Oil firm cleaning pipeline spill

As much as 21,000 gallons was released in the Central Valley. Agency says none reached waterways.

An oil pipeline company was on cleanup duty Tuesday after a spill last week in the Central Valley involving as much as 21,000 gallons was reported. The oil did not flow into any waterways, an official said.

Shell Pipeline Co. said a team was clearing contaminated soil and monitoring local air, water and ground conditions, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The effort is focused near Interstate 580 and West Patterson Pass Road, near Tracy.

The company reported the leak after noticing its line, between Coalinga (in Fresno County) and Martinez, lost pressure Friday. The oil release was visible on the ground in a 250-foot-by-40-foot section, said Lisa Medina, public information officer for the San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department.

“As far as the area, it is away from the public,” Medina said. “There was no release to any waterways.”

An estimated 500 barrels of crude oil were released, Shell Pipeline spokesman Ray Fisher said in an email. The company is working to find the cause, he said.

Workers will handle “site remediation and pipeline maintenance operations” Tuesday, Fisher said. Repairs on the pipeline were completed Monday, and the company is conducting integrity and reliability tests.

There is no set timeline on when pipeline f low will resume, Fisher said.

“As always, our primary focus continues to be the safety and health of the responders, for the protection of the environment and to minimize any further impact as a result of this release,” Fisher said. “We are committed to the safe and thorough response and management of this incident.”