Congresswoman Urges State Commission to Consider Pipeline Safety Proposals

Congresswoman Jackie Speier recently sent a number of new proposals urging the CPUC to take action to ensure the safety of the state’s natural gas transmission lines in anticipation of today’s hearing on pipeline safety.

In a letter sent Friday (see attached) to Paul Clanon, the executive director of the California Public Utilities Commission, Speier made 14 suggestions—including requiring pipeline operators to disclose the location of transmission lines to all first responders—all meant to urge the commission to keep utilities such as PG&E—whose 30-inch gas transmission line exploded in the Crestmoor neighborhood, leaving eight people dead and 38 homes destroyed—more transparent about how they operate their pipelines.

“I appreciate the fact that the CPUC is holding a public hearing…in San Bruno,” Speier said in the letter. “The residents here had their lives inalterably changed on September 9, 2010 by the rupture of an aging gas pipeline operated by PG&E. Their concerns are my concerns.”

Speier’s request comes as the CPUC is set to at 5pm at the senior center, the first of three public meetings called to in California.

The citizen input is expected to help the commission shape new pipeline safety rules throughout the state.

"We welcome the Congresswoman's letter," said CPUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper. "It contains thoughtful and comprehensive proposals and we plan to make it available to parties to comment on as part of our proceeding to set new rules for the safe, reliable operation of the state's natural gas pipelines."

Speier’s letter also follows PG&E’s recent announcement that it is launching a new pipeline mapping project (see attached) throughout the Bay Area, starting in San Bruno, to provide first responders access to digital maps of its gas transmission lines—one of the promises the utility made after the Crestmoor disaster as part of its program.

"What we wanted to do with San Bruno—we're also doing this with Fremont and San Francisco—is a pilot project to ensure that we give GIS-based maps to first responders so they can use the information from them in the event of responding to an emergency," said PG&E spokesman Joe Molica. "Our aim with the project is to work through any possible issues to ensure they have access to the maps, but also that they're all electronically based."

Among Speier’s other pipeline safety suggestions are that:

• the CPUC establish a statewide database of pipelines removed from service;
• a pipeline operator may not maintain historical maximum operating pressures by intentionally spiking the gas pressure to or beyond its legal limit;
• every pipeline operator be required to provide a replacement plan for any pipeline installed before 1961 in a high consequence area; and
• the CPUC’s funding should be increased to provide for more inspectors.

In other news, a pipeline safety bill authored by state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, to require PG&E and other utilities to install automatic or remote-controlled shutoff valves on their pipelines is making its way through the state Legislature as the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications approved the legislation today.

SB 216 would require the utilities to install automatic shutoff valves on pipelines that cross an active fault line or are located within a densely populated area. The bill would also require the CPUC to establish safety standards about gas pipeline that are near other pipelines such as water mains.