Construction crew ruptures LA crude line

July 13, 2000
Construction crews performing road work on a Los Angeles street struck an Equilon Pipeline Co. crude oil pipeline, releasing an undetermined amount of oil near the intersection of Lincoln Blvd. and Jefferson Blvd. Pipeline flow was halted immediately, and the oil was contained quickly.


Construction crews performing road work on a Los Angeles street struck an Equilon Pipeline Co. crude oil pipeline, releasing an undetermined amount of oil near the intersection of Lincoln Blvd. and Jefferson Blvd. Pipeline flow was halted immediately, and the oil was contained quickly.

The accident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, said an official with Playa Capital Co., owner of the Playa Vista development adjacent to the spill site. Workers halted flow through the pipeline within 10 min and contained the spill, said Playa Capital's David A. Herbst.

"The oil was diverted onto Playa Vista property, and a cleanup procedure is under way," he said just after the incident. "Dirt is being placed on top of the oil and will be carted away for appropriate disposal.

"While we regret this incident, we are pleased that our work crews and the city's public safety officials responded so quickly to stop the leak and to safely contain the oil. I am aware of no injuries as a result of this spill. All emergency procedures were followed.

"I am also pleased that, through our quick action, no oil flowed onto the Ballona Wetlands."

The crews that nicked the pipeline were working for Gueno Development Co., a firm hired by Playa Capital to perform the construction, said Herbst.