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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Nickels Prepares to Shut Down Olympic Pipeline
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/14/2003 12:15:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Nickels Prepares to Shut Down Olympic Pipeline
Company Still Refusing to Do Safety Tests Demanded by City
SEATTLE - Flanked by residents who live and work along the Olympic pipeline route, Mayor Greg Nickels today said he's moving forward with plans to shut down the pipeline in Seattle August 26. Nickels' announcement comes after Olympic Pipeline Company last Friday refused to perform a high pressure water test on the line to ensure its safety.
"The pipeline carries almost nine million gallons of fuel a week through Seattle, including near two elementary schools and thousands of homes. We must have confidence the pipeline is safe," said Nickels. "Olympic Pipeline has done water pressure tests on the pipeline in Woodinville, Bellingham, Redmond and Renton, but is refusing to do so here. That doesn't give me any confidence the pipeline in Seattle is safe."
Nickels pointed out other, less reliable tests have recently uncovered 131 anomalies in the seams that hold the Seattle portion of the pipeline together. Additional testing confirmed 14 of the anomalies. In addition, Olympic Pipeline Company is in bankruptcy, and its parent companies have refused to stand behind the operations of the pipeline.
"Olympic says other kinds of testing are cheaper or just as good but I'm not willing to take the word of a bankrupt oil company about public safety. We learned a hard lesson in Bellingham. I want convincing proof that the pipeline is safe," said Nickels.
"We support the mayor's action to protect the residents who live and work along the pipeline route," said Michael Richmond, Beacon Hill resident. "We're not willing to settle for anything less than hard evidence the pipeline is safe."
"The thousands of people in the path of this pipeline want to know it's safe, and Mayor Nickels is doing the right thing forcing this bankrupt company do what's necessary to identify and correct any safety problems that might be along the pipeline in Seattle," said Ron Newton, Holly Park Merchants Association.
The mayor is hosting a public meeting regarding Olympic Pipeline Tuesday, July 29, 6:30 p.m. at Holly Park's New Holly Gathering Place, 7054 32nd Avenue South. Interested citizens are invited to attend.
For more information, visit the mayor's web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor.
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Office of the Mayor
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