Proposed Oil Pipeline Would Cross Cascades

A proposed pipeline that would cross two national forests has raised concerns about its impact on sensitive wilderness areas, but a company official says it might reduce the risk of oil spills.

The 250-mile pipeline would carry gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Puget Sound-area oil refineries to the Tri-Cities for a fraction of what it now costs to ship fuel by truck or barge, said Frank Hopf, vice president and general manager of Olympic Pipeline Co. of Renton.

Olympic believes a new line would reduce spill risks by cutting back the 45,000 barrels currently shipped to the Tri-Cities by truck and barge, Hopf said.

If Olympic decides to build the pipeline and the plan were approved later this year, work would begin in 1997 and take about a year. The line would cost $70 million to $100 million. It would extend 300 miles of existing pipeline from Woodinville to Pasco over Snoqualmie Pass.

Olympic Pipeline has discussed the project with the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the state Parks and Recreation Commission.

Jason Zeller, manager of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, which along with Gov. Mike Lowry must approve the project, said “environmentally, it cuts both ways.”

“There may be some opposition because it goes through some pretty sensitive lands. But there may be some people who think it’s a good idea to get some of this traffic out of the pass (highways) and out of the river,” he said.

Any pipeline route would be expected to cross the Mount BakerSnoqualmie and Wenatchee national forests. One option would be to use a former railroad right of way through the pass, including the former Milwaukee Railroad tunnel and the John Wayne Trail through Iron Horse State Park near Easton in Kittitas County.