HUSKY Oil Spill at Maidstone, SK (Background article is below . . . .)
Elaine
= = = = = =
GREEN PARTY OF SASKATCHEWAN
PRESS RELEASE
July 22, 2016
The Green Party of Saskatchewan is alarmed to learn of the oil spill caused by a pipeline leak near Maidstone yesterday ( June 21/16 ). News of these all-too-frequent spills is always troubling. Even more troubling is the City of North Battleford's having to shut down its main water treatment plant because of this.
Thankfully the City has a secondary water treatment facility. Saskatchewan residents have a right to expect a contingency plan and provincial government funding to aid the other communities relying solely on water treatment plants fed from the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers.
We are sure Husky Energy is doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of this noxious discharge of oil into the river. However, the City of North Battleford's reaction points to an incomplete containment of the spill. We are calling on the Sask Party government to ensure that any and all communities, individuals, farmers and ranchers affected by this spill have ready access to resources devoted to minimize the spill's impacts.
Green Party leader Shawn Setyo said " With our aging infrastructure, we must start moving the province into the coming new energy sector. We must make sure we do all we can as a province to ensure events like this are eliminated in the future. For now, we join people all across Saskatchewan in hoping there will never be another oil spill to endanger our drinking water.".”
For further comment
Shawn Setyo can be reached at 306 881 4174
Green Party of Saskatchewan, Leader
= = = = = =
Husky oil spill shuts down water treatment plant in Saskatchewan
[ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/07 ... skatchewan ]
By Elizabeth McSheffrey in News, Energy | July 22nd 2016
Residents of the small western city of North Battleford, Saskatchewan are being asked to cut water consumption as Husky Energy officials race to clean up as much as 250,000 litres of oil spilled from a pipeline.
The municipality shut down its water treatment plant on Friday morning when an oil slick was detected downstream of the city in the North Saskatchewan River. The Husky leak is equivalent to roughly 1,570 barrels of crude oil and other material that flowed into the waterway. Officials don't know yet what caused the disaster.
North Battleford has enough water stored in its reservoirs and tower for three days as it continues to source most of its water from a nearby groundwater well treatment plant. Nevertheless, environmentalists are calling the accident a stark reminder of what Canada is getting itself into if it approves TransCanada Corp's cross-country Energy East pipeline: [ http://www.energyeastpipeline.com/ ]
“This is another dangerous reminder of the threats that pipelines bring with them," said Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace, of the leak.
“I think it should give everybody — especially the prime minister — pause for thought as he’s considering building even bigger pipelines and bringing some of these disasters to communities across the country.”
In the meantime, Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency will continue to take samples as Husky Energy's booms attempt to contain the oil swishing around the North Saskatchewan River, where the city draws its drinking water. The Calgary-based energy company's pipeline, whose age is unknown, runs from its heavy oil operations to its facilities in Lloydminster.
MORE:
[ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/07 ... skatchewan ]
HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
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HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 23, 2016 4:39 pm
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Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 23, 2016 4:50 pm
Saskatchewan Oil Spill: Husky Energy Pipeline Leaks Crude Oil Into Major River
[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/23 ... 42170.html ]
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 07/22/2016 1:32 pm EDT Updated: 4 hours ago
NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - Attempts to stop a pipeline oil spill from flowing down a major river in Saskatchewan failed Friday and new steps were being taken to try to contain the slick.
A government official said booms placed on the North Saskatchewan River by Husky Energy to contain the spill were ineffective because high water levels lifted the oil over the barriers.
The official, who did not want to be named, said Husky Energy (TSX:HSE) and the government were placing booms further downstream and increasing skimming to try to remove oil from the water.
Between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of crude oil and other material leaked into the river on Thursday from a breach in Husky's pipeline near Maidstone, Sask. The company shut down the line and put out the booms about 40 kilometres upstream from North Battleford.
North Battleford saw signs of the spill as early as Friday morning and shut down its water intake plant.
"Husky reported to water security that they ... saw a sheen and so everything gets shut right down," said Stewart Schafer, the city's director of operations.
"How much, how big, I couldn't tell you."
- - - SNIP - - -
Premiers reiterate pipeline support
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said no one wants to see an oil spill occur, but the latest leak doesn't change his support for pipelines.
"The facts remain that if we're not moving by a pipeline, it's going to move ... (by rail). We know that rail is actually more susceptible to spills and spills are often more intense," Wall said from Whitehorse, Yukon, where he was attending a premiers meeting.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who is pushing for a pipeline to get her province's oil to ocean ports so it can get to international markets, echoed Wall's assessment.
"Even with this spill it remains the case that absolutely the safest way to transport oil and gas is by way of pipeline," she said.
"Had a spill occurred on rail there might well be injuries involved. In everything you do there are risks, but I would suggest overall the risks (of pipelines) are low."
[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/23 ... 42170.html ]
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 07/22/2016 1:32 pm EDT Updated: 4 hours ago
NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - Attempts to stop a pipeline oil spill from flowing down a major river in Saskatchewan failed Friday and new steps were being taken to try to contain the slick.
A government official said booms placed on the North Saskatchewan River by Husky Energy to contain the spill were ineffective because high water levels lifted the oil over the barriers.
The official, who did not want to be named, said Husky Energy (TSX:HSE) and the government were placing booms further downstream and increasing skimming to try to remove oil from the water.
Between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of crude oil and other material leaked into the river on Thursday from a breach in Husky's pipeline near Maidstone, Sask. The company shut down the line and put out the booms about 40 kilometres upstream from North Battleford.
North Battleford saw signs of the spill as early as Friday morning and shut down its water intake plant.
"Husky reported to water security that they ... saw a sheen and so everything gets shut right down," said Stewart Schafer, the city's director of operations.
"How much, how big, I couldn't tell you."
- - - SNIP - - -
Premiers reiterate pipeline support
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said no one wants to see an oil spill occur, but the latest leak doesn't change his support for pipelines.
"The facts remain that if we're not moving by a pipeline, it's going to move ... (by rail). We know that rail is actually more susceptible to spills and spills are often more intense," Wall said from Whitehorse, Yukon, where he was attending a premiers meeting.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who is pushing for a pipeline to get her province's oil to ocean ports so it can get to international markets, echoed Wall's assessment.
"Even with this spill it remains the case that absolutely the safest way to transport oil and gas is by way of pipeline," she said.
"Had a spill occurred on rail there might well be injuries involved. In everything you do there are risks, but I would suggest overall the risks (of pipelines) are low."
- Oscar
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Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 23, 2016 5:21 pm
REGINA CHAPTER - COUNCIL OF CANADIANS
PRESS RELEASE Saturday, July 23, 2016
REGINA----”The unwillingness of Premier Wall to deal head on with this substantive spill into the water sources of thousands of Saskatchewan residents is appalling,” said Jim Elliott, Chairperson, Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians. “When his first response to a potential 1600 barrel spill into the North Saskatchewan River is 'he hopes this spill does not make it harder to sell new energy infrastructure' is offensive and unbecoming of a premier of this province.”
“If this province is interested in environmental protection, then we need to have better systems to protect the environment,” continues Mr. Elliott. “This is exactly the type of spill that is going to continue to happen. We need to either be better at protecting ourselves and the environment or we need to leave the oil in the ground. A failed containment of even a small spill cannot happen again.”
The Energy East Pipeline will cross the South Saskatchewan River twice and many other rivers and creeks on its way towards New Brunswick.
For more information, call Jim at 306-551-8500.
- - -
Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s leading social action organization, mobilizing a network of 60 chapters across the country.
Through our campaigns we advocate for clean water, fair trade, green energy, public health care, and a vibrant democracy. We educate and empower people to hold our governments and corporations accountable.
Join us and be part of a global movement working for social and environmental justice. We believe a better Canada and a fairer world are possible. Together, we turn that belief into action.
PRESS RELEASE Saturday, July 23, 2016
REGINA----”The unwillingness of Premier Wall to deal head on with this substantive spill into the water sources of thousands of Saskatchewan residents is appalling,” said Jim Elliott, Chairperson, Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians. “When his first response to a potential 1600 barrel spill into the North Saskatchewan River is 'he hopes this spill does not make it harder to sell new energy infrastructure' is offensive and unbecoming of a premier of this province.”
“If this province is interested in environmental protection, then we need to have better systems to protect the environment,” continues Mr. Elliott. “This is exactly the type of spill that is going to continue to happen. We need to either be better at protecting ourselves and the environment or we need to leave the oil in the ground. A failed containment of even a small spill cannot happen again.”
The Energy East Pipeline will cross the South Saskatchewan River twice and many other rivers and creeks on its way towards New Brunswick.
For more information, call Jim at 306-551-8500.
- - -
Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s leading social action organization, mobilizing a network of 60 chapters across the country.
Through our campaigns we advocate for clean water, fair trade, green energy, public health care, and a vibrant democracy. We educate and empower people to hold our governments and corporations accountable.
Join us and be part of a global movement working for social and environmental justice. We believe a better Canada and a fairer world are possible. Together, we turn that belief into action.
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 23, 2016 9:31 pm
SHIELDS: Is The Total Of Northern Saskatchewan To Be exposed To This Horrid Spill??
From: Stewart Shields
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2016 1:42 PM
To: bill boyd ; letters ; Liberal Canada ; Liberal Correspondence ; Office of the Premier ; Prime ministre ; Stephane - M.P. Dion ; thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
Cc: bill boyd ; Calgary MountainView ; calgary.currie@assembly.ab.ca ; Debbie carlson ; edmonton.goldbar@assembly.ab.ca ; ENV Minister ; goodale ; grande prairie ; innisfail ; JuliaP@parl.gc.ca ; Julie Ali ; Lacombe Ponoka ; lethbridge.east@assembly.ab.ca ; Ministerial Unit ; premier@gov.nl.ca ; sherwood ; slave lake ; Strathmore Brooks ; T Banks
Subject: Is The Total Of Northern Saskatchewan To Be exposed To This Horrid Spill??
Canadians should surely not accept the type of coverage we are receiving about the horrid bitumen spill into the North Saskatchewan River!!
Had Canadians known the facts, the Canadian army should be called in by our Prime Minister Trudeau!!
How many miles of river are to be exposed to this sour raw bitumen??
