Phase 1 Of Petaluma Pipeline Replacement Completed By PG&E

PETALUMA, CA — Pacific Gas and Electric Company will soon complete work on the first phase of its replacement of a gas transmission pipeline in the Petaluma area.

The first phase of PG&E’s safety work began in October beneath the Petaluma River at Shollenberger Park and will continue through mid-January, a PG&E spokesperson said Tuesday.

The southern portion of the park has been closed to the public on weekdays with limited access during weekends. Once the work has been completed around Jan. 16, all areas of the park will reopen to the public. PG&E has completed trail restoration for areas of the park impacted by the safety work, according to Megan McFarland, spokesperson for PG&E's North Coast Region.

The second phase of PG&E’s safety work is expected to begin in September. The new pipe will be placed nearly 50 feet deeper than the existing pipe, increasing safety and system resilience, McFarland said. At the recommendation of the Army Corps of Engineers, PG&E plans to remove the existing line from the Petaluma River and resurface the levee. This supports reducing restrictions on the dredging program and promotes safer future operations.

"PG&E is working to further enhance gas pipeline safety throughout its service area, including communities in the North Coast," said Dave Canny, vice president for PG&E's North Coast Region. "This gas pipeline replacement project will result in an even more reliable and resilient natural gas system that will benefit thousands of Petaluma customers."

During the work at Shollenberger Park, PG&E has taken steps to minimize disruption to the array of birds and wildlife that call the park home, including phasing work activities around seasonal windows.

"We are pausing our work in January and beginning again in September to avoid disrupting nesting activity that often occurs during these months," McFarland said. "No permanent loss of wetlands or habitat is associated with the project."

Since 2011, PG&E has been inspecting, replacing and modernizing pipelines to proactively ensure the safety and reliability of its gas system, the company said. Some of the newer technologies applied to the gas system include remote-control and automatic shut-off valves that can stop the flow of gas faster in an emergency; and highly sensitive methane detection sensors that can track microscopic emissions.