The Kentucky House has voted to approve HB 31, which if enacted would strip the rights of natural gas liquids (NGL) pipelines to use eminent domain. If approved by the state Senate and signed into law by Gov. Steve Beshere, who has indicated he wants the legislation enacted, it may impact the proposed route of the Bluegrass Pipeline NGL project (see Shale Daily, Feb. 28). Bluegrass joint owners Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP designed the pipeline to traverse about 1,100 miles south from Appalachia to the Gulf Coast; about 200 miles would travel through Kentucky.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that more than 20,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline in southern Ohio owned and operated by Sunoco Logistics Partners LP. The leak was first discovered on March 17 in a stream and nearby wetland in a nature preserve located in Colerain Township, just north of Cincinnati (see Shale Daily, March 21). Initially, local and federal officials said a 5-inch crack in the pipeline had leaked up to 10,000 gallons of crude, or about 240 barrels. Sunoco said a clamp was placed on the 20-inch diameter pipeline, which stopped the leak and allowed it to resume operations. The pipeline is part of Mid-Valley Pipeline Co.’s roughly 1,000 mile system that delivers crude from Texas to Michigan. What caused the pipeline to crack is under investigation.