Aging gas pipe at risk of explosion nationwide

[babylonsister]

Aging gas pipe at risk of explosion nationwide
AP


By GARANCE BURKE and JASON DEAREN, Associated Press Writers – 5 mins ago


SAN BRUNO, Calif. – An ominous theme has emerged from the wreckage of a deadly pipeline explosion in California: There are thousands of pipes just like it nationwide.

Utilities have been under pressure for years to better inspect and replace aging gas pipes — many of them laid years before the suburbs expanded over them and now are at risk of leaking or erupting.

But the effort has fallen short. Critics say the regulatory system is ripe for problems because the government largely leaves it up to the companies to do inspections, and utilities are reluctant to spend the money necessary to properly fix and replace decrepit pipelines.

"If this was the FAA and air travel we were talking about, I wouldn't get on a plane," said Rick Kessler, a former congressional staffer specializing in pipeline safety issues who now works for the Pipeline Safety Trust, an advocacy group based in Bellingham, Wash.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100913/ap_on_re_us/us_pipeline_explosion

[RKP5637]

1. Yep, just one more piece of our infrastructure falling apart. n/t