"PG&E Convicted Of Obstructing Blast Probe, Breaking Safety Laws"

"Nearly six years after a defective natural gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno, killing eight people and destroying 38 homes, a federal court jury convicted Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Tuesday of obstructing the federal probe of the blast and of violating pipeline safety laws both before and after the disaster.

The jury found PG&E guilty of five felony counts of knowingly failing to inspect and test its gas lines for potential dangers, in addition to the felony obstruction count. The panel also found that company officials had tried to derail the San Bruno investigation by denying a practice of pumping natural gas through aging pipelines at excessive pressures.

Jurors acquitted the company of six charges of deliberately failing to maintain proper records of pipeline tests and repairs."

Bob Egelko reports for the San Francisco Chronicle August 9, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"California Utility Found Guilty of Violations in 2010 Gas Explosion That Killed 8" (New York Times)