinances that we have.” He said if something arises while looking at the tree ordinance, the county would have to address it.
PIPELINE SAFETY
Among PG&E’s safety efforts:
–       Pressure testing lines
–       Installing automated gas valves
–       Replacing pipelines
–       Continuing leak survey
Source: PG&E PowerPoint