SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Utility crews replaced 5 miles of aging gas pipes under a northern California neighborhood less than two decades ago but stopped just short of a segment that ruptured and exploded last year, according to documents released this week in a federal investigation into the deadly blast.
Records showed that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. had replaced the pipes in San Bruno for seismic safety concerns in 1994. The new, stronger steel pipes, however, ended about 300 yards from the epicenter of September’s explosion, which killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes.
PG&E spokesman Joe Molica confirmed to the San Jose Mercury News that the earthquake safety upgrades were done but said the segment that ultimately ruptured was not on the list for the project, which focused only on seismic risk.
