SEATAC, Wash. — Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell is now demanding answers from BP after a prolonged closure of the Olympic Pipeline led to concerns about an impact on the environment and flight travel in and out of Sea-Tac Airport.

BP acknowledged there has been a leak of the 400-mile pipeline system in a field just south of Everett, in Snohomish County.

However, Cantwell suggested that BP didn’t report the leak, and it was discovered by a blueberry farmer.

In a scathing letter to the company’s CEO, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has asked when the last time the pipeline was inspected and why the company didn’t initially discover it.

BP has independently said, through written statements, that a sheen was found in a drainage ditch on Tuesday, Nov. 11. It was restarted on Sunday but shut down a day later. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday to waive state regulations limiting the hours commercial drivers could transport jet fuel during the closure.

BP issued the following statement on Friday in response to a KOMO News inquiry:

“Olympic Pipeline continues to respond to a release of refined products east of Everett, Washington, working in close coordination with federal, state, tribal, and local authorities. The pipeline remains shut down at this time. Crews have safely excavated over 100 feet of pipeline, but have not yet identified the source of the release. Excavation and inspection of the pipeline will continue overnight. A timeline for restarting the pipeline is not currently available. Further updates will be provided when available. The safety of personnel, the environment, and the community remains our highest priority.”

Both Alaska and Delta airlines issued statements on Friday to suggest there have been no related delays or disruptions due to the fuel line closure.

However, EVA Air cancelled its long-haul flight scheduled for Saturday between Sea-Tac Airport and Taipei. The airline website shows that it has rerouted travel to Anchorage. Sea-Tac Airport is also known as SEA, according to the Port of Seattle.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty. It also has to do with the weather in other parts of the country and how much fuel you’ve got to add on, and exactly how you’re going to do that. All these are fluid calculations. No pun intended, those are very important,” noted ABC Aviation Analyst John Nance.

“I wouldn’t characterize it as dire yet, but this could actually get to that point, if it goes on too long,” he said.

He also suggests that airlines could have to put more fuel on board than is necessary or truck in tankers to offset the demand.

This all comes as the Airport deals with increased traffic for the holidays, according to spokesperson Perry Cooper, who explained that starting this weekend, there is expected to be nearly 180,000 daily passengers leading into Thanksgiving, which is close to the busiest of summer travel days. Cooper also suggested that the approaches get the most congested this time of year as people attempt to pick up friends and family at the airport.

Cantwell also says, in the letter, she wants to know about the impact on gas prices at the pump. As of right now, according to AAA, there has been a fluctuation in cost based on the leakage and closure.