Washington Hearing Possible on Calif. Gas Pipe Explosion

Federal investigators may subpoena witnesses to testify in Washington about the deadly Pacific Gas & Electric Co. natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif.

National Transportation Safety Board member Mark Rosekind said board members voted during the weekend whether to hold a hearing on the Sept. 9 explosion and fire that killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes. Rosekind says results of that vote will be announced soon.

The San Francisco Chronicle said Rosekind was one of several speakers at a Dec. 19 town hall meeting at the San Bruno Senior Center. Some residents pushed for more information on the safety board’s investigation.

The NTSB disclosed last week that PG&E was unaware that the segment of the ruptured gas pipeline had a weld along its spine known as a seam weld.