Our Mission StatementHealthy Community Research for Suisun City

project of California Healthy Communities Network/ Tides Center will conduct a baseline study of pipelines in the Suisun City

pipeline corridor.

The study will provide independent predictions of the pipelines’ life spans, the risks these pipelines pose to the human and natural

environment, and risk mitigation measures.

During the study, we will be looking at—amongother areas— data on pipeline materials, corrosion protection,installation history, and soil. The study findings, which will be

disseminated to the public, local government officials, and pipeline operators, should hopefully initiate a dialogue between these

groups on pipeline safety in the area.

What are the safe pipeline life expectancies and future

environmental impact of supply pipelines going

through the Suisun City corridor?

In 1974 this was a rural farm area with a small housing track being proposed in the Suisun City’s plans.

What brought me to research pipelines?• Proposed Wal-Mart Project without mention of encroachment over Travis Air

Force Base Jet fuel pipelines. • Local Government and AFB’s indifference to pipeline laws.• The Pipeline Safety Trust and Carl Weimer’s help in asking the right questions.• Lack of answers from operator and government.• Pipelines run through and parallel to my back yard.• My back yard soil when drilled for foundation in 2002 was permeated with

Mercaptan.• PG&E did some repair work on the pipeline in 1999 behind my house

Jet fuel line route in 2004

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Travis AFB sent personnel to find and mark their jet fuel pipelines after one of Carl Weimer’s

letters. They were surprised to find them paved over.

Natural gas pipeline route in 2004

1983 Natural Gas pipelines

New gas valvesOld gas valves

1950 Natural Gas pipelines

All these Pipelines are about 40 to 60 years old

One cathodic test point visible in 1.7 miles to Travis AFB

Carlsbad New Mexico US – August 19, 2000 (Corrosion-Pitting, Gas Pipeline explosion, 12 killed up to 300 yards away, 55 minute burn.)

Figure showing micrograph corroded-pit of Carlsbad 1950 30” Pipeline which had not been PIGGED

The natural gas pipeline explosion below was because of corrosion. The explosion occurred Sept 14th, 2008 near

Appomattox Virginia. The pipeline was installed in 1955 and was PIGGED earlier that year.

Pacific Gas and Electric has current work in progress in an effort to inspect

their pipelines.• PG&E has two high-pressure natural gas pipelines that

run through the corridor.• They are cathodic protected.• PG&E replaced 1/2 of the 32” gas pipeline in 1983

leaving 1.7 miles of 1950 pipeline un-touched.• Old valves are scheduled to be replaced for PIG use.• PG&E has installed a new valve for a PIG this past

month in the Western end of the corridor.• This effort is in cooperation with PHMSA in meeting a

2011 deadline.

The following is from the 2004-2005 Solano County Grand Jury report.

In 2004 there was a diesel spill caused by corrosion on the Kinder-Morgan pipeline in the Suisun Marsh. The Travis AFB supply Jet fuel pipeline runs parallel to that pipeline . The leaking pipeline was install in 1967. This happened even after State required annual pipeline PIG testing

The 1970 jet fuel pipelines buried in the Suisun City pipeline corridor have 90º bends. Pipeline PIG testing

will not work. As of today I do not know what kind of corrosion

protection it has.

2006 Soil Corrosion Study in this Wetland area. Most of the Suisun Corridor is Suisun Marsh

Wetlands

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How do we get this study done?

• Study could use cooperation from Travis AFB and PG&E to gather data on dates, materials, and testing results.

• Input from both operators on future maintenance and safety steps to protect the community and ecosystem.

• Voluntary cooperation between parties will hopefully create finished results that are creditable to all parties.