Re: The Pipedreams Project, BC's coast & the Enbridge Pipeli
WELCOME TO MORDOR Guess somebody approached a probability of zero TO THREE DECIMAL PLACES...
Cleanup crews battle oil spill in Alberta's pristine wilderness
The Canadian Press June 9, 2012
Crews scrambled Friday to contain and clean up a pipeline spill believed to have sent up to 475,000 litres of crude oil flowing into the rain-swollen Red Deer River system in westcentral Alberta.
Plains Midstream Canada said when the spill was discovered Thursday night it closed off its network of pipelines in the area.
Tracey McCrimmon, executive director of a community group that works with the industry, said rural homeowners raised the alarm.
People living just north of Sundre phoned in reports Thursday night of smelling rotten eggs - the telltale odour of sour gas or sour oil, she said.
"The first call that we got was at 8: 40 p.m. There was an odour complaint. We had multiple calls of a rotten-egg smell," said McCrimmon, director of the Sundre Petroleum Operators Group. "We called all of the oil and gas operators within six kilometres of the area. They were able to source the odour within an hour."
The company said the oil spilled into Jackson Creek near Sundre, about 100 kilometres from Red Deer. Jackson Creek flows into the Red Deer River. Recent heavy rain has swollen streams and rivers in the area, some to near flood stage, and local officials are concerned the oil will spread more quickly down the system.
"There's oil in the river and the river is moving very quickly right now because of the recent rains and meltwater," said Bruce Beattie, reeve of Mountain View County, which is on the river system.
"Certainly anything that is coming out of the pipeline or that did come out of the pipeline is certainly moving quickly downstream. It's going to be a major environmental concern, for sure."
The region around Sundre is considered pristine wilderness by many in Alberta. It is a common getaway area for Calgary residents and is popular with anglers and hunters. The area where the oil spilled is mostly ranch land.
Alberta Environment spokeswoman Jessica Potter said communities and individuals downstream of the spill have been told not to use river water until further notice.
"Water intakes have been shut at all facilities downstream and we are encouraging people to shut-in their water and not draw from the river at this time," she said.
Premier Alison Redford said her government is doing what it can to deal with the pipeline breach and pledged a full investigation.
She said the province has an internationally recognized pipeline system supported by a strong regulatory framework, but if improvements need to be made, then action will be taken.
"Minimizing the environmental impact and ensuring the health and safety of Albertans is our priority," she said in a statement. "Albertans expect our pipeline infrastructure will be of the highest possible standards and that companies are complying with the rules and regulations we have in place. At the end of the day, we must ensure our families, our communities and our environment are protected."
The community of Sundre is upriver from the spill, but Red Deer is downstream. The City of Red Deer was told booms would be set up on the river near the Dickson Dam and Gleniffer Lake and Reservoir.
Leslie Chivers, a city spokesman, said people in Red Deer have been told there is nothing to worry about. "I hesitate to use the word concern because if they can clean up the spill, then life is normal," Chivers said.
"We are monitoring the situation. If things change, then we'll advise residents of further actions that will be happening."
Plains Midstream said it was light sour crude that spilled. It said Alberta energy regulators and government health and environment officials are monitoring water and air quality in the area.
"Light sour crude oil has a strong petroleum odour but this odour does not pose a health or safety risk to the public," the company said in a statement.
Company vice-president Stephen Bart said in a statement: "We deeply regret this incident and are working to ensure we're doing all we can to limit the extent of the release and any community and environmental impacts," he said.