Politics & Government

Yee's Pipeline Safety Bill Signed Into Law

The legislation requires all privately owned gas companies in the state to equip all pipelines that cross an active seismic earthquake fault or are located within a highly populated area with automatic or remote-controlled safety valves.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law state Sen. Leland Yee's pipeline safety bill that requires all pipeline operators throughout the state to equip their lines with automatic or remote-controlled shutoff vales, Yee's office said today.

Yee, D-San Francisco, proposed the bill shortly after the Sept. 9, 2010, pipeline explosion in the Crestmoor neighborhood, particularly after it was discovered that the pipeline, which was owned by PG&E, had manual valves. As a result, it took crews nearly 90 minutes to shut off the pipe.

The fire left eight people dead, dozens injured, 38 homes destroyed and many more homes damaged.

Find out what's happening in San Brunowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Yee’s SB 216 now requires all privately owned gas companies in the state to equip all pipelines that cross an active seismic earthquake fault or are located within a highly populated area with automatic or remote-controlled safety valves.

“If SB 216 had been in place last year, the devastation in San Bruno would have been limited and lives could have been saved,” Yee, who is running for mayor of San Francisco, said in a statement. “While much more needs to be done, SB 216 helps hold PG&E accountable and ensures residents are safe.”

Find out what's happening in San Brunowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Yee's office said the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates PG&E and other utilities throughout the state, is expected to determine a timeline for the utilities to install the new valves.


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