A few years ago, a concerned citizen called local authorities to report an unusual odor. Responders followed established protocol and secured the area. The resulting investigation uncovered a buried pipe that was leaking. Documented mechanical damage had failed in a nearby pipeline. Routine inline inspections over a period of years had not shown evidence of corrosion or cracking. The leak was not detected earlier by soil discoloration, areas of dead vegetation or sheen on nearby water. Thousands of gallons of product had been released and the cost of the response, repair and clean up ran well into the millions of dollars; thankfully, no one was injured or killed.
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