U.S. Sues Pipeline Companies
SEATTLE — The federal government sued a pipeline company Thursday over a 1999 gasoline leak and explosion that killed three people, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency said.
The lawsuit against Olympic Pipeline Co. alleges the explosion was the result of “gross negligence in the operation and maintenance of the pipeline.”
The lawsuit also names Shell Pipeline LP, which owns a third of Olympic. At the time of the accident, Shell Pipeline’s corporate predecessor, Equilon Pipeline Co., along with Arco and GATX, owned Olympic. Equilon managed the pipeline under an operating agreement with Olympic.
The government is seeking about $18.6 million in damages from each company, based on the amount of gasoline discharged. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington state.
“The lawsuit took us a little bit by surprise,” Olympic Pipeline spokesman Dan Larson said. The company would not comment on the lawsuit’s allegations.
On June 10, 1999, a rupture in the 400-mile pipeline system spilled 229,000 gallons of gasoline into a creek and park in Bellingham. A fisherman died after being overcome by fumes, and two 10-year-old boys died after being badly burned when the gasoline exploded in a fireball that burned 26 acres.
“We can’t bring the boys back,” said L. John Iani, EPA regional administrator in Seattle. “Nor can we adequately salve the wounds suffered by the community. But by enforcing the law we can send a clear and strong message to pipeline owners and operators.”
The lawsuit also seeks to impose pipeline management, maintenance and repair requirements on Olympic to minimize future spills.
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