Oregon’s governor declares emergency to ensure the state gets enough fuel after pipeline leak
Oregon’s governor declared a state of emergency Monday to ensure enough fuel reaches the state while the Olympic Pipeline, which provides more than 90% of the state’s fuel, remains shut down due to a leak ahead Thanksgiving trip.
Gov. Tina Kotek’s proclamation aims to ensure adequate fuel reaches the state via ships and trucks by partially waiving some regulations on how long commercial drivers transporting fuel can work, according to the governor’s order.
The BP petrochemical pipeline runs from Washington to Oregon and was shut down for a week after the first report of leaks and intermittent outages earlier this month.
BP crews worked around the clock to find the source of the leak, which was reported outside Everett, Washington, by digging 200 feet (60 meters) of the 400-mile (644-kilometer) long pipeline, the company said in a statement.
Oregon officials said they do not expect fuel shortages in the state or at Portland International Airport due to emergency measures, but warned drivers may see prices increase due to more costly delivery methods.
Governor Bob Ferguson made a statement in Washington similar state of emergency Last week, the shutdown is starting to slow some air travel in Seattle ahead of Thanksgiving.
On Monday, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s largest carriers, Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, acknowledged some delays due to fuel shortages. Meanwhile, fuel is brought in by tanker trucks, and airlines are directing flights to arrive with extra fuel or stop to refuel later.
