Olympic Pipeline leak

Status updates

1:10 p.m. Feb. 23, 2020

Initial response cleanup work has been completed at both locations using adsorbent materials and a vacuum truck. The 20” pipeline remains out of service.  

Ecology Responders are satisfied with clean-up actions, and are demobilizing from the incident.  The investigation into the cause is ongoing.

11:00 a.m. Feb. 23, 2020

Ecology responders are on scene. Clean-up contactors are recovering oily water from the excavation area.  It appears that all of the gasoline was contained to the immediate area of the maintenance excavation trench. Estimated release is 15 to 20 gallons.

While on scene, responders were notified of an additional release at a second pipeline maintenance location approximately 3 miles north in Woodinville, again at the location of a recently installed valve. The source of the second release has been secured, and responders, and clean-up contractors will be inspecting that location soon. 

There are no impacts to waterways or wildlife from either spill. 

9:15 a.m. Feb. 23, 20202

Ecology was notified of a gasoline leak from a valve recently installed in the 20” Olympic pipeline in Woodinville. 

The underground pipeline in that location had been excavated for planned maintenance and a valve had recently been installed. At approximately 1:00 a.m., residents in the area alerted the fire department of a gasoline odor in the area. The fire department found a sheen on top of standing water in the excavation trench approximately 15-feet by 20-feet by a half-inch deep. 

Pipeline employees responded and shut down the pipeline, performed air monitoring, and recovered gasoline using adsorbent pads and a vacuum truck. The fire department was satisfied with public safety measures and is no longer on scene.

Ecology responders are enroute to the scene.