HITCHCOCK -- A natural gas leak near the Blaine County town of Hitchcock tonight has been stopped, but not before it prompted officials to evacuate Roman Nose State Park and close two state highways, authorities said.
No injuries or illnesses were reported. Hitchcock is about 12 miles north of Watonga, the county seat.
At 8:45 p.m., state Corporation Commission spokesman Matt Skinner said people who live in the affected area should be allowed to return to their homes within a half hour. He said he did not know when park officials would reopen Roman Nose to the public.
The leak occurred in a 12-inch, high-pressure discharge pipeline owned jointly by Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips, running from Seiling to Okarche, Skinner said. The line is between a "booster," which boosts the speed of the gas being transferred on the line, and a processing plant. The pipeline was shut down, stopping the leak, before 8 p.m.
Skinner said the pipeline ruptured, sending pieces of the pipe and rock hurtling into the air, but the gas did not ignite. He said he did not know how much gas leaked out.
Troopers assisted Blaine County authorities in closing down State Highway 8 at SH 8A south of Roman Nose, and SH 8A at SH 51A west of the park, but Skinner said at 8:45 p.m. the roads were expected to be reopened within a half hour.
Blaine County officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
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