States across the Southeast are experiencing sharp jumps in gas prices after a major gasoline pipeline ruptured in central Alabama, spilling as many as 336,000 gallons of fuel upstream from a national wildlife refuge. The pipeline breached near an old coal mine pit, and much of the fuel flowed into a water retention pond. Built in 1964, the pipeline provides the East Coast with up to 40% of its gasoline supply. As consumers in many parts of the Southeast rushed to fill up their tanks, some gas stations ran out of fuel. In Alabama, Cahaba Riverkeeper praised Colonial for its transparency, noting that within an hour of hearing of the leak the company invited the group to monitor the damage.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 18, 2016 21:44 UTC