Judge Orders PG&E Gas Pipeline Shut Down After Emails Cast Doubt On Safety

By Bay City News Service

A San Mateo County judge Friday ordered PG&E to shut down a nearly 4-mile gas pipeline running under San Carlos after city officials obtained emails from the utility questioning the line's safety.

The San Carlos City Council declared a state of emergency late Friday afternoon and held an emergency meeting to discuss PG&E's refusal to shut down the pipe, known as line 147, according to a statement from the city manager's office.

The 3.8-mile line runs the lengths of the city beneath Brittan Avenue, a residential street that carries thousands of residents to their homes and schools daily, according to city officials, City Manager Jeff Maltbie said.

PG&E officials say the pipe, which is still operating, is safe, although the utility told city officials it would reduce pressure on the pipe by 20 percent, according to Maltbie.

A utility spokesperson was not immediately available for comment this afternoon, and calls to PG&E's media line were referred to the city of San Carlos.

Concerns over the pipe's safety came after PG&E representatives forwarded city officials a series of internal emails on Thursday that cast doubt on the condition of the line after a leak repair.

In one of the emails, a PG&E engineer, whose name was redacted, expressed concerns to PG&E executives about the thinning of the pipe, which dates back to 1929.

"Are we sitting on a San Bruno situation?" the engineer wrote. "Is the pipe cracked and near failure? I don't want to panic people but seems like we should consider this and probably move this pipe...for replacement."

Mayor Bob Grassili said Thursday that the utility's information about the safety of the pipeline is "contradictory and confusing" and asked that it be shut down immediately.

"We believe PG&E has a responsibility to our community to put safety ahead of operational challenges, and should immediately suspend the use of line 147 until such time they can explain to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the public the inconsistencies in their own documentation, records and internal communications regarding line 147," Grassili said.

Maltbie said residents living near the pipeline are not being asked to evacuate and said shutting down the line would simply be "err(ing) on the side of caution."

Nonetheless, he said, "The city is doing everything we can to ensure their safety."

City officials met with public safety authorities and PG&E representatives today to discuss the pipeline, he said.

On Monday, city officials plan to confer with the CPUC over the issue, Maltbie said.

The state commission is weighing whether to fine PG&E up to $2 billion for the 2010 explosion of one of its pipelines in San Bruno, which killed 8 people, injured more than 60 others and decimated 38 homes.

Read more: San Carlos Activates Emergency Operations Center Due to Pipeline Concerns