Olympic Pipeline shutdown: Jet fuel leak in Everett, WA could impact SEA Airport

Jet fuel pipeline to Sea-Tac shut down after crack discovered

A crack in the Olympic pipeline that supplies jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has forced a full shutdown as crews work on repairs.

EVERETT, Wash. - Work is underway to repair a pipeline that delivers jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a leak prompted it to be shut down.

Timeline:

The Olympic Pipeline fuel leak was reported on Nov. 11 in an agricultural field several miles east of Everett. Now, over a week later, a 24-hour effort is underway to excavate, contain, clean and repair the leak. There is no timeline for when the pipeline will resume delivering fuel.

Olympic Pipeline leak site (via BP)

Washington Governor Bob Feruguson issued an emergency declaration to ensure adequate fuel is delivered to Sea-Tac Airport during the pipeline shutdown. The governor's office said airport operations would be "significantly affected" if it doesn't start back up by Saturday.

No flights at SEA Airport have been affected yet. However, in anticipation, Gov. Ferguson waived the number of hours jet fuel tanker operators can drive while ensuring safe-driving measures remain in place.

The pipeline temporarily restarted on Sunday, Nov. 16, after a successful leak test. Fuel deliveries resumed to the airport, but the pipeline was shut down again on Monday due to additional leakage at the response site.

The Olympic Pipeline transports refined petroleum products to sites in Seattle, SeaTac, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Portland. The system consists of two pipelines, including a 20-inch pipeline and a 16-inch pipeline. The 16-inch pipeline is the one that leaked.

What they're saying:

The Washington State Department of Ecology issued the following statement regarding the fuel leak response:

"Our cleanup includes using a vacuum truck and adsorbent materials, along with cleaning up contaminated soil. Responders are still determining the amount spilled."

Alaska Airlines also released a statement regarding possible impacts at Sea-Tac International Airport:

"We are working to mitigate a potential impact from the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak. We are not currently experiencing any disruption to our operation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

"To ensure our scheduled service is maintained without significant disruption, we are preparing contingency plans, which include fuel management strategies such as tankering in fuel on inbound flights to Seattle, assessing tech stop options along certain routes to conserve fuel, and maintaining and expanding our trucking operation to bring in additional fuel supply.

"We remain in close communication with Olympic Pipeline, refineries, and our airport partners and will communicate if we begin to see operational impacts."

SEA Airport says multiple airlines have been working on contingency plans if the pipeline shutdown persists.

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