RALEIGH – Steps are being taken to minimize the impact of an Alabama pipeline disruption, the second in two months. Fleets of gasoline tanker trucks from outside North Carolina have arrived and are making deliveries across the state.

“I am continuing to work with our emergency management team to closely monitor the situation in Alabama," said Governor Pat McCrory in a press release. “I will continue to take every measure that is needed to minimize the impact of this disruption on North Carolina."

Governor McCrory signed an executive order to waive certain state requirements and had an additional waiver approved by the state agriculture department to allow tanker trucks from outside the state to move more gasoline supplies into North Carolina.

“This waiver will allow for an increase in our gas supply that should not affect the quality or safety of fuel,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Gasoline products from northern states, which previously could not be sold in our state, can now be used at our pumps. What we are allowing is our winter fuel supply, which has different vapor pressure and normally is allowed for sale beginning in December, to be sold now.”

The Colonial Pipeline fire is still burning and the site remains inaccessible. The company anticipates being able to assess the damage tomorrow and provide a timeline for when the pipeline may be restored.

In September, officials at Colonial were forced to shut down the pipeline due to a leak, which caused fuel prices to increase throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The leak resulted in a 12 day shutdown and several states, including the Carolinas, experienced shortages at gas stations. The Southeast had to rely on long-distance truck deliveries from as far as Chicago and waterborne fuel deliveries to help meet demand in the region.

Colonial is a key artery that connects Gulf Coast refineries with markets across the southern and eastern United States, delivering gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products.

In response to September's leak, Colonial built a bypass which allowed product to move to impacted areas within 11 days after the initial shutdown. Pump prices in much of the southeast region began to drop once the bypass was in place, but they didn't return to the levels seen before the leak.