Governor Robert Bentley toured the incident command center for the Colonial Pipeline gasoline spill that has been blamed for gasoline shortages and gas price increases in the South.
More than 360,000 gallons of gas have spilled out of the pipeline in Helena in rural Shelby County since the leak was discovered on 10 days ago on Sept. 9.
The company is in the process of creating a bypass line around the site of the leak.
Bentley said he is concerned by the gasoline leak, but is asking the public not to panic. He said he doesn’t want everyone to run out at once and start buying gas, because that will create a shortage.
Supplies of gasoline are on the way or have already arrived at terminal locations across the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The state of emergency also addresses price gouging. Bentley met with Attorney General Luther Strange on Monday morning and the AG did not mention price gouging, so Bentley says that’s not an issue at this point.
Bentley was briefed on the continuing response to the spill by officials with Colonial Pipeline, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Alabama Emergency Management Agency on Monday afternoon.
In his 2:30 p.m. address to media on Monday, Bentley said he was impressed by Colonial Pipeline, and commended them for their quick and thorough response.
The governor said Colonial Pipeline practiced a mock disaster last August less than a mile from the site of the actual leak.
Bentley said Colonial Pipeline’s incident command center at Renaissance Ross Bridge in Hoover reminds him of emergency operations headquarters when the state is dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes or ice storms.
Bentley said he spoke to Colonial’s CEO on Monday, and although no one can say when the cleanup efforts will be completely finished, he believes the bypass connection should be finished sometime this week.
Information provided in part by WBRC, video courtesy of the Governors Office.