What other chemicals are contained within the bitumen, and what are these chemicals effect on fish and human life??
It’s totally unbelievable that we are not gaining the help of Federal personnel in this major uncontrolled release into a major river system? Brad Wall a known Petro-Puppet should not be left with the future of this major Western Canadian River system?
What indeed is the progress made with this massive spill, how many of the 1500 bbl. lost have been recovered??
When was the last time a train dropped 1500 bbl. into any major water course!
Is Nipawin and the great fishing on Lake Tobin in any danger from this spill?
Will the spill traverse the total of Northern Saskatchewan, and disperse in larger bodies of water?
Stewart Shields
Lacombe, AB
- - -
Saskatchewan Oil Spill: Husky Energy Pipeline Leaks Crude Oil Into Major River
[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/23 ... 42170.html ]
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 07/22/2016 1:32 pm EDT Updated: 51 minutes ago
From: Stewart Shields
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2016 1:42 PM
To: bill boyd ; letters ; Liberal Canada ; Liberal Correspondence ; Office of the Premier ; Prime ministre ; Stephane - M.P. Dion ; thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
Cc: bill boyd ; Calgary MountainView ; calgary.currie@assembly.ab.ca ; Debbie carlson ; edmonton.goldbar@assembly.ab.ca ; ENV Minister ; goodale ; grande prairie ; innisfail ; JuliaP@parl.gc.ca ; Julie Ali ; Lacombe Ponoka ; lethbridge.east@assembly.ab.ca ; Ministerial Unit ; premier@gov.nl.ca ; sherwood ; slave lake ; Strathmore Brooks ; T Banks
Subject: Is The Total Of Northern Saskatchewan To Be exposed To This Horrid Spill??
Canadians should surely not accept the type of coverage we are receiving about the horrid bitumen spill into the North Saskatchewan River!!
Had Canadians known the facts, the Canadian army should be called in by our Prime Minister Trudeau!!
How many miles of river are to be exposed to this sour raw bitumen??
What other chemicals are contained within the bitumen, and what are these chemicals effect on fish and human life??
It’s totally unbelievable that we are not gaining the help of Federal personnel in this major uncontrolled release into a major river system? Brad Wall a known Petro-Puppet should not be left with the future of this major Western Canadian River system?
What indeed is the progress made with this massive spill, how many of the 1500 bbl. lost have been recovered??
When was the last time a train dropped 1500 bbl. into any major water course!
Is Nipawin and the great fishing on Lake Tobin in any danger from this spill?
Will the spill traverse the total of Northern Saskatchewan, and disperse in larger bodies of water?
Stewart Shields
Lacombe, AB
- - -
Saskatchewan Oil Spill: Husky Energy Pipeline Leaks Crude Oil Into Major River
[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/23 ... 42170.html ]
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 07/22/2016 1:32 pm EDT Updated: 51 minutes ago
- Oscar
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Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:33 am
No More Pipelines - Major Oil Spill Forces Closure of Drinking Water Intakes for Multiple Saskatchewan Municipalities
[ http://canadians.org/blog/no-more-pipel ... skatchewan ]
July 24, 2016 - 5:45pm
PHOTO: Enbridge’s ruptured Line 6 in Kalamazoo, MI, that spilled 3.3 million litres of diluted bitumen in the Kalamazoo river in 2010. Four years later, Enbridge was still cleaning up bitumen and had already spent well over $1 billion.
On Thursday July 21st, a Husky Energy owned pipeline spilled between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluents in the North Saskatchewan River near Lloydminster and Maidstone, Saskatchewan. An official from the petroleum and natural gas branch of the province’s economy ministry said that the pipeline was built in 1997 [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e31090867/ ] and was carrying heavy oil from Husky’s Heavy Oil operations in the region to it’s terminal and upgrader in Lloydminster. The faulty pipeline was located on Husky’s Saskatchewan Gathering System.
Following a third party observation of an oil sheen on the North Saskatchewan River on Thursday Husky Energy deployed emergency response teams and set up booms to attempt to stop the spill from progressing downstream. By late Friday evening a government official announced that the attempt to contain the spill with booms had failed and that the oil was sailing through North Battleford, a city of 14,000. [ http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/booms-not- ... -1.2998104 ] You can see pictures of the oil flowing down the river here: [ http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/sask ... ergy.shtml ]
North Battleford had prepared for this eventuality and shut down it’s drinking water intake and put in place emergency measures including limiting some of the town’s water uses and preparing to use alternate groundwater source. The city announced it would maintain these emergency measures at least until Monday July 25th. [ http://www.cityofnb.ca/mrws/filedriver/ ... UPDATE.pdf ]
Further downstream, the city of Prince Albert and other municipalities near the intersection of the North and South Saskatchewan rivers [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e31090867/ ], including Melfort, who also draw their water from the contaminated river, have prepared plans to shut down their intake before the oil reaches them. On Friday, the city of Prince Albert urged residents to stockpile water before the shutdown occurs.
An official from the government of Saskatchewan environment department indicated that the clean-up and attempts to control the spill is still unpredictable at this time given recent rainfall and debris in the water that the oil could attach to.
As of Saturday Lend A Paw Animal Rescue located near Maidstone/Battleford Saskatchewan had posted a few pictures on Facebook [ https://www.facebook.com/lendapawanimal ... =3&theater ] of efforts to aid oil drenched birds and requesting help from the community to assist oil-soaked wildlife.
On Saturday July 23rd, Jim Elliott, Chairperson of the Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians, said that “the unwillingness of Premier Wall to deal head on with this substantive spill into the water sources of thousands of Saskatchewan residents is appalling. When his first response to a potential 1600 barrel spill into the North Saskatchewan River is 'he hopes this spill does not make it harder to sell new energy infrastructure', it is offensive and unbecoming of a premier of this province.”
Not if, but when – the inevitable and permanent consequences of transporting oil
This recent oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River comes at uncomfortable time and location for the oil industry and Provincial premiers Notley and Wall. But there are some that are made even more uncomfortable: local wildlife, residents and First Nation Communities that use the river for drinking, leisure or their livelihoods.
This terrible incident hammers home what the Council of Canadians has been saying for a long time: pipelines will spill and pipelines will cause damage. While we are still figuring out how to contain this newest spill, the impacts are already being felt and will continue to felt for a long time to come. Once again, the spill was detected by a third party after it was too late instead of by the so-called “world class detection system” that pipeline transporters refer to.
When thinking about the future we want, let us remember that the proposed Energy East pipeline crosses 90 watersheds, nearly 3000 waterways and puts the drinking water of over 5 million people at risk along it’s route.
For more information on the risks associated with Energy East to our drinking water and our waterways, please read: Energy East: Where oil meets water and Energy East: A risk to our drinking water [ http://canadians.org/energyeast-waterways ] or [ http://canadians.org/sites/default/file ... s-0814.pdf ]
Tags: Energy East, oil and gas, climate
Daniel Cayley-Daoust's blog
Energy and Climate Campaigner for the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/daniel-cayley-daoust ]
= = = = =
Pipeline oil leak detected 14 hours before Saskatchewan government notified
[ http://www.660news.com/2016/07/26/pipel ... -notified/ ]
by Canadian Press July 26, 2016 1:36 pm MDT
MELFORT, Sask. – It appears Husky Energy knew something was amiss with one of its oil pipelines about 14 hours before the Saskatchewan government was notified.
An incident report says Husky discovered a pipeline leak on the south shore of the North Saskatchewan River around 8 p.m. last Wednesday.
The provincial government was notified of the spill near Maidstone around 10:30 a.m. the next day.
Husky vice-president Al Pate says pipeline monitoring detected some irregularities Wednesday evening and crews were on site the next morning.
He says there will be an investigation into why it took so long, but the focus now is on cleanup.
Pate says the company is confident in its estimate that 200,000 to 250,000 litres spilled.
[ http://canadians.org/blog/no-more-pipel ... skatchewan ]
July 24, 2016 - 5:45pm
PHOTO: Enbridge’s ruptured Line 6 in Kalamazoo, MI, that spilled 3.3 million litres of diluted bitumen in the Kalamazoo river in 2010. Four years later, Enbridge was still cleaning up bitumen and had already spent well over $1 billion.
On Thursday July 21st, a Husky Energy owned pipeline spilled between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluents in the North Saskatchewan River near Lloydminster and Maidstone, Saskatchewan. An official from the petroleum and natural gas branch of the province’s economy ministry said that the pipeline was built in 1997 [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e31090867/ ] and was carrying heavy oil from Husky’s Heavy Oil operations in the region to it’s terminal and upgrader in Lloydminster. The faulty pipeline was located on Husky’s Saskatchewan Gathering System.
Following a third party observation of an oil sheen on the North Saskatchewan River on Thursday Husky Energy deployed emergency response teams and set up booms to attempt to stop the spill from progressing downstream. By late Friday evening a government official announced that the attempt to contain the spill with booms had failed and that the oil was sailing through North Battleford, a city of 14,000. [ http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/booms-not- ... -1.2998104 ] You can see pictures of the oil flowing down the river here: [ http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/sask ... ergy.shtml ]
North Battleford had prepared for this eventuality and shut down it’s drinking water intake and put in place emergency measures including limiting some of the town’s water uses and preparing to use alternate groundwater source. The city announced it would maintain these emergency measures at least until Monday July 25th. [ http://www.cityofnb.ca/mrws/filedriver/ ... UPDATE.pdf ]
Further downstream, the city of Prince Albert and other municipalities near the intersection of the North and South Saskatchewan rivers [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e31090867/ ], including Melfort, who also draw their water from the contaminated river, have prepared plans to shut down their intake before the oil reaches them. On Friday, the city of Prince Albert urged residents to stockpile water before the shutdown occurs.
An official from the government of Saskatchewan environment department indicated that the clean-up and attempts to control the spill is still unpredictable at this time given recent rainfall and debris in the water that the oil could attach to.
As of Saturday Lend A Paw Animal Rescue located near Maidstone/Battleford Saskatchewan had posted a few pictures on Facebook [ https://www.facebook.com/lendapawanimal ... =3&theater ] of efforts to aid oil drenched birds and requesting help from the community to assist oil-soaked wildlife.
