The National Transportation Safety Board this morning released updated findings showing that a natural gas pipeline that exploded in San Bruno three months ago appears to have been made up of welded parts, a departure from PG&E’s records stating that the pipe had been “seamless.”
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, and San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane held a news conference to discuss the latest NTSB findings, which were based on “exhaustive metallurgic lab testing” of the piece of pipeline that exploded on Sept. 9, killing eight people and destroying more than 35 homes.
Speier called the discrepancy between PG&E’s records and the NTSB conclusions “troubling.”
“The evaluation showed that this was not a seamless pipe,” Speier said.
However, the NTSB report also found that the ruptured piece of pipe showed no evidence of corrosion, and no dents or damage that could have been inflicted during construction.
There had previously been reports by San Bruno residents that there was a natural gas smell in the neighborhood before the explosion, which could have indicated that the pipeline was leaking before it ruptured.
But the NTSB found that there was no physical evidence of a pre-existing leak in any of the ruptured pipe pieces.
Speier called those conclusions “good news” and said NTSB officials would return to the Peninsula in January to continue the official investigation with additional interviews and inspections.
The report stated that PG&E’s charts of pipelines in the area had indicated that the portion of Line 132 that exploded was constructed of 30-inch-diameter seamless steel pipe.
However, the NTSB investigation found that “the pipeline in the area of the rupture was constructed, as least in part, with seam-welded pipe.”
In a news teleconference this afternoon, PG&E President Chris Johns declined to comment directly on the discrepancy but said the company was engaged “in an exhaustive check of our records” and was cooperating fully with the NTSB investigators.
“That work is ongoing and will be shared with the NTSB,” Johns said.
“Like everyone else, we’re anxious to get to the root cause of this accident,” he said.
State Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, today expressed concern over PG&E’s response to the findings.
“Originally, I asked PG&E if they knew every section of the pipe in question and they said yes,” Hill said. “Well, the study indicates that that is simply not true. That is a concern.”
A final report on what caused the explosion is still being compiled and is not expected to be released before next fall.
12 PM: The National Transportation Safety Board this morning released updated findings showing that a portion of natural gas pipeline that exploded in San Bruno three months ago did not show evidence of corrosion, external damage or pre-existing leaks.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, and San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane held a news conference to discuss the latest NTSB findings, which were based on “exhaustive metallurgic lab testing” of the piece of pipeline that exploded on Sept. 9, killing eight people and destroying more than 35 homes.
“There are a number of things this report suggests that is actually good news,” Speier said.
NTSB investigators found that the ruptured piece of pipe showed no evidence of external or internal corrosion, no dents or damage that could have been inflicted during construction, and no existence of leaks, Speier said.
A final NTSB report on what caused the explosion is still being compiled and is not expected to be released before next fall.
Chris Cooney, Bay City News
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