Enbridge pipeline plan in northern Wisconsin prompts concerns

[suffragette]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/enbridge-pipeline-plan-in-northern-wisconsin-prompts-concerns-b99681508z1-371225671.html?ipad=y

Enbridge Energy Co., which wants to expand pipeline capacity in northern Wisconsin, is drawing concerns because of the company's operating history of spills and other problems.

A new state report says the company has had 85 oil spills over the past decade, although most were considered small.

The Department of Natural Resources has released an environmental-impact statement on the project in Douglas County. It concluded that a spill of 500 gallons or more would have a "substantial" impact on water resources and endangered species and habitat, meaning leaking oil could remain in the environment for up to a year.

The report, more than 600 pages long, analyzes potential impacts of a 14-mile-long project that environmentalists say has statewide implications.


Enbridge has a history of spills. First Nations have been working nationally and together across the border to educate and oppose these potentially devastating pipeline expansions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/first-nation-riders-protest_b_4014538.html

Enbridge does not have a stellar maintenance record.

843,000 gallons spilled from an Enbridge pipeline into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River in 2010. The Environmental Protection Association estimates that now, three years after the spill, 280,000 gallons still remain in the river.

In 2002 an Enbridge pipeline dumped 48,000 gallons of oil west of Cass Lake Minnesota. On site monitoring indicates continuing crude oil contamination of the groundwater aquifer today.

A 50,000-gallon spill in 2012 near Grand Marsh Wisconsin prompted the United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration (PHSMA) to order Enbridge to submit plans to improve the safety of the Lakehead System.


Sierra Club notes additional concerns. Much more info at the link than I can post here.

http://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2016/03/1-million-more-barrels-oil-flowing-through-wisconsin

More oil means more pipelines
Together, these pipelines could bring up to 1 million more barrels of oil into Superior. That oil will not stay there. Like Enbridge’s other expansion plans, this oil will have to move through Wisconsin, to the south—requiring a new pipeline south of Superior.

Enbridge has started the first steps to building another pipeline through the heart of Wisconsin, calling it a Line-61 twin, meaning they will likely build another pipeline right next to the existing Line 61. When complete, Line 61 will be the largest tar sands pipeline in the world, outside of Russia. We could soon have the two largest pipelines in the world outside of Russia, right next to each other—two pipelines going through the St. Croix River (a National Scenic and Wildlife River), the Wisconsin River, the Rock River, and the other important areas in Wisconsin. ‘Twinning’ the pipeline means twinning the threat that is posed through Wisconsin.

In the Environmental Impact Statement, the DNR did not consider the environmental concerns about the Line 61-twin. However, if the DNR permits these two pipelines, Enbridge will need to build a pipeline to move this oil. The DNR should study all three pipelines as one project.

These pipelines are all risk and no reward for Wisconsin.
A recently released report from the National Academy of Sciences examined the difference between tar sands oil and traditional oil. It found that cleaning up a tar sands spill in a waterway is significantly more difficult and potentially up to 14.5 times more expensive than cleaning up a non-tar sands oil spill. The disastrous Enbridge Line 6B tar sands spill in Michigan in 2010 made it clear that even a smaller rupture with a quicker response time in the Wisconsin River, Rock River, or the St. Croix River (a National Scenic and Wildlife River) could be devastating. The DNR needs to scrutinize how spills would be cleaned up, the permanent damage to waterways, and the impacts to Wisconsin’s economy. The DNR’s review does not consider how difficult (or impossible) it could be to clean up a spill if it were to occur under snow or ice.

[Faux pas]

1. K N R-ed

[suffragette]

5. Thank you!

[gratuitous]

2. Oh sure, they've had some pretty bad spills greasing the landscape

But how is their record for greasing the right palms? If Gov. Walker and his cronies get to dip their bills, it's all good.

Oh, and damn the cost of clean up - Enbridge isn't going to be footing that bill, so why should anyone care? The nice lady on the Petroleum Institute commercials says the oil industry is very conscientious about following rules and stuff. So, we probably don't need to worry about any spills.

[suffragette]

3. So very true. They have been greasing palms and then getting the votes their way.

http://www.wisdc.org/pr071715.php

Walker Sides with Enbridge Over Communities, Private Property Owners
July 17, 2015

Two provisions in the new state budget approved by Republican Gov. Scott Walker help one company: Enbridge Energy. They prevent local governments from imposing added insurance requirements on interstate pipeline operators that transport hazardous material, and make it easier to take private property for such projects.

The insurance measure was aimed at hamstringing Dane County’s effort to require Enbridge, a Canadian oil pipeline company, to carry $25 million in pollution insurance for environmental spills in addition to the company’s $100 million in general liability insurance.

The insurance measure prohibits all local governments from requiring pipeline companies to carry additional insurance beyond their general liability coverage. Walker’s approval of the budget last weekend prompted the Dane County Board to drop plans Thursday to hear an appeal by Enbridge to carry the additional insurance.

