Kotek declares state of emergency to keep fuel flowing after Olympic Pipeline shutdown

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on Monday due to a leak Olympic pipeline closure in Washington,

Oregon gets 90% of its fuel by pipeline. The pipeline supplies supplies to terminals in Portland, from which the fuel is distributed throughout the state.

While Oregon is not currently experiencing any fuel shortages due to the closure of the Olympic Pipeline, the Governor’s executive order is intended to continue providing an “adequate supply of fuel” to the state through other means.

The governor’s office said fuel will be delivered to the state via barges and trucks during the shutdown.

Kotek’s Executive Order Essentially allows coordination between state agencies, particularly the Department of Emergency Services, Department of Energy and Department of Transportation, to respond to emergencies and allows them to activate plans and provide temporary relaxation of rules where necessary, particularly around fuel delivery.

Meanwhile, crews in Washington are working around the clock to find the source of the leak, which forced the pipeline to be shut down last week.

The pipeline provides fuel for flights from Sea-Tac, an airport frequently used by travelers to and from Portland.

There are concerns that the leak could affect holiday flights, although as of Monday night, the impact has been minimal. Fuel is being delivered to the airport.

There are also concerns that the shutdown will impact gas prices. Oregonians may see higher prices at the pump due to the cost of using other methods of getting fuel into the state besides the pipeline, Kotek’s office said.

The spill has also raised concerns over environmental impacts.

Environmental consultant Fred Felleman said, “Pipeline leaks are very different than ship leaks in that they can take a much longer time to detect. And I think that’s a big challenge in this case in that a small leak can persist for some time.”

Despite a request last week from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, BP has still not shed any light on how widespread this latest spill may be or how much damage it could cause.

This is the third known incident in the last five years when the pipeline has leaked.