Alabama approves $3.3M settlement with Colonial Pipeline over 2016 explosion, spill

The Alabama Attorney General's office has announced a $3.3 million settlement with Colonial Pipeline Company resolving the state's environmental claims resulting from a gasoline leak detected Sept. 9, 2016 and an explosion and fire on Oct. 31 of that year.

The deal includes a $1.3 million civil penalty, $1.8 million in "projects to benefit the state of Alabama," and $200,000 to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, according to a news release from Alabama AG Steve Marshall and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

"This agreement first and foremost addresses the environmental damage to land and water caused by significant gasoline spills in Shelby County during 2016," Marshall said. "I am pleased by the outstanding work of ADEM's legal team who worked closely with our lawyers to achieve a settlement which I believe is fair, reasonable and benefits the people of Alabama."

The Sept. 9 incident involved a massive leak in the below-ground pipeline in Shelby County, at the site of an inactive coal mine near the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area. A mining inspector detected the leak and notified authorities.

Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/03/alabama_approves_33m_settlemen.html