PG&E to Test Pipelines in July, August

The PG&E quarterly report was presented at the city council meeting on Tuesday.

In the joint presentation, the fire chief provided an update on emergency preparedness regarding the gas terminal and pipelines. The PG&E representative announced plans to conduct water-pressure testing this summer, among other precautions the company is taking to ensure safety of its pipelines.

Since , when the first report following the San Bruno explosion was presented to city council on Milpitas' gas terminal and pipelines, fire personnel have toured the , located behind Applebee's, and learned more about its operations should an emergency arise.

Now in the second phase of planning, Chief Brian Sturdivant said the fire department, police, public works, EMS and public works will to meet to go over emergency procedure and response. In the fall, they plan to conduct an exercise at the site of the terminal, he said.

PG&E crews also plan to test underground gas pipelines for weaknesses in the Milpitas area on separate dates, starting the first half of July and ending in August. The exact dates are not available yet. An for members of the public to learn about how the tests are done.

The hydrostatic pressure tests are a way to provide additional inspection for the pipelines, said Tamon Norimoto, a PG&E government relations representative. 

Services to customers will not be interrupted as gas will be rerouted from other sources, he said.

The tests are part of the company's efforts to inspect 150 miles of pipelines that are similar in characteristics and age to  last September. 

The areas where PG&E plans to dig are not residential neighborhoods in Milpitas, according to the power point presentation provided by Norimoto at the June 21 city council meeting. One area is actually in San Jose, and the other is where Capitol Avenue intersects with the railroad tracks.

As a custom, businesses and residences within 500 feet of the staging area receive notification, such as a doorhanger or a robocall, said Brittany Chord, a PG&E spokesperson.

That's because once the pipeline is opened, the smell of the gas, which is odorized for safety reasons, could alarm some members of the public who are unaware of the testing, said Norimoto. PG&E has set up a hotline at 1-800-743-7431.

Hydrostatic pressure testing has been used by natural gas transmission industries for more than three decades, according to PG&E. Water is used to fill an isolated pipeline to test the pressure. A loss of pressure indicates a leak in the pipeline. Crews then replace the section of the pipeline.

-Nika Megino, editor of Newark Patch, contributed to this report.