Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Issues

Pipeline Safety

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee Hosted Meeting for Olympic Pipe Line Company and Public Officials

October 8, 1999

Mountlake Terrace – U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee hosted a meeting for public officials to talk face-to-face with the President of Olympic Pipe Lines Company today, at Lake Washington Technical College. Inslee met with Olympic Pipe Line President Fred Crognale in late September, and requested that Crognale make himself available to public officials who are concerned about the safety of the Olympic Pipe Line. Mayors and city officials from Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, and Bothell attended.Steve Reiger, from the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), also attended.

The pipeline, which runs though Bothell, Woodinville, Bellevue and Redmond, raised community concern after a devastating blast killed three boys in Bellingham on June 10, 1999. Further scrutiny is now being called for after a segment of the pipe manufactured by Lone Star failed during a pressure test in Bellingham on September 18, 1999. OPS has ordered Olympic Pipe Line Co. to test all segments of the pipeline manufactured by Lone Star, in Snohomish County and elsewhere. OPS also called on Olympic to reduce the overall system operating pressure by 20% until further notification.