A periodic
”
extremely loud noise
”
resembling that of a jet engine, and a white cloud that
”
could be mistaken for an explosion
”
in east Morgan Hill in the coming days are nothing to worry
about, city staff say.
A periodic “extremely loud noise” resembling that of a jet engine, and a white cloud that “could be mistaken for an explosion” in east Morgan Hill in the coming days are nothing to worry about, city staff say.
It’s just PG&E testing their gas line that runs through the city, east of U.S. 101, as part of the utility’s ongoing infrastructure inspection and maintenance efforts, according to the PG&E web site.
Work started last Friday, with crews mobilizing machinery and equipment along the line in the Coyote Estates neighborhood, according to a notice distributed by city staff.
The work will continue through Oct. 29, and will involve taking the gas line out of service (but hooking it up temporarily to an alternate source), venting the line, filling it with water and then reconnecting it, according to Morgan Hill public information officer Maureen Drewniany.
City staff and PG&E anticipate questions and concerns from work-site neighbors during the venting stage, the most noticeable aspect of the work which will produce a loud rumbling sound and a white cloud in the air. That part of the inspection and testing will take place Oct. 17.
The testing process is unlikely to endanger the public, staff said.
The city will conduct a community open house meeting to educate residents about the testing process and answer questions Oct. 13. The meeting will take place 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Jackson Elementary School multi-purpose room, 2700 Fountain Oaks Dr.
The city released a statement offering more contact information about the upcoming gas line testing.
“The City of Morgan Hill is aware of the efforts underway by PG&E to ensure the safety of its natural gas transmission pipeline system. We are supportive of that PG&E process now occurring in Morgan Hill. All questions about that process can be addressed by PG&E by visiting http://www.pge.com/gassystem/ or by calling the Gas Hotline at 1-888-743-5000.”
