McCracken County emergency management officials are getting the word out about construction now underway on an existing natural gas pipeline that runs through far-western Kentucky.
Houston-based company Energy Transfer is retrofitting the 30-inch diameter line to carry light sweet crude oil from North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields. The line passes through western Kentucky on its way to Texas. McCracken County Emergency Management director Jerome Mansfield says residents living near the pipeline, as well as local emergency responders, have been made aware of the explosive, gasoline-like qualities of this new kind of oil.
“We will be meeting with Energy Transfer later this year before the pipeline becomes active and have a tabletop emergency exercise and discuss how we would respond to a release or fire," Mansfield said.
The McCracken County Local Emergency Planning Committee hosted a informational meeting with a representative from Energy Transfer earlier this week, at the company's request.
The pipeline runs through northwestern McCracken County and all four Mississippi River counties in western Kentucky. Mansfield said the line should be active by October.
Anyone starting a digging project in these counties is encouraged to call 811 beforehand for a line locate request.
