Trans Mountain Pipeline

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Update 11-2-00 

The pipeline was restarted under the supervision of the U.S. D.O.T. Office of Pipeline Safety, and is now back in normal operation. Soil excavation is continuing. Excavated soil is being stored on site until it can be taken to a thermal treatment plant. A third party environmental consulting company has been hired to test the soils and groundwater. No contamination got off-site.

Background Information 

At about 9:30 p.m., on Thursday,  Oct. 26, 2000; a pipeline spill occurred. The spill was located at Trans Mountain Pipeline Corporation's Laurel Station, 1009 East Smith Road, Bellingham, Washington.  

Apparently, the spill occurred as company crews were refilling a pipe, which had been shut down earlier in the week for site improvements.  Initial estimates are that between 34,000 to 37,000 gallons of crude oil blend were spilled.  Early reports indicate that the spilled oil was contained on Trans Mountain Property; with most of the spilled oil being confined to a pit which was near the site of the leak.

Trans Mountain has initiated emergency response efforts, including: the construction of earthen berms to contain the area of the spill; and the use of vacuum trucks,  excavators and dump trucks to clean-up the spill area. So far 25,200 gallons of oil has been recovered.

Several organizations responded to this incident, including: Washington Department of Ecology, Washington State Patrol, Whatcom County Emergency Management, and Whatcom County Fire District #3.