Feds sue Olympic Pipeline over 1999 fire that claimed three lives

Associated Press

SEATTLE — The federal government on Thursday sued Olympic Pipeline Co. over a 1999 Bellingham gas leak and explosion that killed three people, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency said.

The lawsuit alleges the explosion was the result of "gross negligence in the operation and maintenance of the pipeline."

The lawsuit also names Shell Pipeline LP, which owns a third of Olympic. At the time of the accident, Shell Pipeline’s corporate predecessor, Equilon Pipeline Co., along with ARCO and GATX, owned Olympic. Equilon managed the pipeline under an operating agreement with Olympic.

The government is seeking about $18.6 million in damages from each company, based on the amount of gasoline discharged. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

"Basically the lawsuit took us a little bit by surprise. It landed in our lap," said Olympic Pipeline spokesman Dan Larson. "For this sort of an occurrence, when something happens this quickly, there’s not a lot we can say. Our company policy is not to comment on pending litigation."

On June 10, 1999, a rupture in the 400-mile pipeline system spilled 229,000 gallons of gasoline into a Bellingham creek and park. An 18-year-old fisherman died after being overcome by fumes, and two 10-year-old boys died after being badly burned when the gasoline exploded in a fireball that burned 26 acres.

"We can’t bring the boys back," said L. John Iani, EPA regional administrator in Seattle. "Nor can we adequately salve the wounds suffered by the community. But by enforcing the law, we can send a clear and strong message to pipeline owners and operators. Ultimately, this will help to prevent pipeline spills and avoid similar tragedies in the future."

The civil lawsuit is separate from pending criminal proceedings against the companies and three employees.

The government accuses Shell and Olympic of gross negligence based on inadequacies in the design, construction and operation of a pump station on the pipeline system.

The lawsuit also seeks to impose pipeline management, maintenance and repair requirements on Olympic to prevent or minimize future spills.

"The gasoline spill in Washington state was a horrible but preventable tragedy that caused the deaths of three young people and endangered an entire city," said Tom Sansonetti, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. "We’ve filed this suit to ensure that measures are taken to help prevent such an incident from ever happening again."