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Pipeline must be inspected - no excuses
Pipeline must be inspected – no excuses
Austin American-Statesman
June 24, 2005
Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public safety, the federal Office of Pipeline Safety should mandate a safety test of the Longhorn Partners Pipeline that traverses South Austin.
That might be too much to expect of an agency long considered a friend to the petroleum industry. It would be a stunning surprise if OPS actually ordered Longhorn to conduct the safety inspection that the company promised to have completed by now.
Longhorn's pipeline carries gasoline 700 miles from Houston to El Paso and passes through South Austin along the way. The pipeline is located near neighborhoods, schools and parks, and any leak would pose a grave danger to the community. There is no margin for error.
The company argues that it is not pumping enough gasoline through the pipeline to conduct the test. Longhorn officials said the low flow makes it difficult for the device — known as a "smart pig" — to search for leaks, corrosion and structural flaws.
Low gasoline flow is a weak argument for delaying a promised test, a test that should not be optional. There are ways around the flow problem if the company would look for them.
Longhorn Partners acknowledged that an earlier, limited inspection found 30 minor flaws in 31 miles of pipe. That should be indication enough that the entire line — and certainly those sections running through populated areas — should be thoroughly inspected and upgraded as soon as possible.
Austin Mayor Will Wynn said a delay could have major consequences. And in a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said Longhorn should conduct the safety inspection or shut the operation down.
They're both right. Longhorn Partners invested an enormous amount of money and endured a protracted political and legal battle to get the 50-year-old line ready to carry petroleum products again. Now that the company is moving gasoline through the line, it should spare no expense guaranteeing the public's safety.
Longhorn should keep its promise and inspect its pipeline.
Austin American-Statesman
June 24, 2005
Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public safety, the federal Office of Pipeline Safety should mandate a safety test of the Longhorn Partners Pipeline that traverses South Austin.
That might be too much to expect of an agency long considered a friend to the petroleum industry. It would be a stunning surprise if OPS actually ordered Longhorn to conduct the safety inspection that the company promised to have completed by now.
Longhorn's pipeline carries gasoline 700 miles from Houston to El Paso and passes through South Austin along the way. The pipeline is located near neighborhoods, schools and parks, and any leak would pose a grave danger to the community. There is no margin for error.
The company argues that it is not pumping enough gasoline through the pipeline to conduct the test. Longhorn officials said the low flow makes it difficult for the device — known as a "smart pig" — to search for leaks, corrosion and structural flaws.
Low gasoline flow is a weak argument for delaying a promised test, a test that should not be optional. There are ways around the flow problem if the company would look for them.
Longhorn Partners acknowledged that an earlier, limited inspection found 30 minor flaws in 31 miles of pipe. That should be indication enough that the entire line — and certainly those sections running through populated areas — should be thoroughly inspected and upgraded as soon as possible.
Austin Mayor Will Wynn said a delay could have major consequences. And in a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said Longhorn should conduct the safety inspection or shut the operation down.
They're both right. Longhorn Partners invested an enormous amount of money and endured a protracted political and legal battle to get the 50-year-old line ready to carry petroleum products again. Now that the company is moving gasoline through the line, it should spare no expense guaranteeing the public's safety.
Longhorn should keep its promise and inspect its pipeline.
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