On Saturday July 23rd, Jim Elliott, Chairperson of the Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians, said that “the unwillingness of Premier Wall to deal head on with this substantive spill into the water sources of thousands of Saskatchewan residents is appalling. When his first response to a potential 1600 barrel spill into the North Saskatchewan River is 'he hopes this spill does not make it harder to sell new energy infrastructure', it is offensive and unbecoming of a premier of this province.”
Not if, but when – the inevitable and permanent consequences of transporting oil
This recent oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River comes at uncomfortable time and location for the oil industry and Provincial premiers Notley and Wall. But there are some that are made even more uncomfortable: local wildlife, residents and First Nation Communities that use the river for drinking, leisure or their livelihoods.
This terrible incident hammers home what the Council of Canadians has been saying for a long time: pipelines will spill and pipelines will cause damage. While we are still figuring out how to contain this newest spill, the impacts are already being felt and will continue to felt for a long time to come. Once again, the spill was detected by a third party after it was too late instead of by the so-called “world class detection system” that pipeline transporters refer to.
When thinking about the future we want, let us remember that the proposed Energy East pipeline crosses 90 watersheds, nearly 3000 waterways and puts the drinking water of over 5 million people at risk along it’s route.
For more information on the risks associated with Energy East to our drinking water and our waterways, please read: Energy East: Where oil meets water and Energy East: A risk to our drinking water [ http://canadians.org/energyeast-waterways ] or [ http://canadians.org/sites/default/file ... s-0814.pdf ]
Tags: Energy East, oil and gas, climate
Daniel Cayley-Daoust's blog
Energy and Climate Campaigner for the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/daniel-cayley-daoust ]
= = = = =
Pipeline oil leak detected 14 hours before Saskatchewan government notified
[ http://www.660news.com/2016/07/26/pipel ... -notified/ ]
by Canadian Press July 26, 2016 1:36 pm MDT
MELFORT, Sask. – It appears Husky Energy knew something was amiss with one of its oil pipelines about 14 hours before the Saskatchewan government was notified.
An incident report says Husky discovered a pipeline leak on the south shore of the North Saskatchewan River around 8 p.m. last Wednesday.
The provincial government was notified of the spill near Maidstone around 10:30 a.m. the next day.
Husky vice-president Al Pate says pipeline monitoring detected some irregularities Wednesday evening and crews were on site the next morning.
He says there will be an investigation into why it took so long, but the focus now is on cleanup.
Pate says the company is confident in its estimate that 200,000 to 250,000 litres spilled.
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:49 am
Sask. oil spill doesn’t pose immediate threat to Manitoba waterways: province
[ http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/sask-oil-spi ... -1.3003372 ]
Published Tuesday, July 26, 2016 2:43PM CST
The Manitoba government says an oil spill in the Saskatchewan River is not posing an immediate threat to local waterways.
Still, Manitoba Sustainable Development is in discussions with town officials in The Pas, which uses the Saskatchewan River for drinking water.
The province says oil is expected to be contained in time to protect Manitoba waters, however the slow travel of the oil slick through eastern areas of the Saskatchewan River will give crews enough time to implement emergency plans if any cleanup is needed.
It was initially reported that the leak occurred on Thursday morning. But an incident report filed with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of the Economy says a “pipeline release” was discovered on the south shore of the North Saskatchewan River at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Close to 250,000 litres of oil leaked into the river near Maidstone, about 56 kilometres east of Lloydminster.
MORE:
[ http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/sask-oil-spi ... -1.3003372 ]
[ http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/sask-oil-spi ... -1.3003372 ]
Published Tuesday, July 26, 2016 2:43PM CST
The Manitoba government says an oil spill in the Saskatchewan River is not posing an immediate threat to local waterways.
Still, Manitoba Sustainable Development is in discussions with town officials in The Pas, which uses the Saskatchewan River for drinking water.
The province says oil is expected to be contained in time to protect Manitoba waters, however the slow travel of the oil slick through eastern areas of the Saskatchewan River will give crews enough time to implement emergency plans if any cleanup is needed.
It was initially reported that the leak occurred on Thursday morning. But an incident report filed with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of the Economy says a “pipeline release” was discovered on the south shore of the North Saskatchewan River at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Close to 250,000 litres of oil leaked into the river near Maidstone, about 56 kilometres east of Lloydminster.
MORE:
[ http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/sask-oil-spi ... -1.3003372 ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:23 pm
Prince Albert updates on Husky oil spill situation
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697469 ]
Greg Dionne expects the cleanup will be bigger and longer than predicted
CBC News Posted: Jul 27, 2016 3:04 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 27, 2016 3:31 PM CT
An oil slick is passing through the City of Prince Albert via the North Saskatchewan River, prompting the city to shut off the intake to water treatment plant from the river.
The City of Prince Albert is providing an update on the Husky oil spill situation Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CST, and CBC News will be broadcasting the news conference live.
On Tuesday, Mayor Greg Dionne said he expects the cleanup will be bigger and longer than predicted.
Strict water restrictions have been enforced in Prince Albert.
The city, which is under a state of emergency, stopped drawing water from the North Saskatchewan River on Sunday as the oil slick from the Husky Energy pipeline spill approached the city.
It is in the process of building a 30-kilometre waterline from the South Saskatchewan River to feed clean water to its treatment plant.
Dionne said Tuesday night his community needs to look for a permanent, long-term solution to protect the city's water supply from future spills.
- - -
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[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693011 ]
Sask. oil spill breaches containment boom, putting city on alert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692786 ]
City of Prince Albert to seek compensation for Husky oil leak response - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3692539 ]
Expect oil along shores of North Saskatchewan River, says spill expert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692211 ]
'Stockpile' water now: Prince Albert may close treatment plant over oil spill - July 22, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692075 ]
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697469 ]
Greg Dionne expects the cleanup will be bigger and longer than predicted
CBC News Posted: Jul 27, 2016 3:04 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 27, 2016 3:31 PM CT
An oil slick is passing through the City of Prince Albert via the North Saskatchewan River, prompting the city to shut off the intake to water treatment plant from the river.
The City of Prince Albert is providing an update on the Husky oil spill situation Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CST, and CBC News will be broadcasting the news conference live.
On Tuesday, Mayor Greg Dionne said he expects the cleanup will be bigger and longer than predicted.
Strict water restrictions have been enforced in Prince Albert.
The city, which is under a state of emergency, stopped drawing water from the North Saskatchewan River on Sunday as the oil slick from the Husky Energy pipeline spill approached the city.
It is in the process of building a 30-kilometre waterline from the South Saskatchewan River to feed clean water to its treatment plant.
Dionne said Tuesday night his community needs to look for a permanent, long-term solution to protect the city's water supply from future spills.
- - -
Related Stories
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall calls Husky oil spill 'terrible situation' - July 27, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
Husky oil cleanup will be bigger, longer than predicted, says Prince Albert mayor - July 27, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697469 ]
Province notified 14 hours after Husky discovered oil spill, incident report shows - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Water restrictions continue in Prince Albert, Sask., after Husky Energy oil spill - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Husky knew about Sask. oil spill 14 hours before pipeline was shut down - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3696008 ]
Precautionary water advisory for Melfort, Sask. region to be activated Tuesday - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694633 ]
Prince Albert, Sask., declares state of emergency over oil spill - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693396 ]
FSIN demands seat in oil spill command centre - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694002 ]
Prince Albert stretching a 30 km waterline to bring cleaner water into the city - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693313 ]
Oil-drenched birds treated near site of Husky pipeline leak in Saskatchewan - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693011 ]
Sask. oil spill breaches containment boom, putting city on alert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692786 ]
City of Prince Albert to seek compensation for Husky oil leak response - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3692539 ]
Expect oil along shores of North Saskatchewan River, says spill expert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692211 ]
'Stockpile' water now: Prince Albert may close treatment plant over oil spill - July 22, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692075 ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:33 pm
Oil spills happening at a rate of about 2 per day in Saskatchewan: researcher
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
Researcher Emily Eaton told CBC Radio there are 100,000 kilometres of oil pipeline in Saskatchewan. (Reuters)
July 27, 2016
A researcher says oil spills are happening at a rate of about two per day in Saskatchewan.
University of Regina researcher Emily Eaton runs an independent website that tracks oil impact. Eaton said that there have been 8,000 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006 (about 17 per cent involved Husky Energy).
Smaller pipelines, she said, are the provincial government's responsibility.
"The province should and could do a lot more," said Eaton.
Eaton said the province does not have enough inspectors.
The reason most of the spills do not get the sort of attention this latest Husky Energy spill into the North Saskatchewan River is receiving, according to Eaton, is that they happen in the oil patch.
"A lot of these spills are smaller than this current one, the Husky one…they often spill into farmer's fields in rural oil producing areas," she said.
"Many spills like this are happening everyday across the province without any awareness from the public."
While Eaton questions whether an oil spill can ever effectively be cleaned up, in the case of many of the spills in this province, industry fails to even go through the motions. Eaton said she has spoken to a number of landowners about their experience with spills.
"A lot of them are very frustrated; some of them have been waiting for remediation and cleanup for decades sometimes."
Eaton is not alone is casting a critical eye on oil spills.
Rapid cleanup key to recovery, says environmentalist
Peter Prebble with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society is focused squarely on this latest Husky Energy spill.
Prebble shudders at the idea of oil contaminating such a vital waterway.
"This mixture is acutely toxic," he said.
"This can negatively impact wildlife. It can lead to reproductive failure, developmental deformities, behavioural impairment, immune function.
"I doubt very much that we are really getting the true picture of how wildlife is being impacted all along the North Saskatchewan River."
Prebble is frustrated with the lack of public information about the spill coming from both Husky Energy and the provincial government, and hopes both are taking the clean up seriously.
"It's critical that it be removed from the surface as quickly as possible because it will tend to sink."
Prebble believes that clean up must extend to hundreds of kilometres of shore line along the North Saskatchewan River, and is optimistic that if it is done correctly, the river can recover within a few years.
