2 companies, official plead not guilty in '99 pipeline blast

Two fuel companies and one individual pleaded not guilty yesterday to federal criminal charges in connection with the 1999 Bellingham pipeline explosion that killed two boys and a young man.

Olympic Pipe Line, Equilon Pipeline and Frank Hopf Jr. entered their pleas in U.S. District Court in Seattle. U.S. Magistrate John Weinberg set a trial date of Nov. 19.

Arraignment of two additional defendants, Ronald Dean Brentson and Kevin Scott Dyvig, was postponed until next week because of yesterday's observance of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest Jewish holidays.

In June 1999, a rupture in the pipeline leaked more than 236,000 gallons of gasoline that ignited in a fireball, killing Wade King and Stephen Tsiorvas, both 10. The boys were playing in a Bellingham park. Liam Wood, 18, was fishing when he was overcome by fumes and drowned.

Earlier this month, a federal grand jury handed down an indictment against the owners and operators of the pipeline consisting of five felony violations of the Pipeline Safety Act. It marked the first time prosecutors had brought a case under that law. The indictment also included two misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act.

According to the federal charges, Olympic violated minimum safety standards in operating the 400-mile line running from Whatcom County to Portland. Olympic is now owned by BP Pipelines North America.

At the time of the pipeline explosion, Olympic was owned by several oil companies. Prosecutors say Houston-based Equilon was the daily operator of the pipeline, but the company has said it was only a partner.

Olympic issued a statement yesterday saying it was continuing to review the indictment.

Hopf, Olympic's former chief manager, was charged with a misdemeanor for the fuel leak and a felony for allegedly failing to provide adequate training for workers. According to the indictment, Hopf canceled plans to excavate and inspect possible defects in the pipe segment that later ruptured.

If convicted on all charges, Olympic and Equilon could face up to $3.5 million in fines. Additional monetary penalties are also possible. Hopf faces up to six years in prison if convicted.

Wade King's parents attended the arraignment, sitting quietly near the front of the courtroom and saying little afterward.

"We just wanted to come down and see," said the boy's father, Frank King. "We didn't even know who Frank Hopf was."

Frank Vinluan can be reached at 206-464-2291 or fvinluan@seattletimes.com.