Locals, angered at what they described as underhanded tactics, faced off with representatives from Pacific Gas & Electric Company Monday as the utility prepares to remove trees that it says could create dangers along its natural gas pipelines.
The company says tree roots have the potential to damage protective pipe coatings, possibly allowing corrosion and conceivably causing a pipeline rupture.
A 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno killed eight people and leveled 38 homes. The National Transportation Safety Board and state regulators traced the explosion to improper welds and metallurgically deficient pipe segments installed in the 1950s, lax maintenance and poor record-keeping. The pipe failed after company officials over-pressurized the line beyond legal limits. PG&E was implicated in a judge-shopping scandal as it sought to limit its financial responsibility.
The watershed San Bruno explosion was not linked to trees or tree roots. A recent pipeline explosion in Fresno is believed to have been caused by heavy equipment.
Nevertheless, PG&E spokesman Shaun MacCoun insists the trees present a risk beyond damaging pipes. He said trees could conceivably prevent firefighters or other emergency crews from reaching the site of an accident immediately.
The utility plans on cutting down 32 trees on a 1.2-mile stretch of the Midway between Chico and Durham. A further 85 trees on a property envisioned as a future city linear park following Comanche Creek are also being eyed for removal. PG&E officials repeatedly declined to divulge how many trees they want removed from privately held land.
Despite recent events in Oroville, tree advocates may have gained the upper hand. Butte County Chief Executive Paul Hahn said the county will not issue any permits enabling a cut until a “robust” public process is concluded. Hahn said that process is still very much underway.
