HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2011 0119 CC REG ITEM 09B ITEM 9.13.
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City Council Meeting
ACTION:._ _
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Hugh R. Riley, Assistant City Manager
DATE: January 11, 2011 (CC Meeting of 1/19/2011
SUBJECT: Consider a Gas Pipeline Safety Presentation by Michele Pettes
of the Southern California Gas Company
BACKGROUND
As Council is aware, on September 9, 2010, a 30-inch steel natural gas pipeline owned
by Pacific Gas & Electric exploded in flames in the city of San Bruno, about 2 miles west
of San Francisco International Airport. The loud roar and shaking led some residents of
the area, first responders, and news media to believe initially that it was an earthquake
or that a large airplane had crashed. It took crews nearly an hour to determine it was a
gas pipeline explosion. The death toll was eight people. The explosion and the resulting
fire leveled 38 houses and damaged many more. The United States Geological Survey
(USGS) registered the explosion and resulting shock wave as a magnitude 1.1
earthquake. Eyewitnesses reported the initial blast "had a wall of fire more than 1,000
feet high". Since the San Bruno incident, there has been heightened awareness and
concern regarding the possibility of a similar tragedy occurring in communities across
the nation.
On October 29, staff attended a Pipeline Safety Briefing by the Southern California Gas
Company to address these concerns. The Gas Company provided an overview of their
pipeline system, proactive safety measures in Gas Company operations, and extra
steps the Gas Company has taken since the San Bruno Incident.
The Gas Company believes its Pipeline Integrity Program and safety practices are
effective. Among its components are semi-annual leak surveys, corrosion monitoring,
valve maintenance, and cathodic protection of steel pipes. Cathodic protection can help
prevent stress corrosion cracking by using low-voltage electricity to retard corrosion.
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Honorable City Council
January 19, 2011
Page 2
The public also has a key role to play in pipeline protection. California's Underground
Service Alert system, a.k.a. "DigAlert," or "USA Alert," is the "One Call Notification
Center" that supports all of Southern California. This free service locates and marks
underground utilities at job sites. DigAlert is a simple process to help homeowners,
contractors, and other utilities avoid the costly error of cutting a fiber optic cable or
damaging a power line or a gas main. Everyone is advised to "call before you dig." The
free service will mark the location of any underground pipelines or conduits at any job
site, large or small. DigAlert can be contacted by dialing 811, or 1-800-227-2600, or
visiting http://www.digalert.org/.
DISCUSSION
If it pleases the Council, Michele Pettes, the Ventura County Public Affairs Manager for
the Southern California Gas Company, will give a brief presentation on gas pipeline
safety.
Ms. Pettes began working with The Southern California Gas Company in late 2007 as
the Ventura County Public Affairs Manager. Prior to joining The Gas Company, Ms.
Pettes was the President and CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative—
Ventura County (EDC-VC).
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Hear the presentation.
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