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Inslee listens to a constituent.

Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

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Pipeline Safety

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee Arranged Briefing on Pipeline Safety
Later Meets with President of Pipeline in Washington, D.C.

28 September 1999

Mountlake Terrace – U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee arranged a briefing over the weekend for city officials concerned about the safety of Olympic Pipeline, just steps from where the pipeline cuts through Rose Hill Junior High School property. Attending the briefing by the Office of Pipeline Safety were many local officials, including Mayor of Redmond Rosemarie Ives, Mayor of Bothell Mike Noblet, Mayor of Bellevue Mike Creighton, and Deputy Mayor of Woodinville Scott Hageman. Several firefighters, city council members, school officials and concerned constituents also attended.

"This pipeline runs directly under our school yards and right next to homes– I think the company and the Office of Pipeline Safety are right to provide timely answers to our questions and concerns. We deserve to know the latest information available about the safety of the pipeline," said Inslee.

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. On Friday (September 24, 1999), the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) issued an order requiring Olympic Pipeline to test all segments of the pipeline manufactured by Lone Star, from Ferndale to Renton. OPS also called on Olympic to reduce the overall system operating pressure by 20% until further notification.

After the briefing, Inslee and local leaders walked alongside the tennis courts and the running track of the Junior High School, tracing the route of pipeline. "The minimum depth for the pipeline is 36 inches," explained Steve Rieger from the Office of Pipeline Safety, pointing to the new "pipeline warning" stickers on the school yard fence.

Redmond’s Mayor Rosemarie Ives, whose city includes the Rose Hill Junior High, insisted that "we need to get some level of information as soon as possible so we can inform our community." Noted Bob Collard from the Lake Washington School District, "The issue has come up at just about every school board meeting in the district. I’m getting calls every week from people concerned about the pipeline."

"This is a major safety concern for these communities," noted Rep. Inslee at a meeting with Fred Crognale, President of the Olympic Pipeline on Tuesday. "I suggested that the company should have a face-to-face meeting with city officials. I want to encourage Olympic Pipeline to deliver some answers immediately."