• 29
  • September
    2011

After a year-long investigation, federal investigators have released their report on the deadly gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno last fall that killed eight people and damaged over 100 homes.

On September 10, 2010, a huge explosion rocked a highly populated area of outer-San Francisco suburb San Bruno. The resulting inferno raged as high as 1,000 feet into the early evening sky and caused other smaller gas lines in the area to burst and set dozens of other fires. In the aftermath, eight people died as a result of the fires and almost another 100 were injured with varying degrees of burns and smoke inhalation.

Questions of liability and who would pay for the damages remained for many months. The questions were finally put to rest in a 140-page report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) earlier this month.

According to report, the blame for the tragic explosion rests solely on the shoulders of Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). The NTSB unanimously agreed that the gas pipeline accident was caused by a "litany of failures" by the utility giant. Had PG&E conducted proper pressure tests and inspections on the pipeline, it would have likely been able to prevent the pipeline from rupturing. Information provided by PG&E to investigators revealed incomplete records regarding the origins of the pipeline and ongoing maintenance.

The NTSB also determined that the aftermath of the explosion was further exacerbated by PG&E's "ineptness." Control room operators knew that the explosion was due to a pipeline rupture, but they did not information emergency personnel. Instead, emergency personnel initially thought they were dealing with a plane crash. Additionally, had PG&E installed automatic or remote-controlled shutoff values, the fire would not have burned as long.

As part of the report, the NTSB has provided PG&E, other natural gas utilities and federal regulators with 39 safety recommendations. It is unknown whether these groups will make significant retroactive changes based on the recommendations, or if most will be implemented on future projects.

A number of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits were filed last year against PG&E over the San Bruno pipeline explosion. Ninety-five lawsuits representing over 300 plaintiffs have been scheduled for trial on July 2, 2012 in San Mateo County. Even though the cases have been grouped together, the trial will consist of 16 representative sample cases.

It is unknown whether, in light of the NTSB's recent findings, PG&E will decide to settle these cases before trial.

Related Resource: CBSNews, "NTSB released report on deadly pipeline explosion," 9/26/11.