A natural gas pipeline that crosses the southern Panhandle is back in operation following a rupture earlier this month.   The 20-inch Tallgrass Energy Partners pipeline ruptured on Saturday the 4th in Kimball County, about 7 miles north of Bushnell.

Reports filed with the Nebraska Public Service Commission say the damaged pipeline section was repaired and Tallgrass received approval from federal regulators to put the pipeline back into service at a reduced operating pressure. ..with partial service restored last Friday.

Tallgrass attorney George Rider says no one was injured and that reports of an explosion are false. He also says the rupture was reported by a resident in the rural area.