SEATTLE, WA – Governor Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday following the shutdown of the Olympic Pipeline, which supplies jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The pipeline was taken offline after routine maintenance on Nov. 11 uncovered a leak in Snohomish County between Everett and the City of Snohomish. The Olympic Pipeline company notified state officials and is working with state and federal agencies on containment, cleanup, and repairs. No estimated timeline has been provided for when the system will be restored.
The shutdown has disrupted jet fuel deliveries to SEA Airport, which relies directly on the pipeline. In response, Ferguson’s proclamation temporarily suspends state regulations that limit the number of hours commercial motor vehicle drivers can operate while transporting jet fuel. State officials said the change is intended to allow fuel to be trucked to the airport while maintaining required safety measures.
“We are in close communication with our state and federal partners,” Ferguson said in a statement. “This declaration will help the airport maintain its fuel supply while the pipeline is offline and limit disruptions to travelers.”
Multiple agencies, including the Washington State Department of Commerce, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are participating in the response.
SEA Airport officials began implementing operational adjustments on Nov. 12, notifying inbound airlines to arrive with full fuel tanks when possible, a practice known as “ferrying” fuel.
