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San Francisco Sues Feds Over Pipeline Safety

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco is suing the federal agency in charge of enforcing gas pipeline safety, saying it "abjectly failed" to help prevent a deadly explosion in a nearby suburb.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera said Tuesday the city also is suing because the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has ignored San Francisco's concerns since the September 2010 blast in San Bruno, which killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.

The lawsuit claims the agency has failed to implement recommendations by federal investigators. A report into the explosion faulted lax enforcement of federal safety rules and the actions of pipeline owner Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

PG&E operates three gas transmission lines that run below densely populated San Francisco.

Representatives from the pipeline administration and PG&E did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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