Pipeline Incidents and Investigations

Incident Reporting

Each year the UTC receives notifications of incidents and accidents from gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators as required by Federal (gas and liquid) and State (gas and liquid) reporting requirements. 

Number of Pipeline Incidents (Past Five Years)
Year Gas Distribution Gas Transmission Hazardous Liquid
Reporting Level -> State Federal State Federal State Federal
2025 136 0 0 0 0 3
2024 137 1 1 2 0 2
2023 132 2 1 1 0 2
2022 123 2 0 1 0 2
2021 139 1 0 0 1 0

The majority of incident reports are received when excavators damage buried gas distribution lines. Excavation damage accounts for approximately 60% of all incident reports received by the UTC.

National Pipeline Failure Investigation Reports can be found at the PHMSA National Data Site. If the report is not available on the PHMSA website a FOIA request can be made by email to PHMSA.FOIA@dot.gov or by phone (202) 366-4400.

Washington Pipeline Failure Investigation Reports are listed by Operator.

Avista

3-3-2022     Spokane   8498 Report

4-12-2013   Spokane   2607 Report

5-16-2011   Odessa     2354 Report

Cascade Natural Gas

1-6-2020        Aberdeen                8137 Report

11-25-2019    Mount Vernon         8117 Report

10-22-2019    Moses Lake            8116 Report

9-1-2019        Lynden                    8012 Report, CNGC Response, Closure Letter

1-21-2017      Yakima                    7874 Report

5-10-2017      Burlington                7447 Report, CNGC Response, Closure Letter

1-19-2017      Wenatchee              7434 Report, CNGC Response, Closure Letter

 8-18-2015     Bremerton               6542 Report

4-22-2014      Bremerton               2744 Report

2-22-2014      Wapato                    6089 Report, PV Letter, CNGC Response, Closure Letter

9-13-2011      Port Orchard            2369 Report

Gas Transmission Northwest

3-14-2013       LaCrosse               Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

McChord Pipeline

8-2-2017        Tacoma                  7508 Report

Northwest Pipeline

7-28-2022       Battle Ground       Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

12-20-2020     Battle Ground       Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

10-20-2020     Pasco                   Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

12-16-2013     Pasco                   Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

Olympic Pipeline

9-24-2022         South                    Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

8-5-2022           North                     Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

2-22-2020         Woodinville           Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

6-4-2019           Castle Rock          Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

11-2-2016         Tacoma                 Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

11-10-2014       Burlington             Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

7-20-2014         Renton                 Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

4-30-2012         Renton                 Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

4-1-2012           Mount Vernon      Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

3-31-2012         Mount Vernon      Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

9-19-2011         Ferndale               Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

Puget Sound Energy

6-3-2020             Puyallup            8204 Report

10-11-2019         Seattle               8112 Report

2-6-2019             Ballard               7961 Report

1-6-2019             Issaquah            7926 Report

10-31-2018         Yelm                   7873 Report

3-7-2017             Seattle                7459 Report

3-9-2016             Seattle                PG-160924

3-4-2016             Seattle                 6909 Report

6-18-2015           Bellevue              6469 Report

5-22-2015           Everett                2881 Report

1-11-2013           Renton                2584 Report

4-28-2012           Redmond            2467 Report

9-26-2011           Seattle                 PG-111723

6-4-2011             Seattle                 2320 Report

Tidewater Terminal Company

6-2-2019           Pasco        7974 Report

Williams Gas Pipeline

3-29-2017         Sumner      Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA

Williams Partners Operating

3-31-2014         Plymouth    Interstate operator reports available through PHMSA