RELATED:
Province notified 14 hours after Husky discovered oil spill, incident report shows - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Water restrictions continue in Prince Albert, Sask., after Husky Energy oil spill - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Husky knew about Sask. oil spill 14 hours before pipeline was shut down - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3696008 ]
Precautionary water advisory for Melfort, Sask. region to be activated Tuesday - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694633 ]
Prince Albert, Sask., declares state of emergency over oil spill - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693396 ]
FSIN demands seat in oil spill command centre - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694002 ]
Prince Albert stretching a 30 km waterline to bring cleaner water into the city - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693313 ]
Oil-drenched birds treated near site of Husky pipeline leak in Saskatchewan - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693011 ]
Sask. oil spill breaches containment boom, putting city on alert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692786 ]
City of Prince Albert to seek compensation for Husky oil leak response - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3692539 ]
Expect oil along shores of North Saskatchewan River, says spill expert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692211 ]
'Stockpile' water now: Prince Albert may close treatment plant over oil spill - July 22, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692075 ]
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
Researcher Emily Eaton told CBC Radio there are 100,000 kilometres of oil pipeline in Saskatchewan. (Reuters)
July 27, 2016
A researcher says oil spills are happening at a rate of about two per day in Saskatchewan.
University of Regina researcher Emily Eaton runs an independent website that tracks oil impact. Eaton said that there have been 8,000 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006 (about 17 per cent involved Husky Energy).
Smaller pipelines, she said, are the provincial government's responsibility.
"The province should and could do a lot more," said Eaton.
Eaton said the province does not have enough inspectors.
The reason most of the spills do not get the sort of attention this latest Husky Energy spill into the North Saskatchewan River is receiving, according to Eaton, is that they happen in the oil patch.
"A lot of these spills are smaller than this current one, the Husky one…they often spill into farmer's fields in rural oil producing areas," she said.
"Many spills like this are happening everyday across the province without any awareness from the public."
While Eaton questions whether an oil spill can ever effectively be cleaned up, in the case of many of the spills in this province, industry fails to even go through the motions. Eaton said she has spoken to a number of landowners about their experience with spills.
"A lot of them are very frustrated; some of them have been waiting for remediation and cleanup for decades sometimes."
Eaton is not alone is casting a critical eye on oil spills.
Rapid cleanup key to recovery, says environmentalist
Peter Prebble with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society is focused squarely on this latest Husky Energy spill.
Prebble shudders at the idea of oil contaminating such a vital waterway.
"This mixture is acutely toxic," he said.
"This can negatively impact wildlife. It can lead to reproductive failure, developmental deformities, behavioural impairment, immune function.
"I doubt very much that we are really getting the true picture of how wildlife is being impacted all along the North Saskatchewan River."
Prebble is frustrated with the lack of public information about the spill coming from both Husky Energy and the provincial government, and hopes both are taking the clean up seriously.
"It's critical that it be removed from the surface as quickly as possible because it will tend to sink."
Prebble believes that clean up must extend to hundreds of kilometres of shore line along the North Saskatchewan River, and is optimistic that if it is done correctly, the river can recover within a few years.
RELATED:
Province notified 14 hours after Husky discovered oil spill, incident report shows - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Water restrictions continue in Prince Albert, Sask., after Husky Energy oil spill - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694975 ]
Husky knew about Sask. oil spill 14 hours before pipeline was shut down - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3696008 ]
Precautionary water advisory for Melfort, Sask. region to be activated Tuesday - July 26, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694633 ]
Prince Albert, Sask., declares state of emergency over oil spill - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693396 ]
FSIN demands seat in oil spill command centre - July 25, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3694002 ]
Prince Albert stretching a 30 km waterline to bring cleaner water into the city - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693313 ]
Oil-drenched birds treated near site of Husky pipeline leak in Saskatchewan - July 24, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3693011 ]
Sask. oil spill breaches containment boom, putting city on alert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692786 ]
City of Prince Albert to seek compensation for Husky oil leak response - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3692539 ]
Expect oil along shores of North Saskatchewan River, says spill expert - July 23, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692211 ]
'Stockpile' water now: Prince Albert may close treatment plant over oil spill - July 22, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3692075 ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Wed Jul 27, 2016 5:02 pm
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall calls Husky oil spill 'terrible situation'
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
Premier says oil company will bear costs of cleanup after 250,000-litre spill
CBC News Posted: Jul 27, 2016 9:56 AM CT| Last Updated: Jul 27, 2016 2:45 PM CT
Premier Brad Wall said his No. 1 priority is the emergency response to the oil spill and ensuring people have enough drinking water.
The pipeline leak that spilled 250,000 litres of oil and solvent into the North Saskatchewan River, imperilling the drinking water of a number of communities, "is a terrible situation," Premier Brad Wall said in addressing the media in Regina for the first time since the incident.
Wall said his top priority is the emergency response and ensuring people have access to drinking water following the spill a week ago involving Husky Energy.
"This is not an optimal situation — it's a terrible situation," Wall said Wednesday morning at the Legislative Building.
Wall said that on Thursday he plans to visit areas affected by the spill. He added he's concerned about the environmental impact of the spill, which sent a plume of oil and chemicals down the river toward Prince Albert and other communities.
"You bet we'll need to get a handle on what the ecological impact is on that river."
What the government wants to see is the "complete restoration and rehabilitation" of the habitat and ecology of the river, he said.
Husky Energy has said it will pay the financial costs of the spill, and the province accepts that, he said.
Don't just quote me about pipelines, Wall tells media
The spill near Maidstone put a quarter of a million litres of oil and solvent into the river on July 20 and 21. It has thrown a number of communities into crisis mode, threatening water supplies.
Wall spoke to the media about the spill while he was at a premiers conference in Whitehorse last week, but Wednesday marked the first time he spoke at length about it at home.
In recent years, Wall has emerged as an outspoken proponent of oil and gas pipelines in Canada, saying they generate jobs and are safe.
However, he told reporters Wednesday he's reluctant to deal with that topic right now, out of concern the media will emphasize only that aspect of his remarks.
No 'egregious error' in Husky response, Wall says
- - - SNIP - - -
NDP criticizes Wall, cabinet for delay in responding
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan interim NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon harshly criticized Wall and his cabinet ministers Wednesday for the way they handled the crisis, particularly in the early hours.
"We have to remember, this is a premier who races his way to a microphone if a KFC buffet is possibly put at risk, and he sits silent when we have a provincial disaster of an oil spill of this magnitude for days upon days as communities are impacted and our environment is being contaminated," Wotherspoon said.
"It is totally unacceptable."
Furthermore, he said, "it's "more than troubling" that people in Prince Albert and other communities learned about the contamination of their water through the media or Facebook, rather than from their provincial government.
= = = =
Oil spills happening at a rate of about 2 per day in Saskatchewan: researcher
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
Researcher Emily Eaton told CBC Radio there are 100,000 kilometres of oil pipeline in Saskatchewan. (Reuters)
A researcher says oil spills are happening at a rate of about two per day in Saskatchewan.
University of Regina researcher Emily Eaton runs an independent website that tracks oil impact. Eaton said that there have been 8,000 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006 (about 17 per cent involved Husky Energy).
Smaller pipelines, she said, are the provincial government's responsibility.
"The province should and could do a lot more," said Eaton.
Eaton said the province does not have enough inspectors.
The reason most of the spills do not get the sort of attention this latest Husky Energy spill into the North Saskatchewan River is receiving, according to Eaton, is that they happen in the oil patch.
"A lot of these spills are smaller than this current one, the Husky one…they often spill into farmer's fields in rural oil producing areas," she said.
"Many spills like this are happening everyday across the province without any awareness from the public."
While Eaton questions whether an oil spill can ever effectively be cleaned up, in the case of many of the spills in this province, industry fails to even go through the motions. Eaton said she has spoken to a number of landowners about their experience with spills.
"A lot of them are very frustrated; some of them have been waiting for remediation and cleanup for decades sometimes."
Eaton is not alone is casting a critical eye on oil spills.
Rapid cleanup key to recovery, says environmentalist
MORE:
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
= = = = = =
Nipawin water supply safe, concerns over fishery
[ http://www.nipawinjournal.com/2016/07/2 ... er-fishery ]
Nipawin's water source is underground, not from the Saskatchewan River but the Town has expressed concern over the fishery.
July 27, 2016
EXCERPT:
Altogether, Husky Oil, the company that owns the pipeline that leaked the 200,000 litres of oil and chemical into the river, has placed four booms on the river, two at the City of North Battleford, another 50 kilometres downstream, one near the Payton ferry crossing and the fourth at the Prince Albert water intake.
Prince Albert has stopped taking water from the North Saskatchewan and will be piping from the South Saskatchewan River for at least the rest of the week.
The City of Melfort enacted a boil water advisory on July 26 as a precaution.
SaskWater is planning to close the intake at Codette Lake, which feeds Melfort's water supply and switch to a non-affected source.
Any oil that does hit the Codette Lake will not be travelling at the same speed it would be on the river currents.
"Once it reaches Codette Lake, it will slow down," said Mayor Trann. That is, if the spill is not contained before then.
The Town will be monitoring the situation and has asked for updates from SaskWater, which is about all it can do right now, said Trann.
The North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan Rivers join to form the Saskatchewan River north of Prince Albert and southwest of Nipawin.
Normally, by the beginning of August, the water speed where the rivers join has a mean discharge of 245 cubic metres per second (8,700 cu ft/s)
From Nipawin, the river flows to Tobin Lake, which bills itself as having world class fishing for walleye and pike.
Several fishing tournaments are planned in the upcoming weeks on the river and at Tobin Lake, including the Premier's Walleye Cup, which starts August 4.
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
Premier says oil company will bear costs of cleanup after 250,000-litre spill
CBC News Posted: Jul 27, 2016 9:56 AM CT| Last Updated: Jul 27, 2016 2:45 PM CT
Premier Brad Wall said his No. 1 priority is the emergency response to the oil spill and ensuring people have enough drinking water.
The pipeline leak that spilled 250,000 litres of oil and solvent into the North Saskatchewan River, imperilling the drinking water of a number of communities, "is a terrible situation," Premier Brad Wall said in addressing the media in Regina for the first time since the incident.
Wall said his top priority is the emergency response and ensuring people have access to drinking water following the spill a week ago involving Husky Energy.
"This is not an optimal situation — it's a terrible situation," Wall said Wednesday morning at the Legislative Building.
