A Kinder Morgan gas pipeline providing Las Vegas with 90 percent of its gas was shut down to repair a leak. Gov. Joe Lombardo (R-NV) declared a State of Emergency Friday, urging affected residents to avoid panic buying of gasoline during the pipeline shutdown.
“Tonight, I am declaring a state of emergency for the fuel pipeline leak impacting Southern Nevada,” Gov. Lombardo said in a statement. “This emergency declaration will allow us to receive federal waivers and resources as we navigate the evolving repair timeline, and it will allow us to increase transportation of fuel by other means during this time.”
One of the things that his limited State of Emergency declaration does is waive regulations regarding hours drivers can travel. Suspending that requirement will allow drivers to get gas to affected areas of the state quicker.
“To avoid any unnecessary shortages, I strongly urge all Las Vegas residents to avoid panic buying while awaiting repair timeline updates,” the governor added in his emergency order.
Videos and images on social media showing long lines at gas stations in Las Vegas indicate many citizens ignored the governor’s advice about panic buying.
Clark County officials issued a coordinated emergency declaration early Saturday, according to a report from The HIll. The Clark County declaration also lifts restrictions on trucking and other delivery methods transporting fuel.
“This leak has not impacted the supply of fuel, but rather the method in which this fuel normally comes into Southern Nevada,” Clark County Manager Kevin Schiller said.
Schiller said county officials are in regular contact with Kinder Morgan while they work to fix the leak and reopen the pipeline. He added the gas supplier is working as quickly as possible to restore service.
“This declaration allows for our region to leave no stone unturned as we seek to continue to provide unleaded and diesel fuel to our residents as well as our emergency response providers,” Schiller added.
Kinder Morgan spokesperson Katherine Hill said the company expects to resume operations and deliver fuel to their respective markets by Saturday afternoon, the report noted.
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