Location of Gas Pipelines Near Schools Called into Question

Over the weekend, a group or individual calling itself Concerned Citizens of BRSSD, mailed out a letter to Belmont residents raising concerns about the location of PG&E gas pipelines on the campuses of Nesbit, Fox and Ralston schools.

All three of the schools are currently undergoing projects.

Concurrently, there have been several comments on a about the development agreement presented to the City of Belmont by , raising similar concerns about pipeline location on school campuses.

The letter, which was not dated, contains copies of email correspondences between Concerned Citizens of BRSSD and Nellie Hungerford, co-superintendent of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District.

Specifically, the email referred to in the letter states that the three schools are "all located within 1,500 feet of a hazardous pipeline," and not in compliance with the California Department of Education's requirement that a risk analysis be conducted when a pipeline exists within 1,500 feet of  the proposed site or expansion.

In her email response, Hungerford states that, "In order to apply for State Matching Funds, the District must assure the CDE that areas outside the perimeter of the sites meet certain other guidelines." She added that the district has not yet received the final risk analysis reports, but the reports should be available in early July.

Belmont resident Joe Brennan commented on the asking if city leaders were concerned about the placement of the pipelines. "Shouldn't our city leaders be concerned about the PG&E high pressure gas transmission pipeline running along Ralston Ave near the CSUS proposed site of their new school?"

In response, Mayor Dave Warden commented, "I have asked the staff to either have someone from PG&E available or to have a report about the gas line in question available to the Planning Commission."

Warden was referring to the July 17 meeting of the Belmont Planning Commision, at which time the commission will discuss the amended presented by Crystal Springs Uplands School.

Belmont Patch will continue to update this story as information becomes available.

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