On September 9th apparently a 30 inch PG&E natural gas transmission pipeline exploded in a neighborhood of San Bruno, California. Real information at this point about the damage, the cause of the explosion, the pipeline itself, or even how many have been killed is rather scarce. Below is what we have come up with so far that may help answer some questions that people have. We will add to it as more information is available.
People have asked about PG&Es safety record. Click here for a pdf of the incidents on PG&E transmission pipelines 2002-2009. Click here for a pdf of the incidents on PG&E distribution pipelines 2004-2009. Here is a comparison of the age of the transmission pipelines operated by PG&E to Southern California Gas.
Below is a map of the PG&E natural gas transmission pipeline in the area. This comes from the National Pipeline Mapping System
In California the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) through a certification from PHMSA regulates, inspects and enforces intrastate natural gas pipelines like the one in San Bruno. Click here for a list of enforcement and compliance actions they have taken. At this time we have not been able to locate any specific information about any of these enforcement or compliance cases on the PUC website. Such information is easily available for federal actions through PHMSA and should be avaialable from the states too. If anyone else can locate such info from the California PUC let us known where to find it.
How old are pipelines in this country? The age of pipelines has been brought up in many stories about this issue. Here is some information about the age of pipelines in the U.S.
How Old Are Our U.S. Pipelines?
Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines
Hazardous Liquid Pipelines
Comparison of PG&E and Southern California Gas transmission pipe age
How Close Can Houses Be Built to Pipelines? There are no federal or state regulations that provide any setback distance between homes and pipelines. According to the regulations homes can be build right next to a pipeline. Normally a pipeline company restricts building on their rights-of-way through their legal easement agreements with the property owners. These vary in width tremendously from 0-50 feet on each side of the pipeline. A very few local governments have stepped in to try to provide setbacks and other protections through their land use regulations. We have some of those efforts on our website here. In 2002 Congress asked PHMSA to look into the concern about the conflict between buildings and pipelines, which led the Transportation Research Board to produce a report Transmission Pipelines and Land Use: A Risk-Informed Approach. It called for the development of recommended practices for local governments to use to help increase safety for their citizens through the use of their permitting and zoning authority near pipelines. For the past 2 years a group organized by PHMSA called the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance has been drafting those recommended practices. That report is due to be released any time now. The Association of Washington Cities has been promoting these practices in Washington State, and you can find the practices and other information about this effort on their website here.
News stories - Here is a sampling of the news stories about the incident. As with all incidents the early stories tend to have more speculation than facts. We will update these as new information is available. You can also track the news easily on our safepipelines listserv.
Regulators' decision due on PG&E lines - March 6th, 2011
San Bruno blast: Feds find more flaws in gas line
According to SF Chronicle, PG&E control-room operator: 'We're screwed'
Pressure in San Bruno pipeline investigated
Sewer excavation project is a subject of San Bruno explosion probe
San Bruno fire drives push to require automatic shutoff valves for pipelines
More skeletal remains found as San Bruno officials struggle to tally the dead
Good 12 minute video overview of disaster
Great source for more San Bruno Tragedy Info
PG&E pipeline safety record called into question following San Bruno explosion
Victims identified in deadly California gas explosion
2002 legislation meant to make pipelines safer
San Bruno explosion, fire kills 4, destroys 38 homes
NTSB to investigate explosion, fire in Calif.
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