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CPUC fines PG&E $16.8M for shoddy gas leak surveys

 The California Public Utilities Commission fined PG&E more than $16 million Friday for failing to conduct gas pipeline leak surveys on a stretch of pipeline in Contra Costa County.

PG&E said it was "surprised" by the $16.7 million fine, since the utility self-reported the problem to the state regulatory agency in December and has taken steps to survey the 14 miles of affected pipeline and repair the 22 leaks that were subsequently discovered on them.

"To receive a penalty this extreme for being open, transparent and accountable is disappointing," said Nick Stavropoulos, PG&E's executive vice president of gas operations. "In fact, members of the commission recently applauded the work our team did and the company's recognition of the employees who came forward."

PG&E apparently failed to conduct regular leak surveys of the affected pipelines because the utility's maps were not updated to accurately reflect new construction. While some of the new construction occurred within the past five years, in other places the violations date back to 1993, according to the CPUC citation.

"Because of the duration and seriousness of the violation and the numerous opportunities PG&E had to find these problems earlier, we concluded that a citation was warranted," said Michelle Cooke, interim director of the CPUC's Consumer Protection and Safety Division.

Friday's citation is the first under a new program authorizing CPUC staff to issue fines without the approval of the commission. The citation program, approved in December, is one of a number of changes the agency has made in response to the September 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, which killed eight people, injured scores of others and destroyed dozens of homes.

PG&E has 10 days to either pay the fine with shareholder dollars or submit an appeal. The utility is reviewing the citation and fine to determine whether to appeal, spokesman Brian Swanson said.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:24:55 -0800}

Police report cell phone disruptions during 49ers game

A newspaper report suggested Friday that San Francisco police had difficulty communicating on their cellphones during the 49ers playoff game.

A published report of communications problems was presented Friday at the city's official Disaster Council meeting during a post-game recap of security.

"We all knew who was doing what and what the efforts were, you know, throughout the game," said Ron Dudgeon, of the San Francisco Emergency Services Department. "It went really quite well, all things considered."

San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr dismissed a news report that a fan jammed cellphone systems at Candlestick Park, hampering police communications.

"Our primary means of communication is by PIC, by radio, the radios we wear," Suhr said. "We have never had a problem communicating at a major event, including any 49ers game."

Earlier in the week, the chief told city budget officials that some officers who sometimes use their cellphones to call and text each other to avoid tying up radio channels did report a common problem.

"What I was talking about was officers were unable to, like many of the 49er fans, get through on their personal cellphone," Suhr said.

Emergency responders throughout the Bay Area said the answer to communication problem is something called Bay WEB.

"It will allow our first responders to share data and information across the Bay Area region," said Laura Adleman, of the San Francisco Emergency Services Department. "So it's going to be a solely dedicated network for public safety, and it doesn't rely on a commercial network."

This would complement the already existing exclusive emergency response voice network.

"We need this because we're going to be hosting more events in the great city that command a level of Bay Area collaboration," said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

The federal government will pay half the $100 million cost if Bay Area governments fund the rest.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:52:00 -0800}

Oakland police seek suspect in Fruitvale attempted sexual assault

Oakland police said Friday that they are asking for the public's help in finding a man who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman on a busy street in the city's Fruitvale District in the middle of the day on Thursday.

Police said that at about 11:15 a.m. on Thursday a 36-year-old woman who was walking in the 2000 block of 35th Avenue was approached by a stranger and physically forced to the ground.

The suspect then attempted to sexually assault the woman but she was able to pull away and run from the suspect, police said.

They described the suspect as a black man who is about 35-years-old and is 5-foot-6 with a medium build and clean-shaven. The man was wearing a black hooded jacket and black sweatpants.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Anyone with information about the case may call the Oakland Police Department's youth and family service division at (510) 238-3641 or a tip line at (510) 637-0298.

Oakland police said they want to warn people to always be aware of their surroundings, not be distracted by cellphones and electronic devices and stay in well-lit and populated areas.

They added that people should be especially alert when they enter and exit their vehicles.

_{Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:39:15 -0800}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories