Politics & Government

PG&E Safety Concerns Unanswered in Burlingame

A presentation by PG&E officials at a Monday night city council meeting provided unclear answers.

During the city council meeting Monday night, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) representatives gave a presentation on the natural gas pipelines in Burlingame and the safety and monitoring of those pipelines, although city officals remained unconvinced of the safety of Burlingame's natural gas system.

Ashley Simpson of PG&E government relations began with an overview of the company’s safety features, including a 24-hour pipeline monitoring program and regular assessments throughout the year.

“PG&E’s top priority is safety,” Simpson said. “Since the tragedy that happened in San Bruno, PG&E has taken many steps to enhance the safety of our gas transmission system.”

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Following the San Bruno fire, PG&E officials reduced the gas pressure running through natural gas lines, including those in Burlingame. Other measures, such as removing protective coating on pipes to check for corrosion, have been put in place, as well. Additionally, there has been an increase in patrolling pipelines by foot, vehicle and aircraft.

“We’ve stepped up these patrols until we find the cause of the leak,” Simpson said.

Find out what's happening in Burlingame-Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

PG&E is now working to put together an annual plan of how to better monitor the pipes by taking into consideration a variety of factors. Officials will look into potential for corrosion in the pipes, potential for third party damage due to water interaction or animals, potential for ground movement caused by seismic activity or proximity to major transportation and the overall characteristics of the individual pipes.

Based on these criteria, staff will be able to identify what pipeline segments require additional monitoring.

There are three pipelines running through Burlingame and one distribution feeder main. Line 101 runs through Burlingame along Highway 101, while lines 109 and 132 run between Highway 280 and Skyline Boulevard.

The distribution feeder main, which breaks down natural gas into distribution lines, runs west of Highway 101 between Carmelita Avenue and Edgehill Drive.

Simpson also reported that no Burlingame lines made the top 100 list of pipelines in need of further safety study.

However, council members were unconvinced that a thorough investigation into the safety of Burlingame pipelines had been made. Although Simpson said PG&E maintains strict safety standards and receives input from consulting third-party groups, she could not verify the results of any safety inspections in Burlingame and said that an in-line inspection had yet to be completed.

“How can you assure us that these pipelines in Burlingame are safe?” said Mayor Terry Nagel. “I’m concerned that perhaps we haven’t had a thorough inspection of those pipes.”

Furthermore, Councilmember Cathy Baylock asked if the residents living above the pipelines were informed of their location. Simpson said there is no obligation to tell residents if lines exist near their homes, but they can visit www.pge.com to find a pipeline map or call 1-888-743-7431 for pipeline information.

The pipes in lines 132 and 109 in Burlingame date back to 1959, while most of the others pipes in the city are from 1986, although the PG&E officials said this age difference has little impact on the safety of the pipes.

Nagel suggested that the individual responsible for inspecting Burlingame pipelines come before the council with more information on the safety of the lines and future plans.

“I think that would go a long way to making [residents] feel safer in our homes,” she said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here