Broken pipeline leaks gallons of oil into creek

JASPER COUNTY — Authorities say about 40 gallons of oil leaked from a broken pipeline in Jasper County into a creek east of Bay Springs yesterday before being stopped.

The pipeline, owned by Houston, Texas-based Plains All-American Pipeline LP, began leaking sometime before 3 p.m. yesterday, when it was discovered. It connects to one of the many oil fields around Jasper County.

County officials along with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality installed containment booms to stop oil from flowing farther downstream.

PAA spokesman Brad Leone said in a statement today that the break occurred in the company’s Bay Springs-to-Heidelberg eight-inch pipeline. He said workers found a visible sheen of oil in a tributary that leads to the Tallahoma Creek and crude oil was found on a right of way for the pipeline.

Leolne said PAA reported the incident to regulatory agencies, activated its response plan, deployed personnel to the scene and is mobilizing additional spill response personnel and equipment.

“At this time the volume and cause of the release are unknown. PAA’s immediate priorities are to contain and clean up the release, while ensuring the safety of response personnel and minimizing the impact to the public and the environment,” Leone said.

Leone said the company will start the cleanup process, assess the environmental impact and determine how the leak occurred.

One Response to “Broken pipeline leaks gallons of oil into creek”

1. Darin Says:
   February 7th, 2013 at 1:11 pm

   The leak is massive. The oil has made it miles down the creek. Why is this not on the national news??? Why is this being covered up???