FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
March 15, 2018
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, ADEM ANNOUNCE $3.3 MILLION
SETTLEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS AGAINST COLONIAL PIPELINE
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall and the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management (ADEM), announced today that they have entered into an
agreement with the Colonial Pipeline Company which resolves state environmental claims
related to the company’s September 9, 2016, and October 31, 2016, gasoline pipeline ruptures in
Shelby County, and three small releases elsewhere in Alabama.
“This agreement first and foremost addresses the environmental damage to land and water
caused by significant gasoline spills in Shelby County during 2016,” said Attorney General
Marshall. “I am pleased by the outstanding work of ADEM’s legal team who worked closely
with our lawyers to achieve a settlement which I believe is fair, reasonable and benefits the
people of Alabama.”
Settlement requirements include: an obligation for Colonial to complete the cleanup of
petroleum products released into the soil and waters of the State, which will be overseen by
ADEM; a $1.3 million civil penalty; and, $1.8 million in projects to benefit the State of Alabama.
In addition, the settlement provides $200,000 to the Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources as restitution for damages incurred by the closure of its Cahaba River
Wildlife Management Area for nearly three months.
The September 9, 2016, incident involved the below ground release of approximately 7,370
barrels of gasoline in the proximity of County Road 91, near Pelham. A portion of the gasoline
was recovered. Reports indicate the release was caused by pipe fatigue that resulted from
improper compaction of soil below that portion of the pipeline.
The October 31, 2016, incident involved the release of approximately 4,444 barrels of gasoline
near County Road 251 in Shelby County. A portion of the gasoline was recovered. It was
reported that the release was caused by an accidental strike to the pipeline by excavating
equipment when a contractor was performing maintenance on the pipeline. The strike to the
pipeline ignited gasoline, which resulted in releases into the environment.
The three remaining releases totaled approximately 21 barrels of petroleum products, a portion
of which was recovered.
Colonial is subject to regulatory oversight by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration, which is a U.S. Department of Transportation agency, and incident
investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