Wall said that on Thursday he plans to visit areas affected by the spill. He added he's concerned about the environmental impact of the spill, which sent a plume of oil and chemicals down the river toward Prince Albert and other communities.
"You bet we'll need to get a handle on what the ecological impact is on that river."
What the government wants to see is the "complete restoration and rehabilitation" of the habitat and ecology of the river, he said.
Husky Energy has said it will pay the financial costs of the spill, and the province accepts that, he said.
Don't just quote me about pipelines, Wall tells media
The spill near Maidstone put a quarter of a million litres of oil and solvent into the river on July 20 and 21. It has thrown a number of communities into crisis mode, threatening water supplies.
Wall spoke to the media about the spill while he was at a premiers conference in Whitehorse last week, but Wednesday marked the first time he spoke at length about it at home.
In recent years, Wall has emerged as an outspoken proponent of oil and gas pipelines in Canada, saying they generate jobs and are safe.
However, he told reporters Wednesday he's reluctant to deal with that topic right now, out of concern the media will emphasize only that aspect of his remarks.
No 'egregious error' in Husky response, Wall says
- - - SNIP - - -
NDP criticizes Wall, cabinet for delay in responding
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan interim NDP Leader Trent Wotherspoon harshly criticized Wall and his cabinet ministers Wednesday for the way they handled the crisis, particularly in the early hours.
"We have to remember, this is a premier who races his way to a microphone if a KFC buffet is possibly put at risk, and he sits silent when we have a provincial disaster of an oil spill of this magnitude for days upon days as communities are impacted and our environment is being contaminated," Wotherspoon said.
"It is totally unacceptable."
Furthermore, he said, "it's "more than troubling" that people in Prince Albert and other communities learned about the contamination of their water through the media or Facebook, rather than from their provincial government.
= = = =
Oil spills happening at a rate of about 2 per day in Saskatchewan: researcher
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
Researcher Emily Eaton told CBC Radio there are 100,000 kilometres of oil pipeline in Saskatchewan. (Reuters)
A researcher says oil spills are happening at a rate of about two per day in Saskatchewan.
University of Regina researcher Emily Eaton runs an independent website that tracks oil impact. Eaton said that there have been 8,000 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006 (about 17 per cent involved Husky Energy).
Smaller pipelines, she said, are the provincial government's responsibility.
"The province should and could do a lot more," said Eaton.
Eaton said the province does not have enough inspectors.
The reason most of the spills do not get the sort of attention this latest Husky Energy spill into the North Saskatchewan River is receiving, according to Eaton, is that they happen in the oil patch.
"A lot of these spills are smaller than this current one, the Husky one…they often spill into farmer's fields in rural oil producing areas," she said.
"Many spills like this are happening everyday across the province without any awareness from the public."
While Eaton questions whether an oil spill can ever effectively be cleaned up, in the case of many of the spills in this province, industry fails to even go through the motions. Eaton said she has spoken to a number of landowners about their experience with spills.
"A lot of them are very frustrated; some of them have been waiting for remediation and cleanup for decades sometimes."
Eaton is not alone is casting a critical eye on oil spills.
Rapid cleanup key to recovery, says environmentalist
MORE:
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3696261 ]
= = = = = =
Nipawin water supply safe, concerns over fishery
[ http://www.nipawinjournal.com/2016/07/2 ... er-fishery ]
Nipawin's water source is underground, not from the Saskatchewan River but the Town has expressed concern over the fishery.
July 27, 2016
EXCERPT:
Altogether, Husky Oil, the company that owns the pipeline that leaked the 200,000 litres of oil and chemical into the river, has placed four booms on the river, two at the City of North Battleford, another 50 kilometres downstream, one near the Payton ferry crossing and the fourth at the Prince Albert water intake.
Prince Albert has stopped taking water from the North Saskatchewan and will be piping from the South Saskatchewan River for at least the rest of the week.
The City of Melfort enacted a boil water advisory on July 26 as a precaution.
SaskWater is planning to close the intake at Codette Lake, which feeds Melfort's water supply and switch to a non-affected source.
Any oil that does hit the Codette Lake will not be travelling at the same speed it would be on the river currents.
"Once it reaches Codette Lake, it will slow down," said Mayor Trann. That is, if the spill is not contained before then.
The Town will be monitoring the situation and has asked for updates from SaskWater, which is about all it can do right now, said Trann.
The North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan Rivers join to form the Saskatchewan River north of Prince Albert and southwest of Nipawin.
Normally, by the beginning of August, the water speed where the rivers join has a mean discharge of 245 cubic metres per second (8,700 cu ft/s)
From Nipawin, the river flows to Tobin Lake, which bills itself as having world class fishing for walleye and pike.
Several fishing tournaments are planned in the upcoming weeks on the river and at Tobin Lake, including the Premier's Walleye Cup, which starts August 4.
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Fri Jul 29, 2016 11:36 am
PUTTING WATER FIRST: Protecting Saskatchewan's Waterways Must Become Top Government Priority
PRESS RELEASE: July 29, 2016
QU'APPELLE VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION (QVEA) STATEMENT ON HUSKY OIL CONTAMINATION OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER
The contamination of the North Saskatchewan River from 250,000 litres of heavy oil and chemicals from the rupture of Husky Oil's pipeline near Maidstone clearly shows that Saskatchewan's waterways are at risk from unfettered energy industry expansion. 80,000 people have lost their primary source of domestic water. Residents have lost their access to this rich recreational river-way. Treaty rights to access the lush river ecosystem have been breached. Biota, wildlife and environmental health will all suffer along this mighty, meandering river.
MITIGATION FAILED
Attempts at mitigation have proven to be seriously flawed. Warnings about the leak started on the evening of Wednesday July 20th, not the next morning, as first reported by the company. What was the company doing during this unaccounted 14-hour period?
The berms failed to prevent the oil from entering the North Saskatchewan River. Then the river booms failed to stop most of the oil from going downstream, where it is threatening the drinking water of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort. This contamination has gone from one side of the province to the other.
Prince Albert was forced to declare a state of emergency and passed an emergency bylaw to compel water conservation; rural residents were completely cut off from their water supply. Muskoday First Nations 15 KM south of Prince Albert has already declared an emergency over water supply. The 30 KM pipeline from the South Saskatchewan River to Prince Albert's water treatment plant will only be a temporary and yet very costly solution. It is only about 100 days to freeze up.
Saskatchewan only has a few major waterways, on which most of the population depends. It is obvious from this unfolding crisis that there is too much at risk having oil pipelines near our waterways. Why was this pipeline allowed to be built so close to the North Saskatchewan River? And how many other pipelines exist along our vulnerable waterways?
It is now reported that the leak came from only 300 metres from the riverbank; many riverside municipal lagoons must be built further back than this.
RENEWABLE ENERGY REQUIRED
Only interprovincial pipelines are federally regulated, the rest are provincial responsibility. There are multiple overland pipelines in Saskatchewan already doing serious damage to the land. Over 8,000 industrial spills have occurred in Saskatchewan since 2006 and 17% of these were by Husky Oil, the largest oil producer in the province. Most simply go unreported in the media.
Even without Husky's contamination of the North Saskatchewan River, the ongoing, mostly under-regulated spills, demonstrate the need to fully embrace a non-toxic energy system. A move to solar and wind generated electricity will reduce threats to our waterways and to our water quality. But until we can make this full conversion away from fossil fuels, why is a heavy oil pipeline even allowed to be built where it can threaten a major waterway?
PREMIER WALL ON PIPELINES
Premier Wall's statement that pipelines are "the safest way" to transport oil was completely misplaced. It doesn't matter whether one of our waterways is contaminated from a pipeline break or from a rail accident; our waterways and population need to be protected from both. It is not a good sign that for almost a week Premier Wall stayed quiet about the contamination of the North Saskatchewan River. This is one of Saskatchewan's worst environmental disasters.
OVERSIGHT BODIES, NOT CUTS
The North Saskatchewan River is not the only Saskatchewan waterway at great risk. The Qu'Appelle Watershed has endured ongoing releases of Regina's untreated sewage and toxic agricultural run-off, and plans are now in the works to divert millions of cubic metres of surface water into upstream potash solution mines. This water will be permanently taken out of the hydrological cycle to the detriment of the long-term health of the watershed and future generations.
We must NOW "put water first".
Saskatchewan has very few waterways and all need stringent protection. Yet in the recent budget there was a $2.7 million dollar cut to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Branch which is supposed to enforce the regulation of the oil industry. Meanwhile the province still can't confirm when Husky's ruptured pipeline was last inspected or whether Husky even had the required Emergency Plan in place.
Also, the province is now cutting funds to Saskatoon's Meewasin Valley Authority, which maintains trails and habitat along the South Saskatchewan River. Rather than such cuts, the government should be rigorously investing in watershed protection, restoration and oversight. Many of the recommendations to protect the Qu'Appelle Valley watershed, made in the 1970s by the Qu'Appelle Implementation Board Study, still apply. They are even more urgent now, yet we still see no positive provincial action at all.
And there are no longer any such oversight agencies to ensure that the lakes, wetlands, landscape, habitats and water quality in any of Saskatchewan's watersheds are being protected and restored. This must change.
PUTTING WATER FIRST
Our watersheds and water quality must be protected from further industrial abuse. Industrial self-regulation and reactive municipal actions will not and cannot accomplish this. It is time for the province to fundamentally rethink its policies to make watershed protection and restoration a top priority.
Let Husky Oil's contamination of the North Saskatchewan River be our wake-up call so that such environmental abuse is not allowed to become normalized. Clean water is already scarce on the prairies and with climate change it will become even scarcer. We must now "put water first".
THE QVEA The Qu'Appelle Valley Environmental Association (QVEA) was formed in early 2016 to protect and restore the Qu'Appelle watershed and landscape. During the April provincial election it sponsored the first ever all-candidates forum focusing on the environment. It has worked with opposition parties and area residents to raise awareness about the dangers from the proposed Chinese Yancoal potash solution mine upstream from the Qu'Appelle Valley. It is the watchdog on local governments in the valley when they do not follow environment protection regulations. It is committed to work with other independent organizations protecting Saskatchewan watersheds.
