"It is the third pipeline incident this year for Hilcorp Alaska in an area that is home to endangered beluga whales."

"ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The owner of a pipeline leaking natural gas into Alaska's Cook Inlet is dealing with another potential gas leak on a different line. It is the third such incident this year for Hilcorp Alaska in an area that has been declared a "critical habitat" for endangered beluga whales.

A spokesman for the company said the latest incident was not a leak, but rather "a metering anomaly." The federal agency with jurisdiction over the pipeline challenged that characterization.

"As far as we know there was a leak. If they [Hilcorp] have some new information that hasn't made it to us yet, I couldn't speak on that," said Darius Kirkwood, a spokesman for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)."

Sabrina Shankman reports for InsideClimate News April 8, 2017. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Alaska Oil and Gas Spills Prompt Call for Inspection of All Cook Inlet Pipelines" (InsideClimate News) [3]