PG&E Allowed To Reconnect San Carlos Natural Gas Line
SAN CARLOS (CBS / AP) -- Pacific Gas and Electric is reconnecting a Northern California natural-gas pipeline that it was ordered to seal off for safety reasons after concerns surfaced in an e-mail from an engineer.
The California Public Utilities Commission gave PG&E permission Monday to open the 3.8-mile gas-transmission pipeline beneath San Carlos. But it ordered that the utility keep the pressure much lower than normal.
PG&E was forced to shut the pipeline on Oct. 6 after the commission learned that a consulting engineer had raised concerns that the welding was older and less reliable than had been reported.
The San Francisco Chronicle said the engineer was worried that the line could explode, as one did in San Bruno 2010, killing eight people and destroying 38 homes.
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