Senate Panel : Hearing Called on Oil Pipeline

A state Senate committee will hold a hearing next Thursday into last month’s two Mobil Oil Co. pipeline ruptures in the San Fernando Valley.

The hearing was requested by Sens. Herschel Rosenthal and Alan Robbins, who represent the Encino and Sherman Oaks areas where the Sept. 10 and 27 spills occurred.

“It is important that we address the concerns of our constituents and take action aimed at preventing a recurrence of this type of accident,” Robbins (D-Van Nuys) said in a letter to committee Chairman Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) requesting the hearing.

“We had literally dozens of calls from constituents wanting to know what we’re going to do about it,” Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) said Thursday. “I thought we should have an airing of the subject.”

The Sept. 10 break spilled 90,000 gallons of crude oil in Encino. The Sept. 27 break, which occurred during a high-pressure water test, spilled about 120,000 gallons of water mixed with less than 1,000 gallons of oil in Sherman Oaks.

7 Breaks in Pipeline

Exterior corrosion of the pipe caused both breaks, Mobil officials have said. An investigation by the state fire marshal is under way.

Los Angeles city officials have asked the state to consider shutting down the Mobil pipeline pending a safety review. City officials cited seven breaks in the Bakersfield-to-Torrance pipeline in the last 15 years.

But state fire officials, who are responsible for pipeline safety, said Wednesday that the line complies with safety regulations and does not pose a threat.

An aide to Torres said Thursday that the panel will examine the history of ruptures on the Mobil pipeline and other pipelines in the Los Angeles area and whether stronger government regulation is needed for pipelines. Rosenthal said he is also interested in learning the extent of damage from the oil spill on ground-water supplies, the Santa Monica Bay and wildlife as well as the adequacy of the response by public agencies to the spill.

The panel will take testimony from local and state safety officials, industry representatives and members of the public.

The toxics and public safety management committee hearing will be at 10 a.m. at the Van Nuys state building, 6150 Van Nuys Blvd.