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(CNN) —
A large-scale cleanup operation is underway after a pipeline ruptured that spilled more than 300,000 gallons of low-sulfur diesel fuel outside New Orleans last month.
The incident occurred Dec. 27 at a 16-inch diesel pipeline located at the Chalmette Refinery, just east of New Orleans in St. Bernard Parish, according to federal documents from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ( PHMSA). PHMSA is in charge of overseeing pipeline safety in the United States.
Authorities say the line's owner, Collins Pipeline Company, shut down the Meraux pipeline on the morning of the 27th after he allegedly observed pressure gauges and flow meter measurements that indicated there was a leak, according to the documents.
Later that day, the pipeline company visually confirmed that the line had ruptured, resulting in a release of low-sulfur diesel that surfaced near a levee in St. Bernard Parish.
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The company initially reported that between 200 and 300 BBL (8,400-12,600 gallons) had been spilled;
however, on December 28, the company estimated the loss of diesel to be more than 300,000 gallons.
In a statement to CNN, Michael Karlovich, vice president of communications for PBF Energy, said that to date they have recovered more than 320,000 gallons of diesel fuel from the site and pipeline combined, which was subsequently recycled at their refinery.
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Collins Pipeline Company is a subsidiary of PBF Energy.
No injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the breach, however thousands of fish, birds and other wildlife were killed.
The pipe rupture comes more than a year after an inspection in October 2020 revealed external corrosion 7 meters long by 63.5 centimeters wide near the site of the failure, according to federal documents.
The root cause of the accident remains unconfirmed at this time, however, preliminary reports indicate the likely cause is likely localized corrosion and metal loss, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said in its report.
Karlovich tells CNN that repairs have been made to the broken line and operations have been restored.
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