Residents Complain of Gas Smell Near Pipe Removal Site

Crestmoor neighborhood residents reported smelling gas Saturday morning near the site where a PG&E crew has been working on for inspection.

Residents began smelling a gas-like odor after 10 a.m. and immediately reported the problem to PG&E. A PG&E spokeswoman said the odor wasn't natural gas, however, but rather a residual odorant called mercaptan—a colorless substance added to natural gas to make it easier to detect the smell. It was released from the abandoned section of Line 132 that a PG&E crew is inspecting with a camera as part of an order from the California Public Utilities Commission.

"We immediately called out our gas representatives and they are in the neighborhood now responding to customers," said spokeswoman Brittany Chord. "We apologize for any convenience this may have caused."

On Thursday, PG&E began excavating a section of Line 132 that was put out of service after the Sept. 9, 2010, blast. That segment, installed in 1956, was connected to a section of pipe north of the explosion site that was abandoned in 1948. The CPUC ordered PG&E to remove an 8-foot section of pipe to see if it had any similarities to the pipe segment that ruptured.

PG&E began working on running a camera through the abandoned 1948 pipe this morning when the odorant leaked out.

Resident Mike Mahoney was one of the residents who smelled the odor, but he said he wasn't concerned about the issue anymore because it was taken care of quickly.

"Most everybody is just waiting to get the hole filled up so that we can go to Lunardi's," Mahoney said.

Chord said the neighborhood is safe and the odor isn't flammable, and workers have halted their inspection of the pipe until representatives have informed all their customers of the issue.

Chord added that the smell will likely re-emerge once workers begin inspecting the pipe again, but the smell will eventually fade away.

The delay will also likely mean that the excavation work will continue until Monday, Chord said.

If you have concerns about any more gas smells in the neighborhood, call PG&E at 888-743-7431.