Alabama wildlife area closed by gas spill reopens to hunters
HELENA, Ala. (AP) — Hunters have been cleared to use an Alabama wildlife management area shut down by a major gasoline pipeline leak in September.
State officials announced Friday that the William R. Ireland, Sr. Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area has been reopened between Brantleyville and Glen Carbon, Alabama. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says cleanup and remediation efforts are complete, allowing big and small game hunters to return.
But state officials say cleanup continues at a shooting range in the area. They say the range remains closed.
Colonial Pipeline Co. has estimated that 252,000 to 336,000 gallons of gasoline leaked near Helena, Alabama before the problem was discovered on Sept. 9.
Weeks later, one worker was killed and four others repairing the line were injured in an explosion.