PG&E Reportedly Boosted Pressure On Vulnerable East Bay Lines
SAN BRUNO (KCBS) – The issue of pressure spiking is at the framework of the continuing investigation into last year's deadly pipeline explosion in San Bruno.
>> Photo Gallery: San bruno Explosion & Fire
Pacific Gas and Electric was even boosting an East Bay pipeline considered "at a high likelihood for failure."
That line runs from Fremont to Livermore and its pressure was purposely spiked in 2009, even though a section of the line carried that label.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
PG&E spokesman Joe Molica said this is not a dangerous practice and the testing of old pipelines is thorough.
"The bottom line is that we want to further enhance the safety of our system. We're committed to doing that," Molica said. "And we want to reassure folks that safety is paramount. Safety is our absolute top priority."
Pipeline safety consultant Richard Kuprewicz does not agree.
"Their approach seems to be very backwards and somewhat perverted. That's just the bottom line," he said.
The reason he was so hard on PG&E is its lack of complete paperwork on the manufacturing and installation of individual pipelines.
"It's not a problem with pressure increasing in pipelines if you've got all the adequate records and tests," Kuprewicz said. "I think you have to put it in the context of what's the overall story of the integrity management program that they've utilized."
Initial reports from the National Transportation Safety Board indicated a bad pipeline weld may have been responsible for the San Bruno explosion.
(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
