UPDATE #6: Colonial Pipeline – SR2448 Response August 19, 2020 6:58PM
As of approximately 6 p.m., August 19, 2020, the pipeline has been repaired.
Colonial appreciates the patience of the community, and we assure you that our priorities — the safety of people and protection of the environment — remain the same as we move into ongoing monitoring and remediation.
Our ongoing environmental monitoring and remediation efforts will be conducted under the guidance of NCDEQ. Colonial will continue to sample and test wells within a 2,000-foot radius of the product release, and individual results will be shared with landowners.
Colonial has also been monitoring air quality around the site since the release and all results indicate air quality is safe for the public. We are also actively removing soil that was impacted by the spill for proper disposal.
Colonial remains committed to communicating with concerned citizens, local leaders and regulatory agencies. We continue to provide updates through our response website at https://sr2448.colonialresponse.com. Residents are welcome to submit questions to Colonial through the site, and a Colonial representative will respond.
Colonial will work with the City of Huntersville and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to re-open Huntersville-Concord Road as quickly as possible. At this time, a section of the road remains closed as we allow crews continued safe access to the site. We will update the community as more information becomes available.
A temporary traffic detour around the work site via Glendale Drive, Ramah Church Road and Hiwassee Road remains in effect. Colonial is working with local residents to maintain access to residences impacted by the road closure.
Colonial appreciates the ongoing support of the Huntersville Fire Department, the Huntersville Police Department, the City of Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, and other response partners as we work together to ensure public safety and protection of the local environment.
The following summarizes and updates key response activities at this time:
- The leak was stopped and the vast majority of the release has been recovered, with recovery continuing.
- The pipeline will be restarted in accordance with Colonial’s operating procedures over the next several hours.
- Colonial continues to operate in an Incident Command System (ICS) to ensure a well-managed response, in conjunction with the support and collaboration from local response partners.
- A consistent open line of communication continues with local, state and federal agencies including the Huntersville Fire and Police Departments, the City of Huntersville, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater Services, Charlotte Water, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management, Mecklenburg Public Health, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina Emergency Management, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IV.
- We are sharing environmental testing results with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, NC Department of Environmental Quality, and Mecklenburg County.
- Mecklenburg County Public Health has been updated on the situation and has stated they do not believe there is any threat to potable drinking water wells.
- Colonial has successfully implemented proactive measures to protect the closest surface waters, the North Prong of Clark Creek. These are precautionary measures and we continue to monitor the situation closely as we work with local and state resources. The creek is currently unaffected and is being closely monitored.
- Colonial continues to reach out to local landowners to provide information on our response efforts.
About Colonial Pipeline: Colonial Pipeline Company, founded in 1962, connects refineries – primarily located in the Gulf Coast – with customers and markets throughout the Southern and Eastern United States through a pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles. The company delivers refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and fuel for the U.S. Military. Colonial is committed to safety and environmental stewardship across its operations. More information about Colonial is available at www.colpipe.com.
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