An estimated 25,000 gallons of high-octane gasoline has gone missing. At more than $3.30 per gallon, that means more than $82,000 worth of the liquid gold is lying around somewhere waiting to be found.
Of course, since the gas went missing as a result of a pipeline leak, and that it likely is seeping somewhere into the deep, mine-scarred depths of eastern Northumberland County, it is likely that the gasoline is no longer a premium fuel.
It is however, a potentially high-priced environmental hazard.
When the pipeline was ruptured on Wednesday, nearby residents of Coal Township were evacuated and schools were closed as a safety precaution. Since that time, the immediate danger has passed -- but passed to where?
The amount of missing fuel is the equivalent of what three tanker trucks can carry. Considering that gasoline is an explosive, volatile organic compound, it probably is a good idea to find the stuff sooner than later.
Also considering the environmental hazards already posed by abandoned mines, especially as the acid mine runoff drains west into Susquehanna River, finding and cleaning this spill should become a priority.
This episode also should be a reminder to anyone who operates heavy digging equipment to double check their sites for underground pipelines and other utilities. This could have been a far more explosive situation than it already is.
