Photos - Underground Pipeline

Workers repair a segment of an underground pipeline located in Reston, Virginia (a suburb of Washington, D.C.) that ruptured in March 1995. The pipeline, owned by the Colonial Pipeline Company, released over 400,000 gallons of oil to the environment before it could be shut down. One of the largest inland oil spills in recent history, the oil affected nine miles of the nearby Sugarland Run Creek and entered the Potomac River. The oil spill had an immediate impact on the surrounding community, including the residential area seen in the background of this photograph. The greatest problem for area residents turned out to be fuel odor. Forty-one residents were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure. EPA monitored air quality to identify and mitigate any serious health risks associated with the oil fumes. Photograph by Ruth A. Lyngard.

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