In the aftermath of the San Bruno gas explosion, many Berkeleyans may be wondering where the pipelines are located in our city.
Berkeleysider Alan Tobey uncovered the National Pipeline Mapping System, a government-run geographic information system created by the Department of Transportation, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminstration, and the Office of Pipeline Safety.
The NPMS Public Map Viewer was overloaded throughout the weekend as thousands of people researched what pipelines crossed their towns, but Tobey persisted and captured the screengrab above. The red line shows a hazardous liquid pipeline and the green is a gas transmission pipeline.
The NPMS cautions that its information is for reference only. Anyone engaged in excavation should call 811 for more detailed information.
Update A spokesperson for PG&E said to Berkeleyside that the company routinely does leak surveys of its transmission and distribution lines on a three-year cycle. The current cycle is due for completion in December. But PG&E will comply with any instructions it receives from the California Public Utilities Commission following the San Bruno explosion. The CPUC yesterday ordered PG&E to inspect its natural gas system.
