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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation 04/18/2016Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 1 Community Pipeline Safety Initiative Petaluma City Council April 18, 2016 Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 2 •PG&E’s top priority is the safety of our customers and communities – we are testing, studying and upgrading our gas system, including: -Hydrostatic pressure testing which verifies the pipeline’s strength and safe operating pressure -Internal pipe inspection robots to check for signs of corrosion -Valve automation to allow faster response during gas emergencies -Leak survey of our entire gas pipeline system more frequently -Aerial and ground patrols to identify any excavations, signs of construction and other potential safety concerns Improving Pipeline Safety and Reliability Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 3 Program at a Glance WHAT WE’RE DOING Checking the area above the gas transmission pipeline for trees and structures that pose an emergency access or safety concern Helping to ensure immediate access for safety crews, and preventing potential damage to the pipe Working with our customers and communities where a safety risk has been identified to develop shared solutions Planting new trees at a safe distance from the pipeline and restoring the area to preserve the natural beauty of our communities Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 4 Working with First Responders "Keeping Novato safe is my number one priority every day. PG&E is a partner in helping my department keep this community safe by safely maintaining our energy infrastructure, providing easy access to gas pipelines and training our first responders so they can respond effectively to emergency situations near utilities.” Mark Heine, Fire Chief, Novato Fire Protection District First responders depend on immediate access in an emergency Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 5 Guide to Safe Landscaping Making sure the right plants and trees are located in the right location adds to the safety and natural beauty of your community Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 6 •We understand how important trees are to your community and the environment •To ensure we are only replacing trees that pose an emergency access or safety concern, we conduct a review of city-owned and private property trees near gas pipelines •The review is completed by arborists and gas safety experts and involves analyzing factors such as tree height, species and distance from the pipe •We share the results with the city or property owner and, together, work to develop a path forward •If a tree poses a safety concern and needs to be replaced, PG&E works together with the city or private property owner to offer replacement trees and restore the area Tree -by-Tree Review Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 7 Tree Replacement and Restoration •When a tree needs to be replaced for safety reasons, PG&E will work with the city and private property owner to offer the following: -Replacement: Provide replacement tree(s) or an in-lieu payment for each tree removed -Delivery: Coordinate with the city or property owner and deliver the replacement tree(s) to be planted by the property owner -Restoration: Work together to develop a landscape plan that restores the area with native, drought-tolerant landscaping such as grasses, mulch or bark •We recognize every customer and yard is different, and we will address special circumstances on a case-by-case basis Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 8 Community Partnership and Outreach •It is important to us that our customers and communities fully understand and support this safety work •Our outreach includes: -Meeting with city leaders to discuss the safety risks and work together to plan for gas safety work in public areas -Communicating about gas pipeline safety and the planned work to nearby residents prior to any work taking place -Contacting private property owners regarding any safety work proposed for their property •We will not move forward with any planned work until we have a signed agreement in place with the private property owner Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 9 •Answer all of your questions •Gather feedback and recommendations •Reach agreement on a plan forward •Begin outreach to private property owners Next Steps Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 10 Contact Information •For questions regarding the upcoming pipeline safety work, please contact Greg Gillis, Local Customer Outreach Specialist, at 1-415-815-7286 or by email at greg.gillis@pge.com •For more information, visit us at pge.com/GasSafety •To learn more about our gas transmission pipeline in your neighborhood, visit us at pge.com/pipelinelocations Community Pipeline Safety Initiative – Petaluma 11 Thank You