PG&E starts pipeline plan in Merced; may move obstacles

Local officials began the process this month of working with the city of Merced and local residents to move dozens of obstructions blocking major gas lines in the city.

Pacific, Gas and Electric Co. officials have identified trees, brush, backyard sheds and other items that could hinder first responders who need to quickly reach the pipelines. They’ve marked 69 obstructions on public property and 25 on private property as part of the Community Pipeline Safety Initiative.

Some of the trees and brush may need to be moved, but workers need to get a closer look at them before making that decision, according to PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith.

Every minute counts in the case of an emergency. “They need immediate access to those pipelines in the case of a natural disaster or something like that,” he said.

The obstructions to the pipeline, Smith said, are a hindrance similar to when a person parks a car in front of a fire hydrant. It may seem harmless but can be tragic during an emergency.

Letters have begun to go out to the homeowners who may have a tree or other obstruction in their yard. Smith said PG&E wants to work with those people to come up with a solution that will make them happy.

He said the company will pay to move the plants or other obstructions, and it is willing to work with the landowner on a plan for the landscape. “That’s our goal in each and every case,” he said.

During the last several years, PG&E has spent more than $3 billion in the attempt to make its gas system in the state safe and reliable, he said, and the pipeline program is part of that effort. The work has gone on in the area roughly from Bakersfield to the Oregon border.

Beyond blocking the pathway for quick access by first responders, tree roots also can grow into a pipeline and damage it.

Battalion Chief Mark Walker of Merced City Fire said it is important to leave those pathways open to firefighters. He went on to say the program also is helping map an extensive web of pipeline underground, which can include pipes carrying a large amount of gas.

“It helps us to plan what type of action we would take if something were to happen,” he said.

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "PG&E starts pipeline plan in Merced; may move obstacles."