Document MGw1ZLnQkX7jJO11m5gNQ4mXy

Oakland, CA (Alameda Co.) Tribune (D. 195,937) (S. 168,485) SEP 2 2 1983 j-';..,, JUlen's; p.,c/b- Est. /* B leaks? 'identified fmfeDort* U00 t}aAsformers leaking :in S.F, none in Oakland :By Patricia Radin -: v7 n Tribune - y -,-Vt;V . SAN, FRANCISCO -- One hundred of Pacjfie"G,as~ and Electric Co.'s 855 PCB-cooled. ^transformers in tfilt! l!Uil"Tiave shown signs of leaks but all 144 in downtown Oakland are sound, PG&E spokesmen said Wednes- / day. '>?S PG&E; spokesman Tony Led- Well said the utility company inspected all 999 of its big net work transformers this summer arid made note ; of those that showed signs of leaking. The . jinits are inspected every three months, he said. i y;J"I .donlt.^mk this finding is ; . but of tile ordinary," he said of v :.the';mps.'recent inspection. '"Some of these (transformers) are old." ` " ! J . > An internal PG&E report list- %ing theresults of this summer's i;inspection{was obtained by! to- J fcal 87 ;pf the Service Employees ! Interriatiprial;Union. V-! i >P s ;- l^he,utility' contends there is : :,np danger to the public because 'the oily PCBs, or polychlorinat- led biphenyls, are isolated in con- ;;!crete-l ined .vaults. The average transformer contains 500 gal ! lops of the fluid and some are as large as a small room. = , v ' What we classified as a `lpak'. ' was not necessarily something spilling onto the floor," Ledwell said. "It's anything unusual in-, : eluding moisture or discolora tion. If a transformer is leaking excessively, it's repaired imme diately." .;-d ! Used since 1949-: - d|lgJsed;,in P,G&E equipment i|sihce "19.49, PC?! is irritating tp ifspine peopie'sskinand istainted^ t'With deadly dioxins. Ifturned at ' ^temperatures betweeri -700 arid , -.90,0 degrees, it`forms compounds f i: j|lhaty are suspected of .causing jfliyer damage and cancer. ifturiits with transformers; that are! insulated with mineral^bil. In.J ^. Oakland, replacerrient^of, the ; fifet 29 units will begin iri De- ; :!;ceiriber; !said PG&E spokesman 5 .Harry Arnott / ' - _.ls . - !|!;::?i|First to be removed are units K jn locations that city arid utility officials consider most likely to : threaten public safety.;/ yy According to the list released M;ty Local 87, three of the leaks : fc-yWere found at the utility's oWri .annex on BealeStreet and anIj!i6ther Was 'discovered across the street at the Bechtel Building. Two leaks Wete^; found among p the four transformers vat St. KFrancis Hospital arid four {Were . found at BART's Embrircadero Station. Pacific Telephone head : Quarters had d leaky unit and so ! did the Federal Building, the list - Ifsaysv Six problems were discov ered in a. transformer at the ;'!$Hiitonev^ !' ;V:V. ?|g??All of the network transform : ers are in dowritoWn locations . {because such machines sery f|ibnly high-density, areas.; J.tVK Sr''tii-: PCB-ARCH-EXT0376171