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U.S. Bars Restart of Keystone I Pipeline Following 12 Spills in First Year
Media Releases Featured | | June 03, 2011
Order Comes Days Before State Department Decision on Keystone XL
WASHINGTON, June 3 – The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration today issued an order preventing TransCanada from restarting the Keystone I tar sands oil pipeline, shut down since the latest of 12 spills in its first year of operation, until the agency is convinced it is safe. The action comes just days before the State Department is expected to announce whether it will issue a permit to build the Keystone XL, which would connect with the existing pipeline to carry dirty, toxic, corrosive tar sands oil from Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries.
Here is the text of a statement issued by the agency:
Safety is the number one priority of the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). PHMSA has issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO) to TransCanada Oil Pipeline Operations, Inc. (TransCanada). Effective immediately, this order prevents TransCanada from restarting operations on their Keystone crude oil pipeline until PHMSA is satisfied with the ongoing repairs and is confident that all immediate safety concerns have been addressed. PHMSA issued the order in connection with two incidents in May involving oil leaks from small diameter pump station pipe fittings.
In addition to immediate repairs and testing, PHMSA’s order requires TransCanada to perform metallurgical testing and root cause failure analysis, review other parts of the pipeline system for concerns similar to those involved in the recent failures, make permanent repairs and continue ongoing monitoring.
PHMSA inspectors are closely reviewing TransCanda’s repair work to the pipeline.
Background: As required by the CAO, TransCanda has submitted a restart plan to PHMSA. PHMSA will thoroughly review the plan and make a decision when the agency is confident that TransCanada has satisfied all requirements needed to ensure safety.
Patricia Klinger
Deputy Director, Office of Governmental, International and Public Affairs Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration U.S. Department of Transportation East Building 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590
phone: 202-366-6374
cell: 202-557-5641
email: patricia.klinger@dot.gov
Tagged with: keystone xl, pipeline, oil spill, keystone
