Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
Issues
Pipeline Safety
Inslee Issue Forum: Pipeline Safety
March 25, 2000
[ Read the newspaper article in the Herald ]
[ MS PowerPoint presentation ] *
* You must have Microsoft PowerPoint to view this presentation (the file size is 1.69MB)
The forum was open to residents who live near the pipeline in Woodinville, Bothell, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Mill Creek. The forum was designed to address residents' concerns. Featured guests included Chris Hoidal, the Western Region Director for the federal Office of Pipeline Safety, and Craig Hammett, the Enginerring Supervisor for Olympic Pipe Line Company. Each official made a brief presentation, then the bulk of the forum was devoted to questions from the audience.
Following are some written comments submitted by those who attended:
“Our home, which we own and live in, is 1.5 blocks downhill from the pipelines. Therefore, we hope that the best possible checks are made.”
“Is there legislation in place or proposed to require real estate agents or private owners to disclose the location of pipelines if near homes or property when listed for sale? Thank you, Jay, for being a champion of our safety and environment.”
“If the pipeline (the 16 and 20-inch variety) is in an area where it hasn’t been disturbed since its installation, what is its design life? What are possible mechanisms for failure? How much pressure are both types of pipe designed to withstand? Has it ever been tested to that level; if not, what level was it tested and when?”
“I had hoped to speak about and promote the need for testing separate segments of the subject pipeline in a test facility in which several aspects of pipeline strength could be validated, such as static strength, fatigue strength, with and without welds, with and without third party damage, etc. I will follow up with a comprehensive plan. (I am a retired mechanical & aeronautical engineer.)”
“Olympic Pipeline Co. during the Bellingham disaster on 6-10-99 (and later after the Renton pipeline pump failure/spill), failed to immediately notify local fire departments as required by the Washington State uniform fire code. What is Olympic’s explanation of such non-code compliance?”
“What happens if we have a major earthquake? How soon is the pipeline shut down? I’m also concerned about the erosion question. When was the pipeline ok’d in my neighborhood? It’s above Northcreek Business Park, east of 405 in Bothell.”
“When the pipeline was constructed, the construction crew caused a slide by undercutting an embankment on our property. They refused to answer our calls or address the problem. Their careless disregard for the public and abutting property has been given some coverage in the press, but how many more people have suffered damage?”
“My address is Bothell, but I live in unincorporated south Snohomish County. I live in a wooded, wetlands area with a stream running parallel to my mobile home about thirty feet away. The soil around my home is soaking wet most of the year. What authorities do I contact to get information about the gas pipeline running through the mobile home park where I live? Would I only contact the gas company where I get my monthly gas statements? I would like to find out about past and current pipeline inspections in my vicinity, not the main pipeline, but the smaller residential pipes. Thank you for having this public forum.”
“Most small businesses and school districts, when dealing with hazardous chemicals, must provide additional environmental protection when upgrading or remodeling for the protection of groundwater, etc. As you upgrade the pipeline system, what additional protections are being implemented, with or without OPS regulation? What is the volume of the pipe between valves? What are acceptable spill levels?”