PG&E Says San Rafael Pipelines are Under Review

Pacific Gas & Electric, pressured by state regulators after the deadly Sept. 9 San Bruno gas line explosion, released a list Monday of its 100 most dangerous pipelines.

Included in the list is 1,887 feet of pipe along Linardo Street near Albert Park Lane in San Rafael that the company said is under review. Based on the findings, the company said it will determine whether any repair or replacement  is warranted. 

PG&E posted the information on its site and released a map and list of gas transmission pipeline planning segments in the Bay Area. Click Here for a PG&E map of pipelines in the area.

PG&E came up with the ranking based on potential for corrosion, design flaws and third-party damage.

Despite the potential threat to public safety, it's tough to pin down an accurate map of these energy carriers, or to get reliable information about the age and condition of the 122,217 miles of fuel lines that, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, course through California.

Though federal agencies share approximate locations of the vast network of pipelines crisscrossing the nation through the online National Pipeline Mapping System, more specific data is kept under wraps in the name of national security. But public outcry and media scrutiny may change that, said city and regional planning expert John Radke, of UC Berkeley's Department of Landscape, Architecture and Environmental Planning.

"After San Bruno, I am sure that gas line companies will have to disclose their locations," he wrote in an e-mail to Patch this week. "This may have serious consequences for safety and the diminution of property values. Interesting times ahead."

In Northern California, anyone who plans to excavate an area can call 8-1-1 to find out what company or public agency owns a pipeline on a given property.

USA North, the company behind the phone number, says the service is incomplete. In part because it only gives out information about fuel lines on a specific property, but ones that might run by it.

For the broader view, go back to the national map, which doesn't show smaller pipelines.

PG&E customers can call the utility company itself to find out how close they live or work to a transmission line, but again the answer won't be exact. And they'll refer callers back to the national mapping system.

The company has refused to share more information about its 5,722 miles of transmission lines for security reasons. But the California Public Utilities Commission on Friday demanded a list of PG&E's 100 planned high-priority pipeline repairs, which it said the public will get to see, and also ordered the utility to check its pressurized gas lines for leaks.