Pipeline Reports Soil Contamination, Erosion Control Failures

A 30 gal diesel fuel spill occurred along the Atlantic Sunrise gas pipeline construction in Martic Township, Pa., Jan. 22. The spill occurred when debris punctured the gas storage tank of a street sweeper cleaning mud from the road. The pipeline contractors, Williams Partners, quickly contained the spill by collecting contaminated soil and disposing of the soil at an approved disposal site. Responsible parties responded immediately and were able to contain the spill, ensuring that no pollution reached a waterway.

“It was one of the fastest cleanup operations I can remember in recent memory,” said Ben Herskowitz, chief of Lancaster County Haz Mat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue.

The pipeline contractors have had other problems with soil runoff and sediment buildup throughout the past few months, according to reports they submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Following a 1.5-in rain event Jan. 13, ice collected and dislodged a contractor bridge over Little Chiques Creek, which subsequently tore out erosion control devices. The same rain event caused further erosion control devices to fail in nearby Conestoga Township and lead to sediment flow in a farm field, as reported by Lancaster Journal Online. Despite erosion control failures, the company maintains they have been following appropriate protocols.

“We notified the appropriate agencies and followed approved protocols by manually removing the silt,” said Christopher Stockton, a spokesman for Williams Partners. “We are correcting the erosion control in this area to prevent recurrences.”