More propane trucks stop in Watkins

WATKINS GLEN—The gas filling station on Route 14 in Watkins Glen is handling twice the number of trucks each day due to a propane terminal closing in Oneonta.
Both stations in Oneonta and Watkins Glen are owned by Enterprise Products Partners L.P.  While the Watkins location still sports the name TEPPCO on the outside of a building, Enterprise purchased TEPPCO Partners L.P. last year.
Rick Rainey, director of public relations for Enterprise, said the leak that closed the Oneonta terminal occurred Aug. 27.  He explained the federal Department of Transportation required Enterprise to do additional testing to make sure the pipeline is safe.
“It’ll take several weeks to accomplish,” said Rainey.  “It’ll take us into the middle of the heating season.”
He said the Watkins fill station was chosen because it has large storage facilities, both above ground and underground.  Rainey added Watkins operates 24/7.  He explained that scheduling when trucks arrive is done by the individual companies.
Calvin Crouch, technician at Watkins, said scheduling is done to minimize backlogs of trucks.  He added that with Oneonta’s station closing, Watkins is now getting twice the number of trucks.  Crouch said they used to handle 30 trucks a day, but now it is 60.
Rainey said the pipeline runs from the Gulf Coast, through the Midwest, and up to New York and Pennsylvania. The Watkins station connects to it, allowing delivery trucks to fill up with propane.
He explained it is a “batched” pipeline, meaning it carries propane, gasoline, and diesel.  Rainey added that east from Ohio it is almost exclusively for propane, with some butane.