"According to a brochure prepared by PG&E about what it is calling a "community pipeline safety initiative," trees and shrubs and plants with woody stems, such as manzanita and juniper, should be at least 10 feet away from a gas pipeline, while "larger trees" need to be at least 14 feet away. That means property owners could be asked to remove trees from a 28-foot-wide swath of their property.

Structures, including buildings, solid fences, pools, hot tubs, patios, decks and gazebos, also must be removed if they are above the pipeline, the brochure says."

Looking at where pipelines are in Palo Alto, this impacts large portions of south PA, including Charleston, Middlefield, Cowper, Waverley, Page Mill and so on. Heads up everyone!

Is this because PG&E cannot, or will not insure the safety of it's pipeline integrity and workmanship? And as such needs a buffer zone devoid of life to minimize the spread of fire and explosion?

I'm definitely in favor of this. If PG&E wants to removed the cedar tree in my front yard I'm all for it, rather they pay for it than me.

What some people may not realize is that PG&E, as well as CPAU, has easement rights where there pipes run...or in the case of CPAU, overhead or underground power lines, gas lines, water lines, etc.

If you plant in an easement (or build a structure such as a deck, shed, BBQ, etc.) or encroach on an easement, the utility companies can make you remove the plants/structures at your own expense.

A word to the wise is to pull out your title reports and review the map/plat of your property. Better to be proactive in managing the situation before it becomes a problem.

oops..."their"