The company responsible for one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history will restore or create 300 acres of wetlands as part of a sweeping agreement to improve the Kalamazoo River watershed in southwestern Michigan. The settlement comes nearly five years after a broken pipeline released more than 800,000 gallons of oil. Enbridge […]
Lingering impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The dispersant most often used during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill might cause damage to cells in human lungs and in the gills of fish and crabs, according to a study published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, published in the PLOS One online […]
Clean up of spill in northern Alberta a challenge
Bitterly cold weather is impacting a crude oil spill clean up effort about 27 kilometres from Red Earth Creek in northern Alberta. The Alberta Energy Regulator says 337 barrels (60,000 litres) poured from a Canadian Natural Resources pipeline into muskeg. There are no reports of impact to wildlife. An incident report by the regulator states that a mechanical […]
‘Energy super power’ status still out of Canada’s reach
When the federal environment commissioner reported Canada will not meet its 2020 international commitment on greenhouse gas emission cuts, no one was surprised. The Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been saying for years it will not sacrifice economic competitiveness — particularly in the oil and gas sector — for environmental gains. But […]
Comment: Oil pipelines and the drama of social license
On June 17, when the federal government announced its conditional acceptance of the Joint Review Panel’s recommendation for approval of Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline project application, it took mere moments for opponents to be up in arms. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, told the CBC, “We will […]
All publicity is not good publicity
Was it a bribe or good faith financial deal? TransCanada Corp. has given an Ontario town $30-thousand. Mattawa plans to use the cash to purchase a new rescue vehicle. Some people are asking what the money is really for. You see Mattawa is located on the proposed Energy East pipeline route and Bloomberg.com is reporting […]
Micro refineries could help ease concern in the Bakken
Would having a group of small refineries remove dangerous gas from oil train cargoes and make shipments from North Dakota’s Bakken shale area safer fro transport? Quantum Energy energy made the proposal. The goal is to build five “micro refineries” near railheads already handling Bakken crude. Those refineries would strip propane and other volatile gas […]
Fears an increase in oil tanker traffic in BC poses risks to wildlife
With the possibility of more oil tanker traffic along the BC coast, the State of Washington commissioned a study to consider the damage a spill could cause to the environment. The state’s Ecology Department returned with a report suggesting wildlife, sea otters in particular, would be at great risk. “The relative risk of an oil […]