I wish how far these pipelines are from school buildings was stated. Gas pipelines as big as these can cause severe burns on anyone nearby if the gas ignites when they fail.

This is more than a Mountain View issue, for I know of a school in the East Bay with a petroleum products pipeline running under the sidewalk in front of that school.

What was there first, the pipeline or the school? Also, the pipeline in question just passed a test that held it for 8 hours at 1.5X the maximum allowable pressure. If the pipe was damaged or failed the test, I could see replacing it, but as it was just proven safe, it would be a waste of rate payer's money to replace it because people are uncomfortable with the idea of the pipe...yes, even though it was proven safe just a few months ago.

Here is what I picked up at the Board of Ed. meeting, (generally, good work from Sup. Goldman and staff) There are two pipelines that go under the soccer and baseball fields (not near buildings). The older one was recently pressure tested (150% as noted), and the one to be replaced is slightly newer - but needs to be enlarged. PG&E would like to build the new pipe in a replacement trench along the street - and under a parking lot (Middlefield side). PG&E owns the two easements with the two lines under the fields - that were installed before the school was built. The TV news cast was a bit sensational (IMO), the old and newer lines are not in any current danger of failure. The PG&E plan and expected school acceptance was disclosed to neighbors - none showed up at meeting.
I do not consider this to be any major issue - both pros and cons exist. Both lines cannot be out of service at once! It is highly desired to do work summer of 2012.
The old pipe section would be filled with cement (in-place) and not dug up.