LA-Las Vegas Pipeline Leak Last Week
A leak was discovered last Thursday at a pumping station in a city outside of Los Angeles. This discovery led to a required shutdown of several connected fuel lines. The pipeline operator, Kinder Morgan, stated that they were not clear on the cause of the leak. [1]
This is not the first time the pipeline operator has had a leak within their pipelines. They were fined $2.5 million after a ruptured oil pipeline in 2020 leaked significant amounts of gasoline into a water channel in Walnut Creek, California [2]. Additionally, A Kinder Morgan pipeline in Illinois, had a gas spill resulting from long-lasting freezing conditions last year [3]. Further, in 2007 the company was convicted of six felony counts in connection with a pipeline burst in Walnut Creek that killed five people [4]
The leak led to Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo issuing a state of emergency. He said issuing this would allow the state to “receive federal waivers and resources … [and] increase transportation of fuel by other means during this time” [1].
The leak was believed to not affect gas supplies, and the pipeline resumed service the next day. It is believed delays caused by this leak are a result of panic buying rather than the leak itself. [1]
The focus will now be on an investigation into the causes of the leak and the resulting consequences for the company responsible.
