LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Quake-Damaged Pipeline to Be Shut Indefinitely

An aging oil pipeline that suffered extensive damage in the Northridge earthquake--including a crack that sent walls of flame through a Mission Hills neighborhood--will remain out of commission indefinitely, its owners announced Tuesday.

The 130-mile Four Corners Pipe Line, which connects Kern County oil fields to South Bay refineries, had been scheduled to reopen by May 1. But executives of Atlantic Richfield Co., which owns the line, decided to put repairs on hold to further study costs and safety issues.

ARCO spokesman Scott Loll said the company is considering a number of options regarding the 70-year-old pipeline--including shutting down for good the 54-mile stretch that runs under densely populated communities between Newhall and Carson.

During January’s 6.8 temblor, the 10-inch diameter pipe ruptured in several places. A spill into the Santa Clara River near Valencia killed hundreds of fish and birds and a leak in San Fernando fueled fires along Wolfskill Street that destroyed cars and homes and seriously injured a man.

Many residents and elected officials in Los Angeles and San Fernando had feared similar leaks if the line was allowed to reopen without thorough testing and repairs. They applauded Tuesday’s announcement.