FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update #2 on Olympic Pipeline Gasoline Leak?
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Please see the most recent statement below from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and bp regarding the Olympic pipeline gasoline spill on Highway 534. Skagit County Department of Emergency Management is on site to support the response efforts.
Conway, WA (December 11, 2023, 5:00 PM) ? The unified command leading the response to the release of gasoline spill from a vault associated with the Olympic Pipeline in Conway, Washington, have determined that approximately 30,660 gallons of gasoline was released when a three-eighths inch diameter tube leading from the main pipeline to a pressure-check valve failed. Of that, approximately 5,000 gallons of gasoline remained in the vault and the remainder was released into the environment.
After the pipeline operator was made aware of a loss in pressure, it began a series of steps to shut down the main pipeline. Residual pressure caused the release of gasoline to continue for several hours.
Approximately 1600 feet of absorbent and containment boom has been placed at various locations in Hill Ditch and Bulson Creek as far as 2.25 miles downstream of the release site. No gasoline or sheen has been seen on the Skagit River.
Conway Elementary School will re-open tomorrow (Tuesday 12/12/23). State Route 534 will be re-opened to one-lane traffic at approximately 6 a.m.
Tomorrow, neighbors may see cleanup crews conducting in-water surveillance of Hill Ditch.
Air monitoring conducted by the Department of Ecology and by bp at EPA?s and Ecology?s direction continues to indicate no public health risk from gasoline fumes.
The unified command consists of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Department of Ecology, Skagit County Department of Emergency Management, bp, Lummi Nation, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
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