Published Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 | 3:50 p.m.
Updated Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 | 10:35 p.m.
A fuel emergency was declared for Clark County late Friday after a leak was discovered in a pipeline that transports fuel from California to Las Vegas.
"Tonight, I am declaring a state of emergency for the fuel pipeline leak impacting Southern Nevada," a statement from Gov. Joe Lombardo said, which will allow the area 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."
The Office of the Governor is actively working with Kinder Morgan, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, and Clark County officials to monitor the situation and provide timely updates to Clark County residents, the statement said.
The declaration was made in coordination with Clark County.
A statement from the county said "the leak has not impacted the supply of fuel, but rather the method in which this fuel normally comes into Southern Nevada."
Despite the declaration, Lombardo urged residents to avoid "panic buying" to avoid unnecessary shortages.
A Kinder Morgan pipeline in that transports fuel to the city has been isolated and shut down after the leak was discovered, the energy infrastructure company said in a statement.
The supplier first began investigating a “release” at the company’s Watson Station in California on Thursday, and two associated pipelines — SFPP West and CALNEV — have since been shut down as the issue is resolved, the statement said.
The Kinder Morgan website says its 566-mile (911-kilometer) CALNEV pipeline transports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from Los Angeles refineries and marine terminals through parallel 14-inch (35.5-centimeter) and 8-inch (20-centimeter) diameter pipelines to Barstow, California, and the Las Vegas area.
Hill said later that only the larger, 14-inch (35.5-centimeter) pipeline to Las Vegas had been shut down.
Airports it serves include Nellis Air Force Base and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas and Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, the company said.
“This pipeline feeds gas storage facilities in Southern Nevada with unleaded and diesel fuel,” an earlier statement from the county said. “We are currently monitoring the situation, believe we have adequate supply, and do not anticipate an immediate impact on gas availability.”
An investigation into the cause and quantity of the leak will be conducted, and Kinder Morgan is working closely with customers on potential impacts, the company said. No injuries or fire were reported as a result of the incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
