The DOT’s Pipeline Safety, Security and Operations Office
(PSSOO) announced today that it was launching an investigation in the problems
being seen in the last 24-hours along the East Coast Prime Pipeline. Low
pipeline pressures, intermittent failures at pumping stations and other anomalies
have been reportedly been interfering with the delivery of natural gas to a number
of electric generating stations along the east coast from Maryland thru New
Hampshire. Local distribution of natural gas to local communities has also been
a problem where local gas companies derive their supplies from the same
pipeline.
George Friendly, owner and CEO of the Friendly Morning
Pipeline Company that owns East Coast Prime, says that company engineers and
service personnel have been dispatched to all of the pumping stations along the
pipeline to try to restore normal operations. He has also asked the ECS-CERT to
help look into the problems because much of what has been happening appears to
be connected to control system issues.
Rep Rebecca Pinter (D,MA), has asked that the Federal Bureau
of Inquiry to help with the investigation because her office has been receiving
reports that the problems were due to a cyber attack on the pipeline. A
spokesperson for her office reported that they had received information from a
constituent with family in the middle east that indicated that this was
connected to international tensions in the Persian Gulf. The FBI has refused to
comment on that request other than saying that a preliminary investigation had
been started based on the information provided by Pinter.
The Department of Homeland Security continues to maintain
that there is currently no indication of a credible threat against the United
States, but encouraged critical infrastructure to be aware of the increased
potential for cyberattacks.
CAUTIONARY NOTE: This is a future news story –
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