November 7, 2005

SECOND UPDATE ON LEWIS COUNTY LANDSLIDE/WILLIAMS & OLYMPIC
In late October, Williams Northwest Pipeline and Olympic Pipeline discovered that a large landslide had impacted their pipelines running through a rural area about 5.5 miles east of Centralia (Lewis County). The slide occurred on property owned by Trans Alta Centralia Mining Company. Williams has two natural gas transmission lines and Olympic has one petroleum line operating through the area. Olympic's line is 55 feet from the Williams lines. None of the pipelines has ruptured or is leaking. However, the earth movement caused the three pipelines to move, putting pressure on the lines.

Both Olympic and Williams have coordinated their work in relieving the pressure on the pipelines caused by the earth movement. A Williams crew has uncovered about 250 feet of the 30-inch pipeline, taking the pressure off of it and allowing the line to return to service. Williams has shut down its 26-inch pipeline until it can be sure its no longer under pressure by earth movement. Meanwhile, an Olympic crew is uncovering its 14-inch petroleum line. The weather has made work difficult. The Washington pipeline safety program has been monitoring the work.