For more info contact:
Jim Harding 306-332-4492 or Randy Lebell 306-331-6231
PRESS RELEASE: July 29, 2016
QU'APPELLE VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION (QVEA) STATEMENT ON HUSKY OIL CONTAMINATION OF NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER
The contamination of the North Saskatchewan River from 250,000 litres of heavy oil and chemicals from the rupture of Husky Oil's pipeline near Maidstone clearly shows that Saskatchewan's waterways are at risk from unfettered energy industry expansion. 80,000 people have lost their primary source of domestic water. Residents have lost their access to this rich recreational river-way. Treaty rights to access the lush river ecosystem have been breached. Biota, wildlife and environmental health will all suffer along this mighty, meandering river.
MITIGATION FAILED
Attempts at mitigation have proven to be seriously flawed. Warnings about the leak started on the evening of Wednesday July 20th, not the next morning, as first reported by the company. What was the company doing during this unaccounted 14-hour period?
The berms failed to prevent the oil from entering the North Saskatchewan River. Then the river booms failed to stop most of the oil from going downstream, where it is threatening the drinking water of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort. This contamination has gone from one side of the province to the other.
Prince Albert was forced to declare a state of emergency and passed an emergency bylaw to compel water conservation; rural residents were completely cut off from their water supply. Muskoday First Nations 15 KM south of Prince Albert has already declared an emergency over water supply. The 30 KM pipeline from the South Saskatchewan River to Prince Albert's water treatment plant will only be a temporary and yet very costly solution. It is only about 100 days to freeze up.
Saskatchewan only has a few major waterways, on which most of the population depends. It is obvious from this unfolding crisis that there is too much at risk having oil pipelines near our waterways. Why was this pipeline allowed to be built so close to the North Saskatchewan River? And how many other pipelines exist along our vulnerable waterways?
It is now reported that the leak came from only 300 metres from the riverbank; many riverside municipal lagoons must be built further back than this.
RENEWABLE ENERGY REQUIRED
Only interprovincial pipelines are federally regulated, the rest are provincial responsibility. There are multiple overland pipelines in Saskatchewan already doing serious damage to the land. Over 8,000 industrial spills have occurred in Saskatchewan since 2006 and 17% of these were by Husky Oil, the largest oil producer in the province. Most simply go unreported in the media.
Even without Husky's contamination of the North Saskatchewan River, the ongoing, mostly under-regulated spills, demonstrate the need to fully embrace a non-toxic energy system. A move to solar and wind generated electricity will reduce threats to our waterways and to our water quality. But until we can make this full conversion away from fossil fuels, why is a heavy oil pipeline even allowed to be built where it can threaten a major waterway?
PREMIER WALL ON PIPELINES
Premier Wall's statement that pipelines are "the safest way" to transport oil was completely misplaced. It doesn't matter whether one of our waterways is contaminated from a pipeline break or from a rail accident; our waterways and population need to be protected from both. It is not a good sign that for almost a week Premier Wall stayed quiet about the contamination of the North Saskatchewan River. This is one of Saskatchewan's worst environmental disasters.
OVERSIGHT BODIES, NOT CUTS
The North Saskatchewan River is not the only Saskatchewan waterway at great risk. The Qu'Appelle Watershed has endured ongoing releases of Regina's untreated sewage and toxic agricultural run-off, and plans are now in the works to divert millions of cubic metres of surface water into upstream potash solution mines. This water will be permanently taken out of the hydrological cycle to the detriment of the long-term health of the watershed and future generations.
We must NOW "put water first".
Saskatchewan has very few waterways and all need stringent protection. Yet in the recent budget there was a $2.7 million dollar cut to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Branch which is supposed to enforce the regulation of the oil industry. Meanwhile the province still can't confirm when Husky's ruptured pipeline was last inspected or whether Husky even had the required Emergency Plan in place.
Also, the province is now cutting funds to Saskatoon's Meewasin Valley Authority, which maintains trails and habitat along the South Saskatchewan River. Rather than such cuts, the government should be rigorously investing in watershed protection, restoration and oversight. Many of the recommendations to protect the Qu'Appelle Valley watershed, made in the 1970s by the Qu'Appelle Implementation Board Study, still apply. They are even more urgent now, yet we still see no positive provincial action at all.
And there are no longer any such oversight agencies to ensure that the lakes, wetlands, landscape, habitats and water quality in any of Saskatchewan's watersheds are being protected and restored. This must change.
PUTTING WATER FIRST
Our watersheds and water quality must be protected from further industrial abuse. Industrial self-regulation and reactive municipal actions will not and cannot accomplish this. It is time for the province to fundamentally rethink its policies to make watershed protection and restoration a top priority.
Let Husky Oil's contamination of the North Saskatchewan River be our wake-up call so that such environmental abuse is not allowed to become normalized. Clean water is already scarce on the prairies and with climate change it will become even scarcer. We must now "put water first".
THE QVEA The Qu'Appelle Valley Environmental Association (QVEA) was formed in early 2016 to protect and restore the Qu'Appelle watershed and landscape. During the April provincial election it sponsored the first ever all-candidates forum focusing on the environment. It has worked with opposition parties and area residents to raise awareness about the dangers from the proposed Chinese Yancoal potash solution mine upstream from the Qu'Appelle Valley. It is the watchdog on local governments in the valley when they do not follow environment protection regulations. It is committed to work with other independent organizations protecting Saskatchewan watersheds.
For more info contact:
Jim Harding 306-332-4492 or Randy Lebell 306-331-6231
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Fri Jul 29, 2016 2:57 pm
QUOTE: "Girling dismissed the campaign (launched by NRDC), saying it is concerned only with keeping oilsands crude in the ground rather than what’s necessarily best for the environment or safety. “There’s no compromise in these folks,” he said. “There’s no logic, no rhyme or reason, rationale, science, to what they put forward.”
= = = =
TransCanada CEO says Saskatchewan oil spill adds to pipeline skepticism
[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... skepticism ]
Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press Published on: July 28, 2016 | Last Updated: July 28, 2016 2:09 PM MDT
The oil spill in Saskatchewan could increase public skepticism of pipeline projects, says the CEO of TransCanada, the company behind the proposed Energy East Pipeline.
“All of these incidents shake public confidence,” Russ Girling said in an interview. “There’s no question that things like that cause people concern, and rightfully so.”
Last week, a Husky Energy pipeline spilled between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River, leaving cities along the waterway scrambling to find non-tainted sources of drinking water.
Girling said TransCanada (TSX:TRP) will be keen to learn from the Husky incident to improve pipeline safety.
“From all incidents, both ours and other incidents around our industry, we learn from them — certainly around moving water, that is one of our biggest risks,” said Girling.
He said the company has implemented numerous safety improvements in recent years around waterways, including thicker pipelines at crossings, drilling pipes under rivers at times, and adding extra valves at crossings so that it can shut off a pipeline faster.
“There’s numerous things that we have put in place over the last decade or so which considerably change the risk of moving across or moving underneath moving water,” he said.
The Husky spill comes as public hearings are set to begin on Energy East on Aug. 8 in Saint John, N.B.
The project has faced significant opposition from environmentalists, including a campaign launched earlier this week led by the Natural Resources Defence Council warning of the environmental threat posed by the anticipated increase in tanker traffic on the East Coast.
The proposed $15.7 billion pipeline would move 1.1 million barrels of oil a day from Alberta and Saskatchewan through Quebec and into New Brunswick to supply Eastern Canada refineries and for overseas shipping.
The development would lead to an estimated 281 tankers a year heading to the proposed Energy East terminal near Saint John, an increase of upwards of 300 per cent to the number of tankers now in the Bay of Fundy, according to the NRDC campaign.
Girling dismissed the campaign, saying it is concerned only with keeping oilsands crude in the ground rather than what’s necessarily best for the environment or safety.
“There’s no compromise in these folks,” he said. “There’s no logic, no rhyme or reason, rationale, science, to what they put forward.”
TransCanada continues to push ahead with Energy East, but it also has a wide range of other major initiatives underway, including expansion in Mexico and consolidating its recent US$13 billion acquisition of the Columbia Pipeline Group.
MORE:
[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... skepticism ]
= = = = =
Husky oil spill: Pipelines close to rivers a bad idea, scientist says
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699614 ]
240K leak should give Premier Brad Wall something to think about, ecologist David Schindler says
CBC News Posted: Jul 28, 2016 3:25 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 28, 2016 4:36 PM CT
One of Canada's top environmental scientists who specializes in the oil patch says the Husky oil spill should be a wake-up call for the provincial government.
"Maybe instead of increasing pipelines all over the place, we ought to be putting more effort into getting at our stationary needs for power onto other types of power sources and fossil fuels," said David Schindler, a former professor of ecology at the University of Alberta.
Last week, some 250,000 litres of oil and other chemicals ended up in the North Saskatchewan River after a leak at Husky's Lloydminster-area pipeline network.
This should give Premier Brad Wall, a strong proponent of pipelines, reason for pause, he told CBC Radio's The Morning Edition.
Advice for the provincial government
"My advice to the premier would be to have second thoughts. If this is the only strategy to fill the coffers of Saskatchewan, at least try and route the pipelines so they're minimizing the areas where rivers are crossed and parallel to rivers right near the banks."
The material that leaked into the North Saskatchewan River near Maidstone, Sask. a week ago was a mixture of heavy oil and other hydrocarbons.
Schindler said the contaminants could stay in the water for several months, or even years.
"Certainly, there will be little tarballs floating to the surface here and there and little oil slicks for years to come," he said.
MORE:
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699614 ]
= = = =
Premier Wall celebrated Husky expansion in oil spill area on election eve
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701277 ]
Province approved 4 Husky projects in the area without environmental impact assessments
By Geoff Leo, CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 3:41 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 3:59 PM CT
Shortly before the call of the 2016 provincial election campaign Premier Brad Wall was part of Husky Energy's celebration of the opening of the company's new heavy oil thermal project. (CBC News)
Less than one week before the start of the 2016 election campaign, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall attended an event celebrating the opening of Husky Energy's new heavy oil thermal project.
The project, known as Edam East, is located near where the Husky spill occurred last week, in which more than 200,000 litres of oil poured onto the shore of the North Saskatchewan River, much of it ending up in the water.
