Company tied to East LA oil spill says pipeline was improperly marked

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

HP Communications, Inc., whose subcontractor struck a 16-inch underground petroleum pipeline in East L.A. last month, said the pipeline operator failed to properly mark the line’s location before the excavation work began.

The May 22 rupture sent an estimated 2,400 gallons of crude oil onto nearby streets and into storm drains, and drew a large-scale response and cleanup. 

In a June 1 statement, the HP Communications said its internal review found that “no markings identifying the pipeline were observed within the delineated work area” where construction was allowed. 

The pipeline is operated by Pacific Pipeline System, which since 2006 has been owned by Plains All American Pipeline.

A Pacific Pipeline System spokesperson released a statement to Boyle Heights Beat noting that the company does not comment on ongoing investigations.

“The cause of the incident remains under investigation by appropriate regulators and governmental authorities,” the statement read. “Pacific Pipeline System continues to focus on response and remediation efforts while cooperating fully with investigators as they work to complete their review.”

HP Communications, in its statement, alleged the pipeline operator incorrectly indicated through the DigAlert system, a notification center that discloses underground facility locations for planned excavation, that the pipeline had been “marked completely and accurately.”

“The purpose of California’s USA/DigAlert system is to help prevent precisely these types of incidents by ensuring that underground facility operators identify and mark the locations of their facilities before excavation or construction activities begin,” the statement read. 

“Construction activities associated with the project by our subcontractor were planned and conducted based on the utility locating information provided through the USA/DigAlert process,” the statement continued.

Under California’s DigAlert system, companies are required to notify the center before digging into a specified area. 

HP Communications said a subcontractor damaged the underground pipeline during construction for a “fiber-optic installation project” but did not identify the subcontractor. 

The work at the site was immediately halted after that, the company said.

“Protecting the safety of workers, first responders, nearby residents, and the surrounding community was the immediate focus of HP’s response efforts,” the statement read, adding that HP Communications is cooperating with agencies involved in the response, cleanup, and investigation efforts. 

The cause of the rupture remains under investigation, and no one has been held responsible. 

It remains unclear whether the excavation work was connected to the Broadband for All initiative, a $6 billion state and federal investment to close the digital divide. 

The plan involves building a network of high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances, according to LAist. About 10,000 miles of fiber optic cable is being installed throughout California, including more than 500 miles in Los Angeles County. The state owns and manages the system.

HP Communications is one of the companies awarded a contract for the Broadband for All initiative. However, neither the company nor Pacific Pipeline System has publicly identified the project involved in the East L.A. excavation.