The Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Commission and Alamo Improvement Association and the Pipeline Safety Trust will host three forums to discuss safety, oversight and other information for residents who live near petroleum and natural gas pipelines in the county.
The forums include speakers from the national not-for-profit Pipeline Safety Trust, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E and Kinder Morgan.
Michael Kent, the county’s Hazardous Materials Ombudsman, will facilitate a question-and-answer panel for attendees at all three forums.
- Alamo: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, at Creekside Community Church, 1350 Danville Boulevard.
- Richmond: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, in the Bermuda and Catalina rooms of the Richmond Memorial Convention Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond.
- Antioch: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, in Antioch Community Center ballroom, 4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch.
Miles of pipeline carrying natural gas, gasoline, diesel and even jet fuel run just a few feet beneath some of Contra Costa County’s busiest streets and trails. The forums are intended to help residents learn about them and stay safe.
Topics will include an overview of the regulatory framework for petroleum and natural gas pipelines, including maintenance and inspection requirements, common causes of incidents, community resources for finding information and communicating with regulatory agencies, and strategies for reducing risk.
The meetings are part of a greater public education campaign funded by a $100,000 grant obtained by the Alamo Improvement Association from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
