Environmental Defense Says Fines Alone Won't End Pipeline Deaths

Environmental Defense today called on the House and Senate to strengthen pipeline safety in the United States. The group made its call as the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) announced it is seeking a $3 million fine against the Olympic Pipeline Company. OPS has charged the company with numerous safety violations found in the wake of an accident that killed three youths in Bellingham, Washington last year.

“Today’s action by the Office of Pipeline Safety, while welcome, is simply not enough to prevent future tragedies,” said Lois Epstein, an Environmental Defense senior engineer. “A complete overhaul of current pipeline law, regulatory standards, and the Office of Pipeline Safety is needed to prevent serious pipeline incidents.”

Two 10-year-old boys and an 18-year-old died after a pipeline operated by Olympic ruptured last June, spewing out 229,000 gallons of gasoline into a creek, which then ignited a fireball. “Unfortunately, this accident was not an isolated incident,” said Epstein. “According to the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General, OPS standards are inadequate and its inspectors are not trained to assess the industry’s inspection findings.”

In the 1990s, nearly 200 oil pipeline accidents were reported each year, and over 6 million gallons of oil were released annually, more than half the size of the Exxon Valdez spill. The biggest cause of releases from oil pipelines is external and internal corrosion.

Today’s proposed fine compares unfavorably to the $35 million fine the US Environmental Protection Agency levied against Koch Industries, Inc. in January of this year for multiple pipeline spills, and its February 1999 criminal penalty against Colonial Pipeline Company for a major spill into South Carolina’s Reedy River.

“The House and Senate need to address pipeline legislation this session. Strict liability for pipeline owners and operators following releases, significantly stronger state and community right-to-know provisions, directives and deadlines for tougher federal standards, pipeline employee whistleblower protections, and legal changes allowing citizen lawsuits against pipeline companies are all desperately needed. Strong protections are needed now to prevent more fatal accidents,” said Epstein.