AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

Pipeline Failure Dumps Gasoline Into Susquehanna River

Pipeline Break Contaminates Area Water Supply

Early Friday morning, a [link url=”http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/gallons-of-gasoline-spill-into-susquehanna-effect-on-lancaster-county/article_5ed0d20c-97b8-11e6-8fb8-17dc59d3a8e1.html” title=”pipeline break caused 55,000 gallons of gasoline”] to pour into the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The river supplies water to residents in the county, south of where the spill occurred, and officials there are concerned about the possibility of serious water contamination.

Recent rains in the area dumped six to eight inches of rainfall during the night on Thursday, increasing the river’s flow south. Intake for Lancaster County is along the Susquehanna River and officials noted that by early Tuesday morning, the gasoline could reach the area.

Swift floodwaters prevent crews from accessing breach

The company that operates the eight inch pipeline, Sunoco Logistics, detected a drop in pressure along the line, prompting the company to shut down the pipeline, but not before an estimated 55,000 gallons had already dumped into Wallis Run, a tributary in Gamble Township that feeds into the Susquehanna River.

The company said that it believes the break was caused by flooding from the heavy rainfall that occurred, and had yet to access the breach due to the swift flowing area floodwaters.

Once the company alerted local emergency management officials, a notification was issued around 12:20 that a pipeline breach resulting in a spill had occurred, and local water authorities along the Susquehanna River should monitor water sources for potential contamination.

County preparing for intake shutdown

Water personnel noted that sixty percent of water for Lancaster County comes from the Susquehanna River, and officials have been operating pumps at full capacity to fill their reservoirs and tanks so if they need to be shut down due to the spill, residents should feel no impact.

The Department of Environmental Protection, along with local emergency management agencies are on scene and coordinating the multi-jurisdictional response.

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Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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