Service is expected to be restored to the leaking Colonial Pipeline Line No. 1 sometime on Wednesday. The Colonial Pipeline Company has completed construction of a bypass line and will begin hydrostatic testing of that line today (Tuesday).
Colonial Pipeline Company said in press release that following the successful testing of the bypass line, it will be connected to Line 1 but it could take several days for the line to return to full operation.
“As such, some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions. Colonial continues to move as much gasoline, diesel and jet fuel as possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal,” said the company in a release.
“Recovery efforts at the release site continue along with bypass installation and testing. The safety and protection of the public, responders and the environment remain paramount in all activities.”
The leaking pipe was discovered when a mining inspector in Shelby County, Ala. detected the smell of gasoline and noticed a sheen on the surface of the water of one of the retention ponds as he was inspecting a former coal mining site. He promptly notified Colonial Pipeline Company and the company shut down both lines and sent crews out to survey the line and locate the source of the leak, according to Colonial Pipeline Company. Upon locating the leak, the company then began efforts to repair the leaking pipe.
Company officials estimate that about 252,000 gallons of gasoline were spilled.
NC Governor Pat McCrory said that the main focus is ensuring that state’s first responders have adequate fuel supplies to perform their duties. Supplies are running low and their have been sporadic fuel outages throughout the state, said Gov. McCrory but he blamed extra fuel fill-ups and people topping off their gas tanks for those outages.
“We’ve successfully weathered fuel shortages before and we will do it again,” Governor McCrory said. “Now is the time to pull together as a state and to conserve fuel when it’s possible. We look forward to returning to business as usual in the near future.”
Gov. McCrory is asking all agencies to curtail al non-essential travel and limit fuel usage. On Tuesday, he asked North Carolina’s residents to the same.
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