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Originally Posted by mattdavis11
Gas line explosion insurance? You need it.
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Not needed, not now, not ever...cost of any damage is the sole responsibility of the Owner \ Operator, in this case PGE. Utility companies carry massive amounts of limits for these types of claims.
Quote:
Originally Posted by artplumber
Do you know where the gas lines are in your town?  |
If you want to know where gas lines are around your property, make a free call to ONE CALL (utility locates) and tell them you are thinking about replacing your fence and they will be out within 48-72hours to locate ALL the utilities around your property.
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Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean
I see that coming. Maps will be made available to the public. Then comes red-lining, reduction in property values, increased insurance, etc. I feel sorry for the folks who discover a pipeline through their neighborhood.
That being said, there could be one running right under my house and I wouldn't know it.
Edit: Found a map. I'm safe...seems to be a high concentration in the Bay Area.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/Natural_Gas_Pipelines.pdf |
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Originally Posted by azasadny
I'm guessing that when the gas line was installed, the neighborhood wasn't there yet...
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That pdf only shows higher pressure, trunk lines, it does not show the thousands of smaller diameter and lower pressure pipelines that run in alleys, the side of houses, across creeks etc. Many pipelines are so old (50 years and older) that most companies do not have good records on locations and condition and many pipelines are sadly forgotten until they fail..ending in a catastrophe of this magnitude or greater.
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Originally Posted by dan88911
They are saying the pipe was just three feet under ground. WTF, I can hear it now PG&E will up our rates to replace old pipes state wide. Not that it's a bad idea. Its the exact screwin that comes along with it. The "it's not personal it's business" B.S.
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3 feet is the typical depth for buried natural gas. I just designed 80miles of natural gas in North Dakota and it is operating at 2,000psi and buried at 4-feet.
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Originally Posted by Speedo959
No surprise here, from what I've heard they treat their gas division like a step-child.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by red-beard
The reports in the Wall Street Journal are stating that the pipe was welded together from several smaller pieces. This is not illegal, but it is unusual. No indication yet if that was a factor.
I have a 12", 2500 lb line about 60 feet from where I type. No one is allowed to build on top of these lines in Texas.
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That is because it is located in an easement, this is typical around North America not exclusive to Texas. Also typical for Electric lines, fiber optic and other utilities. If you built a beautiful garage over an pipeline easement for your nice Porsches, this is illegal and the Pipeline owner legally can show up and demolish it, build you for the time and cost to do so and leave the rubble there...I know as I have done so in the past...it is constant fight or struggle between property owners and pipeline \ utility owners.
This catastrophe in San Bruno is indicative of aging infrastructure systems all over the U.S that includes bridges, roads, buildings, pipelines, sewers...you name it. The EPA \ DOT and governmental agencies are going to tighten the fines, codes and regs for these owner \ operators to have an aggressive and strict Integrity Maintenance Program in place to check infrastructure integrity and health to avoid loss of life, property and catastrophe.
The life expectancy of these systems is up and companies have been neglectful with these old systems as they were concerned with generation of revenue and getting the maximum profit out of them, not it it time to refocus on rehabilitation and public safety.
Yasin