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Assembly approves law to require automatic shutoff valves on some natural gas lines
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Flames from a massive fire September 9, 2010 in San Bruno, California on the day a gas pipeline exploded.
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The California Assembly has unanimously passed a bill that requires utilities to install automatic shutoff valves on natural gas pipelines. The National Transportation Safety Board recommended a similar change Tuesday after its year-long investigation of the pipeline explosion in San Bruno last year.
When the pipeline near San Francisco ruptured and exploded into flame, the resulting blast killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes. Pacific Gas and Electric employees tried to stop the flow of natural gas into the pipeline but they couldn’t reach the manual valve. The gas wasn't shut off for 90 minutes.
San Bruno Assemblyman Jerry Hill says PG&E should have installed an automatic shutoff valve for such a large pipeline in such a populated area.
"If an appropriate valve had been in place the gas could have been cut off in 15 minutes, which would have saved lives, possibly, but more importantly, it would have saved the devastation of a community," Hill said.
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Hill urged Assembly members to support a bill that would require utility companies in California to install automatic or remote shutoff valves for pipelines that cross active fault lines or run through densely populated areas. Federal regulations require only manual valves for these pipelines.The California bill heads next to the state senate where observers expect it to pass.
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