Colonial Expects To Restart Pipeline Sunday

ALPHARETTA, GA -- The pipeline that's been shuttered in Alabama due to an explosion could soon be up and running to provide the southeastern United States with its normal gas supply.

That's according to Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline Company, which said it expects to restart Line 1 Sunday afternoon.

The company posted the news on its website used to keep the public abreast on updates following the Oct. 31 explosion.

To help stave off supply reductions due to the line's suspension, Gov. Nathan Deal on Nov. 1 issued an executive order waiving regulations for commercial truck drivers transporting motor fuel in Georgia.

Colonial also notes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waived the federal reformulated gasoline requirements under the Clean Air Act for certain markets serviced by the company and "our shippers continue to make contingency plans to deliver gasoline to their customers."

The explosion was caused when a track hoe used by contractors struck the line, causing gas to ignite and erupt into a fire.

One person was killed and five people were injured in the explosion, which took place near Helena, Alabama.

In a press release, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the work the contractor was doing was necessary to install a permanent repair required by September's pipeline rupture, which caused serious gas-shortage concerns in the southeast.

Colonial Pipeline delivers more than 100 million gallons of refined products each day to markets between Houston and New York City, serving more than 50 million people, according to information from the company.

Feroze Dhanoa and Greg Hambrick contributed to this story. Image via Alabama Office of Emergency Management