Regulators Won't Disclose Spill-Response Info on Oil-Sands Pipeline

"Federal regulators have declined to release emergency response details and worst-case spill estimates for a pipeline system that carries Canadian oil-sands crude to the United States, drawing charges of excessive secrecy from the advocacy group that sought the data.

At issue is the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's reply to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the safety-advocacy law firm Plains Justice that sought details of the emergency plan for the Express Pipeline System, a network operated by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners that carries crude from western Canada's oil-sands region across six U.S. states.

But the agency withheld worst-case spill estimates and response equipment for the system's path through four of those six states, an exception that raised alarms among the environmentalists at Plains Justice."

Elana Schor reports for Greenwire February 4, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"The Use of Substandard Steel by the U.S. Pipeline Industry 2007 to 2009"" (PlainsJustice)

"A Giant Pipeline Carrying Dirty Oil From Canada to Texas. What Could Go Wrong?" (Mother Jones)

"State Department Rejects FOIA on Keystone XL Pipeline" (American Examiner)

"Appeal Filed Over Keystone XL pipeline FOIA Refusal" (American Independent

"Enbridge Spill Affecting Keystone XL Debate" (Michigan Messenger)

"TransCanada Takes Oil Sands Heat in Stride" (SolveClimate)

"One Oil Pipeline Too Many for Texas?" (Los Angeles Times)

"Ahead of Canadian Leader's Visit, Oil Industry Calls for Pipeline Project Approval" (E2 Wire)

"Keystone XL May Mean Higher Canadian Crude Prices" (Bloomberg)

"A Great Plains Pipeline Debate" (Washington Post)