The private property provision in the budget gives oil pipeline businesses that are not based in Wisconsin the authority to condemn real estate and personal property for state-approved projects. Until now, Wisconsin statutes said, “Any Wisconsin corporation transmitting gas, oil or related products in pipelines….” had condemnation authority. That wording was changed to “any Wisconsin business entity.”

The two budget provisions benefiting Enbridge were among dozens of special interest, non-spending, policy items hastily added by majority Republican legislators before they approved the budget and sent it to Walker.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Not to throw wrenchs.

This is the results of people not paying attention to who you vote for or whom might be the big money behind that person. Posted on many occasions as to the down side of Walkers election as Governor. The route of the new and improved version of Enbridge Pipeline goes through my old backyard. the It's adjacent to it might even cross a portion of the Crex Medowes Wild Life area. This is one of the Headwaters of the St Croix River. And anyone who has our lives in that region knows what I say. Because of the types of soils in that area,these pipeline breaks tend to go unnoticed for some time because of the porous nature of the soils it sinks to the water table.

[suffragette]

6. Appreciate your first hand knowledge

You are absolutely correct about paying attention to candidates and the money interests backing them and that people need to look closely at this.

Our ecosystems are so interconnected and vital to our lives. And what happens under the surface can stay hidden for a long time before learning the impact. That makes the damage even more extensive and long term.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, there is a huge push both in the U.S. and Canada to increase coal and oil shipments and transport. Coast Salish have been banding together across the border to fight Enbridge, Kinder Morgan and coal shipments and refinery increases. Has this been happening over there?

We have interconnected waterways that are the lifeblood of our region and they are already very busy and can be quite treacherous to navigate. Spills would be devastating.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. What really sucks is,

this is the most economically challenged area of Wisconsin. Knowing the power players in that area,they are the one who will reap the rewards and the locals will have to pick up the tab again. Again we have a situation of Bull Crap was the flavor of the day and the Koch Brothers scored another one.

[suffragette]

8. Profiting off of others misery

It's scary as hell that this goes on and that it can all switch in a minute from being ok to being crap.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Explotation of the masses via

use of the old Bait and Switch. We had planned on retiring to the family Homestead,so glad we decided to sell it. The Economic Climate as well as the Political Climate is so regressive. When you have a Casino as your go to Employer and none other,in there lies the story. Dubbed the Mistake by a Lake. But,the Local mover shaker group scored tens of thousands and bailed to Arizona leaving the locals with a Real Estate Tax burden form hell.

[suffragette]

10. CBC notes oil executives included In Panama Papers

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/panama-leak-offshore-records-putin-messi-money-1.3518951

Among the leaked records is info on the offshore assets of several hundred Canadians, including lawyers, mining and oil executives, business people and even known fraudsters. None of them are prominent personalities, however.


I added the bold. I wonder if they might be connected to Enbridge and/or Kinder Morgan.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Time will tell,when you have 11.5 million pages of data,

that is a greater than all the 2013 Wiki Leaks Treasure trove. And to think this all started with a Law Firm Squabble here in Vegas. Through the discovery process,the door was opened on Shell Companies. Nevada is known from the formation of Shell Companies,the only other State that comes close is South Dakota.

[suffragette]

12. I noticed The Guardian stated much will remain private

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/03/a-world-of-hidden-wealth-why-we-are-shining-a-light-offshore

While much of the leaked material will remain private, there are compelling reasons for publishing some of the data. The documents reveal a huge breadth of unseen activity.

I wonder how that will sort out. My cynical side tells me that means some who don't deserve protecting will be shielded from exposure. When going through such massive data, much must depend on how and for what/whom they decide to search.

It is interesting that a squabble led to the door being cracked open and in Nevada of all places. I didn't know Nevada and South Dakota led in U.S. shell companies. Thanks for the info!

[Wellstone ruled]

13. State offical in Sodak resigned

his position last week in a Cash for Visa's deal. Same guy ran the State Economic Department that regulates Corporations and their charters. Pay the fee and you are good to go.

[suffragette]

14. Wow. Is this article about that?

http://www.startribune.com/south-dakota-charges-former-official-in-immigration-scandal/374173021/

Lots of sleaze and money involved there.

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Yes that is one,should be more from

Argosy out of Souix Falls and Rapid City. Notice the use of the Special 500k Visa's. BTW,Trump uses this loophole in order to finance his properties.

[suffragette]

16. Rich people live in such a different world than most of us.

Full of free perks and casual graft and layers upon layers of insulation from reality.
Here's hoping at least some of them get their due and have to pay upon the release of the Panama Papers and prosecution in the S.D. case.

Are you still in Wisconsin? If so, I wish you a good voting day.

[Wellstone ruled]

17. We sold the last piece of Property in Wiscony

two years ago. Can't afford to Retire in that state. Brutal for Seniors,never use to be,after Walker was elected things just went from bad to worse. Now live in the Desert.