SAN BRUNO, Calif., March 9 (UPI) -- Most of the families who had homes damaged by a gas explosion in San Bruno, Calif., plan to return, some as early as this week, an official said.
A natural gas pipeline operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. exploded September 2010 in San Bruno, killing eight people and damaging 38 homes.
Most of the families have opted to return to the neighborhood. Aaron Aknin, a community development director, said 24 of the 38 homes damaged during the blast are in some stage of redevelopment, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reports.
Some families said they expect to go to trial in a case against PG&E by July. PG&E, in a December statement, said it was liable for the pipeline explosion, meaning it could compensate "all of the victims" for their injuries.
Last year, pressure tests on natural gas pipelines in California revealed a leak on a 24-inch pipe in Palo Alto, Calif., the same section of pipe that exploded in San Bruno.
Another PG&E pipeline ruptured in November, triggering a landslide that closed a freeway for four hours.
U.S. legislation on pipeline safety, enacted this year, doubles the maximum fine for pipeline safety violations to $2 million, deploys more inspectors and mandates automatic shut-off valves where "feasible."
