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Calif’s natural gas regulator appoints panel to investigate San Bruno blast
San Bruno police cordoned off the Glenview neighborhood where a natural gas pipeline exploded Sept. 9, 2010.
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Calif’s natural gas regulator appoints panel to investigate San Bruno blast
Calif’s natural gas regulator appoints panel to investigate San Bruno blast
The state agency that regulates natural gas pipelines in California today appointed a team of experts to investigate last month’s explosion of a natural gas pipeline. The five panel members have extensive backgrounds in energy production and delivery.
The September 9 blast in San Bruno killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes. The panel chosen by the California Public Utilities Commission now has to figure out why the blast happened.
Panel members include two former UC Chancellors and the one-time boss of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. They’ll investigate what caused the natural gas pipeline to rupture and explode. Then they’ll try to determine how to prevent a similar blast.
The panel will scrutinize Pacific Gas and Electric’s operations. The company owns and operates most of the natural gas pipelines in northern California — including the one that blew up.
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The panel will also look at the Public Utilities Commission — the agency that appointed it — to see if it’s doing enough to enforce natural gas safety standards.
One important item on the agenda: how much information the public should have about natural gas pipelines in urban areas. Many San Bruno residents say they wish PG&E had told them their homes were so close to a major natural gas line
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