Colonial, which has not said what caused the leak, resumed repairs on Friday after vapors delayed work and it projects a full restart by this week.
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In an effort to prevent more stations from running out of fuel, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia have declared states of emergency, thereby relaxing limits on fuel transportation, according to CNNMoney.
AAA said that is what is driving up gas prices.
A leak earlier this month forced the closure of the pipeline, which runs from Houston to NY and carries gas to much of the Southeast and East Coast.
Larry Carr, 44, an Atlanta private contractor, was filling gasoline containers and piling them into the back of his Ford Explorer van just after topping up his tank at a Mobile station in the Grant Park neighborhood where it cost $2.49 for regular self-serve.
Gas stations throughout the Southeast have had to raise gas prices because of the increased demand for gas. Others reported price hikes.
But Florida saw a drop of 3 cents to $2.15. “Even yesterday, prices were probably around $2.50”.
Loomis says independent stations who buy gas on the spot market, as opposed to national retailers who have long-term delivery contracts, could be affected first. Now he says he’ll think twice before deciding whether he needs to use his auto. Many drivers said they didn’t know about the spill. Similar issues were reported in parts of Tennessee. Long lines stretched around some busy gas stations over the weekend and several stores ran out of fuel, while commuters paid higher prices at many stations that remained open.
Colonial said supply disruptions would be felt first in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and SC.
The problems so far don’t appear too severe, however.
However, while some stations have run out of fuel supply, these shortages are not widespread.
Officials are trying to stop a spill of roughly 250,000 gallons that was discovered in rural Alabama. It provides almost 40 percent of the region’s gasoline and serves more than 50 million people.
A leaking gasoline pipeline is causing headaches for drivers in Tennessee this week.
Colonial said Monday it has two parallel pipelines.
According to AL.com, Colonial gave no timetable Saturday as to when that bypass line would be completed or what path it would take.
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“The RaceTrac location pictured here in Woodstock, Ga has a depleted fuel supply due to recent pipeline issues”.
