Pipeline Strike Shuts River Road
That jet fuel was escaping out of the hole onto the parking lot, and then down across the property,
Upper Merion Police Chief Blaine Leis explained to 6abc.com.
A 14-inch underground pipeline carrying jet fuel was struck on November 5, 2026, near Colbert Road and River Road in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, triggering a major hazmat response.
A third-party contractor working for PECO hit the pipeline while drilling to install new electric towers. Sunoco shut down the line immediately after the leak began. Jet fuel discharged over land and poured directly into the adjacent Glasgow McCoy quarry.
Crews Respond to Jet Fuel and Kerosene Spill
Emergency crews rushed to the scene on River Road between East 4th Street and B Street. State Rep. Tim Briggs provided a preliminary estimate that approximately 60,000 gallons of jet fuel and kerosene were released, according to 6abc.com. Local officials issued a shelter-in-place order and closed part of Route 23.
Fire companies laid long hoses to spray foam because fire hydrants were scarce in the immediate industrial area. Lewis Environmental Group responded from Royersford to assist Montgomery County crews. Both the road closures and the shelter-in-place order were lifted shortly after 6 p.m. on the day of the leak.
Unified Command Cleanup Progress
A Unified Command comprising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Energy Transfer directed ongoing recovery operations. Crews used vacuum trucks over the weekend to transfer a mixture of fuel and water from concern areas into temporary storage tanks. Workers transported those tanks off-site for processing and product reuse.
Responders also deployed sorbent booms and absorbent pads to collect pooled product from paved areas, stormwater ponds, and the quarry. They gathered petroleum-contaminated debris into roll-off containers for future testing and disposal under state and federal safety rules. Drone flights tracked cleanup progress and assessed conditions across the Schuylkill River and the quarry.
Air Monitoring Detects No Elevated Chemical Levels
Air monitoring instruments measured flammable vapors, volatile organic compounds, and benzene across three distinct categories. Community monitoring included 20 roving locations in nearby neighborhoods, while 10 stationary fenceline locations checked the response zone boundaries. Four additional monitoring locations protected workers directly inside active cleanup zones.
Air monitoring detected no elevated levels in the community or at the fenceline, and work zone readings remained below levels of concern. Air readings from quarry monitoring wells found no detection of volatile organic compounds, and officials confirmed no impact to public drinking water sources. Changing weather conditions caused fuel odors to drift, drawing complaints from nearby residents.
Experts Raise Concerns About Chemical Exposure and Risks
Chris DiGiulio, director of environmental science and investigations for Physicians for Social Responsibility of Pennsylvania, investigated the site with a thermal drone. She reported that the chemical smells caused her a headache and raised questions about long-term resident exposure, according to whyy.org.
Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, Eastern Pennsylvania organizing manager for Food and Water Watch, also highlighted risks associated with pipelines crossing densely populated areas near the Schuylkill River.
Officials did not respond to questions regarding the exact total volume of fuel spilled during the incident. PECO stated that the contractor worked on its behalf and confirmed that no PECO electric or natural gas customers lost service.
Operators Resume Pipeline Service After Repairs
Crews completed pipeline repairs following the initial leak. The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration approved refilling the pipeline, and operators brought the line back into service.
Response operations continue with a focus on ongoing air and waterway monitoring. Crews limit the removal of jet fuel from pooled water in the quarry to daylight hours. Additional environmental assessment work will determine the final extent of the impacted area.
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