WISCONSIN

Company won't replace only fuel pipeline to Green Bay

Don Behm

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Fuel tankers wait in line at the U.S. Oil facility on N. 107th St. in Milwaukee to fill up at the large fuel storage facility located there. Lines became longer in 2016 after the West Shore Pipe Line Co. closed its fuel line from Milwaukee to Green Bay.

An Illinois company will not replace its deteriorated 110-mile fuel pipeline between Milwaukee and Green Bay, state Administration Secretary Scott Neitzel said Friday.

West Shore Pipe Line Co. in June 2016 permanently shut down the only gasoline and diesel fuel pipeline serving northeastern Wisconsin after testing of the 56-year-old line found extensive repairs were needed. At that time, West Shore representatives said the company was evaluating options for rebuilding the line within two years.

The old repair-plagued line was removed from service in March 2016 for the testing, and it never reopened.

Since that time, state officials have worked with gasoline retail businesses to maintain an adequate fuel supply in the region at a reasonable price for consumers, Neitzel said. No fuel shortages have been reported in that time.

Gasoline retailers hired more tanker trucks and drivers to transport fuel from terminals at Milwaukee, Waupun and Junction City. The terminal at Milwaukee is owned by West Shore. The terminals at Waupun and Junction City added capacity to serve more trucks, Neitzel said.

In addition, the state lifted weight limits for fuel trucks on certain routes into northeastern Wisconsin and the Port of Green Bay began importing diesel and gasoline shipments.

"Now that West Shore has decided to discontinue its service to Green Bay, we'll meet with all entities in the industry that can help us meet the demand for that region," Neitzel said.

Asked if another pipeline company might consider extending a line into Green Bay, Neitzel replied: "I wouldn't rule anything out."

West Shore owns a 650-mile fuel distribution system within Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. One fuel pipeline extends from Hammond, Ind., around Chicago to Milwaukee. A separate line runs from East Chicago, Ind., to Janesville and Madison.

The closed West Shore pipeline is the same one that spilled 54,600 gallons of gasoline in a farm pasture in the Town of Jackson in July 2012.

Contractors work at the site of the break in West Shore fuel pipeline in the 1800 block of Western Ave. in Jackson in 2012. The break occured on July 17 and spilled an estimated 54,600 gallons of gasoline.

The spill was caused by a rupture of a welded seam along several feet of 10-inch pipe. The regional pipeline was built in 1961.

Gasoline from the spill contaminated groundwater in roughly a 1-square-mile area of the town.

West Shore subsequently paid $5.3 million to build 8 miles of water main so that Village of Jackson municipal water could serve the rural area around the spill.

About two dozen sections of the metal pipe in Washington County, including several in the Jackson Marsh, were repaired in 2013.