PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
gas_transmission Incident —
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_transmission |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 36.72305, -121.71140 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION DAMAGE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
AT APPROXIMATELY 13:15 HOURS ON 10/2/10 A FARMER RIPPING HIS FIELD STRUCK LINE 301B, A 12-INCH STEEL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE, WHICH RELEASED GAS TO THE ATMOSPHERE. THE FARMER DID NOT CALL UNDERGROUND SERVICE ALERT (USA) PRIOR TO STARTING THE FIELD RIPPING, AND THEREFORE DID NOT HAVE A VALID USA TICKET. THE LOCATION OF THE GAS INCIDENT IS APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE EAST OF COOPER ROAD AND HIGHWAY 183. PG&E ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 13:50 HOURS AFTER HEARING A 911 CALL ON A SCANNER ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. THE SALINAS FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. PG&E CREWS CLOSED VALVES AT TWO LOCATIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 18:55 HOURS AND THE PIPE WENT FLAT AND GAS FLOW STOPPED AT 19:40 HOURS. THE GAS CREW REPLACED A THREE-FOOT SECTION OF THE DAMAGED PIPE. THIS SECTION OF LINE 301B WAS REPRESSURIZED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE AT 05:15 HOURS ON 10/03/10. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES AND NO MAJOR MEDIA PRESENT. SIX CUSTOMERS LOST SERVICE LOST SERVICE AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT IS REPORTABLE TO THE CPUC AND DOT DUE TOTAL COSTS, INCLUDING THE LOSS OF GAS, EXCEED $50,000.
About This Pipeline Incident
Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.