Gas prices haven’t increased much yet, but that could change. In fact, in 2003 Atlanta-based Colonial Pipeline agreed to pay $34 million, then the largest civil penalty a company has paid in EPA history, for spilling 1.4 million gallons of oil from a 5,500 mile pipeline system.
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Known as “Line 1”, the pipeline is a major artery for the distribution of gas from Houston to NY. The broken pipeline has spilled more than 250,000 gallons of gasoline, according to The Associated Press.
Colonial said that supply disruptions would be felt first in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and SC.
In the meantime, the company is using another pipeline that usually carries diesel and jet flue to deliver gasoline while other fuel suppliers are sending tankers to keep supplies flowing to the East Coast.
The governor’s executive order issued Friday did lift time restrictions for commercial vehicles operating in the state. Both Georgia and Alabama have declared states of emergency because of the leak.
That leaves many residents of the eastern United States wondering how much gas prices will rise, and whether local service stations will run out of gasoline.
Crews are continuing work to fix the leak that provides fuel to North Carolina and other southeastern states. Pat McCrory to issue an executive order Friday. This flexibility allows truck drivers to alleviate potential supply shortages caused by the temporary shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline. It has been partially closed since September 9 after a leak was discovered in Alabama.
The company says the leak has spilled about 6,000 barrels of gasoline in Shelby County.
U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered the company responsible to take corrective action before the fuel starts following again. This, in turn, has limited supply and contributed to rising gas prices.
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“We are working with state and national officials to make sure North Carolina is not impacted by this leak”, said McCrory. The most expensive regular gas was $2.29 per gallon at the Red Robin station on Woodruff Road and the cheapest was $1.79 at Harry’s Quick Stop on Hunts Bridge Road, according to the fuel cost-tracking site.
