Gas line safety is top of mind since the Sept. 9 explosion in San Bruno. It seems everyone is wondering whether they are living or working atop one of the Pacific Gas and Electric natural gas lines that could rupture ithout noticew and turn into a fiery inferno.
Now, we will know.
PG&E will release a list of 100 high-risk natural gas line segments as early as Monday. San Jose leaders have already been told two of those lines are in the north part of the city. They don't have an exact location yet, but Mayor Chuck Reed said one of the dangerous pipelines lies beneath the surface near the intersection of Tasman Drive and North First Street.
Reed said PG&E told him the Tasman/North First Street pipeline was slated for upgrades in 2012 and the other section was under review by the utility company. Reed's staff is digging deeper and asking PG&E for more details.
Another high-risk line is located somewhere near San Jose's border with Milpitas and PG&E says Milpitas also has two pipelines of concern.
Milpitas Vice Mayor Pete McHugh told the Mercury News that PG&E did not give details on exactly where the lines are but said they are both west of Interstate 880.
"They told us these two pipelines are of concern," McHugh told the paper, "and that they will be setting up a meeting with us early next week."
But, just because a city isn't on the list doesn't mean the pipelines that run beneath it are completely safe. After all, none of the lines in San Bruno were on the list, according to City Manager Connie Jackson -- including the portion that exploded just over a week and a half ago.
Several other Bay Area city leaders have asked PG&E about the status of their lines.
The California Public Utilities Commission asked PG&E for the list.
