ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline has reopened one of the two gas pipelines that were closed after a deadly explosion on Monday.
The company said line 2, which carries diesel and jet fuel, reopened around noon EST on Tuesday.
Watch officials give an update on the situation below.
Line 1 will remain closed through the end of this week, according to the company, a shutdown that is fueling worries about gas price increases in Georgia and the southeast.
“Because of the barrels per day capacity on line 1, a full shutdown of that line will have a significant effect on the Southeast and eastern seaboard,” said Garrett Townsend, Georgia public affairs director for AAA. “The longer that line is down, the more stress it will put on Colonial’s system and the greater the impact.”
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The company also shut down those lines during the leak in September. That series of events led to gas shortages and Gov. Nathan Deal to issue an executive order to allow truckers carrying gasoline to travel longer periods of time without rest. It also prohibited gasoline price gouging in the state.
Townsend said it is “reasonable” to expect some similar measures from the governor, but it is still too early to tell.
“That leak happened on Sept. 9, and gas prices remained average for about five days,” Townsend said. “It was around day 6 when we saw prices begin to increase. In this situation, we’re barely past the 24-hour mark.”
During the leak, 7,370 barrels of gasoline spilled from the line, according to Colonial Pipeline. The company said the gasoline was contained in "a man-made mine water retention pond adjacent to the release site."
