Multiple large gas lines exist under streets in Irvine, including adjacent to The Meadows Manufactured Home Community. How safe are residents because of this?
The news has been filed with pictures, images and stories about the disastrous gas explosion and fires in San Bruno, a suburb just south of San Francisco. At least four residents were killed and many homes destroyed. Here's a link to one story in the SF Chronicle. http://tinyurl.com/2fa4a6v
Twice in the past two years, gas lines adjacent to The Meadows have ruptured because of City and Contractor negligence during the Jeffrey Road Underpass construction project. On both occasions, residents were evacuated. More recently, four months ago Contractor negligence led to a disastrous fire that destroyed two large trailers in a storage area and damaged many more. The burned out hulks of those two trailers still sit there as a grim reminder of this fire.
What is the City and management of The Meadows doing to ensure residents' safety? Has the City increased any inspections or required the contractor SEMA to more rigorously enforce safety rules?
Has the City or anyone demanded that the state Public Utilities Commission order all gas line companies -- not just PG&E (the owner of the San Bruno lines) -- to inspect and re-certify all gas lines? The state did issue such an order to PG&E but that company is only active in Northern California. See a copy of the PUC's Order dated Monday, September 13 to PG&E - http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/events/sanbruno.htm. In other words, the PUC is ignoring non-PG&E gas lines in areas such as Irvine.
Has the City done anything to more rigorously ensure resident safety because of the multiple large gas lines adjacent to The Meadows?
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My stepdad lived at The Meadows (and later moved to the Groves) so I have a clear idea of the area. It's distressing to see the cavalier way the residents are being treated - as if they can be put at risk at the convenience of the contractor. I used to live in Orange and there was a jet fuel line that passed behind the development. I was always concerned about what might happen if the pipeline would rupture since jet fuel can ignite at about 75 degrees if exposed to air. Having the fire department right there probably wouldn't help since they could potentially be involved in any fireball that affected the complex. Safety cannot be maintained without diligence. All pipelines need to be monitored and maintained.
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