Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
Issues
Pipeline Safety
Inslee Letter To Olympic Pipeline Company Bob Batch
August 3, 2000
Mr. Bob Batch, President
Olympic Pipeline Company
Renton, WA 98057Dear Mr. Batch:
Congratulations on your newly appointed position as President of Olympic Pipeline Company. I recognize that transporting liquid fuel via pipelines can be the safest method of delivering liquid fuel products and I hope to work with you in your new post to restore public confidence in pipelines, and ensure that the appropriate steps are taken safely transport liquid fuels in Washington State.
While I support and applaud the use of internal smart pigs to detect many pipeline weaknesses, I am very concerned that the current testing requirements on your 16" pipeline does not adequately protect the safety of our communities. Specifically, I am concerned about the inability of internal "smart pigs" to detect longitudinal weaknesses along the pipeline. To date, performed at reasonable and appropriate pressures, hydrostatic tests are the only proven and industry accepted method for safely detecting longitudinal pipeline weaknesses.
As you may know, the Conoco Pipeline Company which operates a liquid fuel pipeline in Eastern Washington, hydrostatically tests its pipeline on a regular basis to protect the communities and environment through which it travels. I urge the Olympic Pipe Line Company to act as a good neighbor to our communities through which your 16-inch pipeline runs, and hydrostatically test the pipeline prior to restart.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue, and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Very Truly Yours,
Jay Inslee
Member of Congress