Petroleum Pipelines in Your Community

Americans consume more than 700 million gallons of petroleum products each day. Some of these products - like gasoline to drive cars, diesel fuel to power trucks, heating oil to warm our homes and businesses, and jet fuel to fly commercial and military aircraft - play a fundamental role in our every day lives.

To meet both household and industrial consumption, pipelines silently transport half of all the petroleum products shipped domestically. Pipelines provide an extensive and efficient transportation infrastructure that is virtually invisible. They are an underground transportation system which connect the nation's petroleum producing, refining and marketing areas. The use of pipelines helps keep the costs of gasoline and other petroleum products down. Pipelines are vital to our nation's economy.

With almost one-quarter million miles of petroleum pipelines across the U.S., pipelines are located in many communities. According to the Department of Transportation's accident statistics, pipelines are the safest method of transporting petroleum. They provide the most efficient means of transportation for moving large quantities of crude oil, petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum products, chemicals, natural gas, jet fuel, feedstock and other related products. Pipelines can continue to operate safely for an indefinite period of time with adequate maintenance and protection by pipeline operators and the public's cooperation.

Pipelines play an important role in Washington State

• Olympic Pipeline is the sole supplier of jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
• Olympic Pipeline is Western Washington's major refined fuel Transportation arterial, shipping 4.4 billion gallons of fuel a year. (2008 figures)

Olympic pipeline is the safe, superior to the alternative mode of transport

• Without the pipeline to carry fuel to customers in the Northwest, Portland, alternative modes of transportation would require the equivalent of 1,200 tanker trucks a day on interstate 5. That's approximately one truck every minute - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


• Trucks not only contribute to traffic congestion, but also must travel through the heart of populated areas, thus exposing the public to greater risks. Ships and barges would pose a similar risk by transporting fuel on the waters of Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

Olympic maintains an open channel of communication with communities

BP's Olympic Pipeline recognizes that the public needs to know how the pipeline is operated. BP works with emergency responders and other agencies (including county Emergency Management Agencies, fire and police departments) to coordinate emergency response incidents that might occur along the pipeline corridor. This effort includes joint drills, classes, and planning exercises, and will contribute to a full understanding of emergency response plans in every locale.

In order to maintain an open line of communication with the public, BP holds periodic community meetings at locations in three corridor regions: North (Whatcom and Skagit counties), Central (Snohomish, King and Pierce counties), and South (Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, and Multnomah counties). These meetings include expert presentations, displays, demonstrations, and an opportunity for community members to ask questions.

Pipelines may be located across town, down the street, or in your backyard. If so, be assured that you can live and work in harmony with our pipeline system.

© 1999 - 2002 BP p.l.c.