According to the company, that spill was triggered during the startup of a pipeline connected to Husky's Saskatchewan Gathering System — the company's heavy oil pipeline network in west central Saskatchewan.
However, the pipeline that ruptured was installed in 1997 and is not part of the new construction.
Edam East, which feeds up to 10,000 barrels of oil a day into the Saskatchewan Gathering System, was officially opened by Wall on March 1 of this year.
"Despite low oil prices, our province's energy sector continues to attract billions of dollars in new investment," Wall said.
"Edam East is another example of the quick ramp ups that we've come to expect from these developments which have operating costs amongst the lowest in the industry," said the company's CEO Asim Ghosh.
Wall made the announcement the same day that Quebec announced it would take legal action to stop the proposed Energy East pipeline, which Wall advocates.
"If there's a prima facie case for Energy East why slap an injunction against it except if it's about environmental politics" Wall said. "It probably is going to be a bit divisive unfortunately."
4 projects — 1,000s of barrels of oil — no environmental impact assessments
Edam East is one of at least four Husky projects in the Rural Municipalities of Turtle River, Paynton or Eldon that have been reviewed by Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment over the past three years.
In each case, ministry officials concluded that an environmental impact assessment was not required, and therefore not conducted.
In August 2013, the Ministry of Environment reviewed the Edam East project. Ministry documents say "the purpose of the project is to product up to 10,000 barrels of oil/day."
The project includes a central processing facility, an oil pipeline, 13 water wells and a raw water pipeline.
The ministry says "the expansion will increase water allocation and pumping capacity to 18,000 m3/day" and it says the Water Security Agency believes that allocation "could be granted without negatively impacting groundwater resources. No impacts on shallow groundwater quantity or quality are expected."
And so it found "the project will not have a significant environmental impact."
The ministry came to similar conclusions with three other Husky projects in the same area:
July 2014 the Ministry of Environment conducted a review of Husky's Edam West Gravity Drainage Project which "is expected to produce 3,500 barrels of oil per day." This project includes a central oil processing facility, a raw water supply wellfield, including 5 observation wells, 20 water source well sites, 16km of raw water supply pipelines and 2.9km oil pipeline. The project is expected to come online within days.
December 2014 the ministry reviewed the Saskatchewan Gathering System Pipeline Expansion Project which involved the construction of 23 kilometres of pipeline. The pipeline was deemed necessary because "the existing pipelines are not capable of handling an anticipated increase in volumes of oil." Despite the fact that the pipelines will be run under the North Saskatchewan River, Birling Creek and wetlands, an environmental review was deemed to be unnecessary. The ministry found the pipeline ran along existing pipeline routes primarily on cultivated land, and avoided wetlands and watercourses. "Unique or sensitive habitat types were avoided where possible during route selection." The project is expected to be complete within months.
December 2015 ministry staff reviewed Husky's Rush Lake Commercial project. It's proposed to be a steam assisted gravity drainage thermal oil recovery project. It's expected to produce 10,000 barrels of oil a day. The project includes a central processing facility and water and oil pipelines. The project has been approved but construction hasn't yet begun.
In each case ministry staff concluded an environmental impact assessment was unnecessary.
They also noted the projects are "subject to all other regulatory requirements."
Why no environmental impact assessments?
The ministry explained that environmental impact assessments were unnecessary for each of these projects because none of them were considered to be "developments" as defined by the Act, and only "developments" warrant an environmental impact review.
The Act says in order for a project to be a development it must be likely to:
- Have an effect on any unique, rare or endangered feature of the environment
- Substantially utilize any provincial resource and in so doing preempt the use, or potential use, of that resource for any other purpose
- Cause the emission of any pollutants or create by-products, residual or waste products which require handling and disposal in a manner that is not regulated by any other Act or regulation
- Cause widespread public concern because of potential environmental changes
- Involve a new technology that is concerned with resource utilization and that may induce significant environmental change
- Have a significant impact on the environment or necessitate a further development which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment
Ministry staff concluded that none of Husky's four projects met any of these criteria.
- - - -
RELATED:
Husky oil spill: more than 2,000 pipelines in Saskatchewan database - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701286 ]
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall calls Husky oil spill 'terrible situation' - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
Husky oil spill began when pumping resumed through pipeline expansion project - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
= = = = = =
Husky oil spill: more than 2,000 pipelines in Saskatchewan database
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701286 ]
Smaller flowlines numbered 68,000 in 2011, auditor said
By Kevin O'Connor, CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 3:16 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 3:16 PM CT
- - -
Oil and Gas pipelines in Saskatchewan
A map of oil and gas pipelines shows where gas (amber lines) and oil (red lines) is being transported across Saskatchewan. (Canadian Energy Pipeline Association)
- - -
There are more than 2,000 pipelines licensed to operate in Saskatchewan, according to the Ministry of the Economy — and the number shoots up when smaller flowlines are considered.
The ministry's database of licensed pipelines has 2,062 entries, most of them oil and gas pipelines. They range in length from a few metres to 291 kilometres.
A relatively small portion are for moving water, steam, carbon dioxide and other substances through the oil patch.
Husky oil pipeline 1 of hundreds in province
Saskatchewan's pipelines have been on the public's mind lately after a massive oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River.
Prince Albert, North Battleford and other communities have declared local states of emergency and officials have scrambled to arrange drinking water for their citizens.
According to the Saskatchewan Auditor, in addition to pipelines, there were also another 68,000 flowlines in the province in 2011. They're narrow lines which are used to transport oil and gas from the wellhead to a storage or other facility.
The number of flowlines is growing by up to 4,000 a year, the auditor said, suggesting the total in 2016 would be well over 70,000.
- - -
Lloydminster pipelines
A network of pipelines in the Lloydminster area is in the area where the spill occurred. (CBC Graphics)
- - - -
Related Stories
■ Husky oil spill began when pumping resumed through pipeline expansion project - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
■ 'It's a terrible situation,' premier says about Husky oil spill threatening Sask. drinking water - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
■ Husky oil spill: provincial update for Friday, July 29 - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3700794 ]
■ Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
External Links
■Government of Saskatchewan: Pipeline licences
[ http://www.economy.gov.sk.ca/pipelines ]
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
= = = =
TransCanada CEO says Saskatchewan oil spill adds to pipeline skepticism
[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... skepticism ]
Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press Published on: July 28, 2016 | Last Updated: July 28, 2016 2:09 PM MDT
The oil spill in Saskatchewan could increase public skepticism of pipeline projects, says the CEO of TransCanada, the company behind the proposed Energy East Pipeline.
“All of these incidents shake public confidence,” Russ Girling said in an interview. “There’s no question that things like that cause people concern, and rightfully so.”
Last week, a Husky Energy pipeline spilled between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River, leaving cities along the waterway scrambling to find non-tainted sources of drinking water.
Girling said TransCanada (TSX:TRP) will be keen to learn from the Husky incident to improve pipeline safety.
“From all incidents, both ours and other incidents around our industry, we learn from them — certainly around moving water, that is one of our biggest risks,” said Girling.
He said the company has implemented numerous safety improvements in recent years around waterways, including thicker pipelines at crossings, drilling pipes under rivers at times, and adding extra valves at crossings so that it can shut off a pipeline faster.
“There’s numerous things that we have put in place over the last decade or so which considerably change the risk of moving across or moving underneath moving water,” he said.
The Husky spill comes as public hearings are set to begin on Energy East on Aug. 8 in Saint John, N.B.
The project has faced significant opposition from environmentalists, including a campaign launched earlier this week led by the Natural Resources Defence Council warning of the environmental threat posed by the anticipated increase in tanker traffic on the East Coast.
The proposed $15.7 billion pipeline would move 1.1 million barrels of oil a day from Alberta and Saskatchewan through Quebec and into New Brunswick to supply Eastern Canada refineries and for overseas shipping.
The development would lead to an estimated 281 tankers a year heading to the proposed Energy East terminal near Saint John, an increase of upwards of 300 per cent to the number of tankers now in the Bay of Fundy, according to the NRDC campaign.
Girling dismissed the campaign, saying it is concerned only with keeping oilsands crude in the ground rather than what’s necessarily best for the environment or safety.
“There’s no compromise in these folks,” he said. “There’s no logic, no rhyme or reason, rationale, science, to what they put forward.”
TransCanada continues to push ahead with Energy East, but it also has a wide range of other major initiatives underway, including expansion in Mexico and consolidating its recent US$13 billion acquisition of the Columbia Pipeline Group.
MORE:
[ http://calgaryherald.com/business/energ ... skepticism ]
= = = = =
Husky oil spill: Pipelines close to rivers a bad idea, scientist says
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699614 ]
240K leak should give Premier Brad Wall something to think about, ecologist David Schindler says
CBC News Posted: Jul 28, 2016 3:25 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 28, 2016 4:36 PM CT
One of Canada's top environmental scientists who specializes in the oil patch says the Husky oil spill should be a wake-up call for the provincial government.
"Maybe instead of increasing pipelines all over the place, we ought to be putting more effort into getting at our stationary needs for power onto other types of power sources and fossil fuels," said David Schindler, a former professor of ecology at the University of Alberta.
Last week, some 250,000 litres of oil and other chemicals ended up in the North Saskatchewan River after a leak at Husky's Lloydminster-area pipeline network.
This should give Premier Brad Wall, a strong proponent of pipelines, reason for pause, he told CBC Radio's The Morning Edition.
Advice for the provincial government
"My advice to the premier would be to have second thoughts. If this is the only strategy to fill the coffers of Saskatchewan, at least try and route the pipelines so they're minimizing the areas where rivers are crossed and parallel to rivers right near the banks."
The material that leaked into the North Saskatchewan River near Maidstone, Sask. a week ago was a mixture of heavy oil and other hydrocarbons.
Schindler said the contaminants could stay in the water for several months, or even years.
"Certainly, there will be little tarballs floating to the surface here and there and little oil slicks for years to come," he said.
MORE:
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699614 ]
= = = =
Premier Wall celebrated Husky expansion in oil spill area on election eve
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701277 ]
Province approved 4 Husky projects in the area without environmental impact assessments
By Geoff Leo, CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 3:41 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 3:59 PM CT
Shortly before the call of the 2016 provincial election campaign Premier Brad Wall was part of Husky Energy's celebration of the opening of the company's new heavy oil thermal project. (CBC News)
Less than one week before the start of the 2016 election campaign, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall attended an event celebrating the opening of Husky Energy's new heavy oil thermal project.
