U.S. to Colonial: Thank You!

The U.S. Department of Transportation presented Colonial Pipeline a plaque honoring the company's efforts to resume normal operations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The plaque, presented by Brigham McCown, Acting Administrator of the DOT's Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, hangs at Colonial's offices in Alpharetta, Ga. It reads:

"In appreciation of the exceptional efforts made by the Colonial Pipeline Company and its Valued Employees in the face of overwhelming natural disaster by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to safely recover from the emergency, cooperate with Federal, State and local agencies, and restore pipeline operations for the well being of your fellow American citizens and the prosperity of our great nation."

McCown's office includes the Office of Pipeline Safety and is the principal safety regulator of Colonial and other U.S. pipelines. Colonial employees and its contractors worked with Colonial customers and with electric utilities to restore power and resume operations of Colonial's lines. This was achieved safely - without a single injury or without a single drop of fuel being spilled.