The project, known as Edam East, is located near where the Husky spill occurred last week, in which more than 200,000 litres of oil poured onto the shore of the North Saskatchewan River, much of it ending up in the water.
According to the company, that spill was triggered during the startup of a pipeline connected to Husky's Saskatchewan Gathering System — the company's heavy oil pipeline network in west central Saskatchewan.
However, the pipeline that ruptured was installed in 1997 and is not part of the new construction.
Edam East, which feeds up to 10,000 barrels of oil a day into the Saskatchewan Gathering System, was officially opened by Wall on March 1 of this year.
"Despite low oil prices, our province's energy sector continues to attract billions of dollars in new investment," Wall said.
"Edam East is another example of the quick ramp ups that we've come to expect from these developments which have operating costs amongst the lowest in the industry," said the company's CEO Asim Ghosh.
Wall made the announcement the same day that Quebec announced it would take legal action to stop the proposed Energy East pipeline, which Wall advocates.
"If there's a prima facie case for Energy East why slap an injunction against it except if it's about environmental politics" Wall said. "It probably is going to be a bit divisive unfortunately."
4 projects — 1,000s of barrels of oil — no environmental impact assessments
Edam East is one of at least four Husky projects in the Rural Municipalities of Turtle River, Paynton or Eldon that have been reviewed by Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment over the past three years.
In each case, ministry officials concluded that an environmental impact assessment was not required, and therefore not conducted.
In August 2013, the Ministry of Environment reviewed the Edam East project. Ministry documents say "the purpose of the project is to product up to 10,000 barrels of oil/day."
The project includes a central processing facility, an oil pipeline, 13 water wells and a raw water pipeline.
The ministry says "the expansion will increase water allocation and pumping capacity to 18,000 m3/day" and it says the Water Security Agency believes that allocation "could be granted without negatively impacting groundwater resources. No impacts on shallow groundwater quantity or quality are expected."
And so it found "the project will not have a significant environmental impact."
The ministry came to similar conclusions with three other Husky projects in the same area:
July 2014 the Ministry of Environment conducted a review of Husky's Edam West Gravity Drainage Project which "is expected to produce 3,500 barrels of oil per day." This project includes a central oil processing facility, a raw water supply wellfield, including 5 observation wells, 20 water source well sites, 16km of raw water supply pipelines and 2.9km oil pipeline. The project is expected to come online within days.
December 2014 the ministry reviewed the Saskatchewan Gathering System Pipeline Expansion Project which involved the construction of 23 kilometres of pipeline. The pipeline was deemed necessary because "the existing pipelines are not capable of handling an anticipated increase in volumes of oil." Despite the fact that the pipelines will be run under the North Saskatchewan River, Birling Creek and wetlands, an environmental review was deemed to be unnecessary. The ministry found the pipeline ran along existing pipeline routes primarily on cultivated land, and avoided wetlands and watercourses. "Unique or sensitive habitat types were avoided where possible during route selection." The project is expected to be complete within months.
December 2015 ministry staff reviewed Husky's Rush Lake Commercial project. It's proposed to be a steam assisted gravity drainage thermal oil recovery project. It's expected to produce 10,000 barrels of oil a day. The project includes a central processing facility and water and oil pipelines. The project has been approved but construction hasn't yet begun.
In each case ministry staff concluded an environmental impact assessment was unnecessary.
They also noted the projects are "subject to all other regulatory requirements."
Why no environmental impact assessments?
The ministry explained that environmental impact assessments were unnecessary for each of these projects because none of them were considered to be "developments" as defined by the Act, and only "developments" warrant an environmental impact review.
The Act says in order for a project to be a development it must be likely to:
- Have an effect on any unique, rare or endangered feature of the environment
- Substantially utilize any provincial resource and in so doing preempt the use, or potential use, of that resource for any other purpose
- Cause the emission of any pollutants or create by-products, residual or waste products which require handling and disposal in a manner that is not regulated by any other Act or regulation
- Cause widespread public concern because of potential environmental changes
- Involve a new technology that is concerned with resource utilization and that may induce significant environmental change
- Have a significant impact on the environment or necessitate a further development which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment
Ministry staff concluded that none of Husky's four projects met any of these criteria.
- - - -
RELATED:
Husky oil spill: more than 2,000 pipelines in Saskatchewan database - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701286 ]
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall calls Husky oil spill 'terrible situation' - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
Husky oil spill began when pumping resumed through pipeline expansion project - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
= = = = = =
Husky oil spill: more than 2,000 pipelines in Saskatchewan database
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701286 ]
Smaller flowlines numbered 68,000 in 2011, auditor said
By Kevin O'Connor, CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 3:16 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 3:16 PM CT
- - -
Oil and Gas pipelines in Saskatchewan
A map of oil and gas pipelines shows where gas (amber lines) and oil (red lines) is being transported across Saskatchewan. (Canadian Energy Pipeline Association)
- - -
There are more than 2,000 pipelines licensed to operate in Saskatchewan, according to the Ministry of the Economy — and the number shoots up when smaller flowlines are considered.
The ministry's database of licensed pipelines has 2,062 entries, most of them oil and gas pipelines. They range in length from a few metres to 291 kilometres.
A relatively small portion are for moving water, steam, carbon dioxide and other substances through the oil patch.
Husky oil pipeline 1 of hundreds in province
Saskatchewan's pipelines have been on the public's mind lately after a massive oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River.
Prince Albert, North Battleford and other communities have declared local states of emergency and officials have scrambled to arrange drinking water for their citizens.
According to the Saskatchewan Auditor, in addition to pipelines, there were also another 68,000 flowlines in the province in 2011. They're narrow lines which are used to transport oil and gas from the wellhead to a storage or other facility.
The number of flowlines is growing by up to 4,000 a year, the auditor said, suggesting the total in 2016 would be well over 70,000.
- - -
Lloydminster pipelines
A network of pipelines in the Lloydminster area is in the area where the spill occurred. (CBC Graphics)
- - - -
Related Stories
■ Husky oil spill began when pumping resumed through pipeline expansion project - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
■ 'It's a terrible situation,' premier says about Husky oil spill threatening Sask. drinking water - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3697085 ]
■ Husky oil spill: provincial update for Friday, July 29 - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3700794 ]
■ Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
External Links
■Government of Saskatchewan: Pipeline licences
[ http://www.economy.gov.sk.ca/pipelines ]
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:43 am
Battleford to the rescue with clean water for North Battleford
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3700852 ]
Deal between sister communities will see town share water supply
CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 11:28 AM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 5:55 PM CT
For now, most water restrictions remain for people living in North Battleford, but a new deal to share water with its sister community could ease the shortage soon.
"We are grateful" - North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton
The recent Husky Energy oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River forced the city to shut off one of its water treatment plant intakes.
But now the city and the town of Battleford have come up with a plan. A water line will be run from the town's water supply — fed by wells — over to the city's distribution system.
"The town is proud to partner with the city during this crisis," said Battleford Mayor Derek Mahon.
"We are grateful to the Town of Battleford to work with us and help us out in this difficult situation," said North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton.
Meanwhile, North Battleford will keep searching for other sources of safe water because the temporary pipe from the town will not work in the winter months.
Today, laundromats in the city will re-open to meet the needs of residents.
But again, until the new water supply from the town is up and running, the water restrictions for residents in North Battleford will continue.
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3700852 ]
Deal between sister communities will see town share water supply
CBC News Posted: Jul 29, 2016 11:28 AM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 5:55 PM CT
For now, most water restrictions remain for people living in North Battleford, but a new deal to share water with its sister community could ease the shortage soon.
"We are grateful" - North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton
The recent Husky Energy oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River forced the city to shut off one of its water treatment plant intakes.
But now the city and the town of Battleford have come up with a plan. A water line will be run from the town's water supply — fed by wells — over to the city's distribution system.
"The town is proud to partner with the city during this crisis," said Battleford Mayor Derek Mahon.
"We are grateful to the Town of Battleford to work with us and help us out in this difficult situation," said North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton.
Meanwhile, North Battleford will keep searching for other sources of safe water because the temporary pipe from the town will not work in the winter months.
Today, laundromats in the city will re-open to meet the needs of residents.
But again, until the new water supply from the town is up and running, the water restrictions for residents in North Battleford will continue.
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:47 am
Saskatchewan oil spill shows need for better regulation, move away from oil
[ http://canadians.org/blog/saskatchewan- ... e-away-oil ]
July 29, 2016 - 11:38am
Oil from Husky Energy pipeline spill into North Saskatchewan River. Photo: Shelley Essaunce
By Daniel Cayley-Daoust and Emma Lui, published in the Regina Leader-Post, July 29, 2016
[ http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnist ... y-from-oil ]
As we write this, more than 200,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluents is flowing uncontrollably down the North Saskatchewan River. It has already forced three cities to close their drinking water intakes and is impacting First Nations in Treaty 6 territory. Prince Albert plans to restrict water use for up to two months and has been forced to draw water from the South Saskatchewan river 30 kilometres away — a river that is already over-extracted.
Within hours of the Husky Energy pipeline spill, Alberta premier Rachel Notley and Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall were both parroting the same bit of propaganda — that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil and we need more of them. The sheer audacity of these statements points to our level of addiction to oil, and it isn’t good.
Though proponents claim pipelines are the so-called “safest” method of transporting oil, we have seen 8,360 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006, [ http://www.saskoil.org/fieldnotes/2016/ ... e-of-18000 ] of which Husky is responsible for 1,463. This isn’t isolated to Saskatchewan either — there have been 28,666 crude oil spills in Alberta in the last 37 years. [ http://globalnews.ca/news/571494/introd ... n-alberta/ ] How is this considered safe?
The problem is that there are far too many spills from both rail and pipelines. The answer to this is twofold: we need to regulate existing pipelines and rail transport better, and we need to overcome our addiction to oil and begin the transition away from fossil fuels.
The Trudeau government has committed to reviewing environmental and freshwater legislation this fall. We hope this will be an opportunity to develop stronger regulations and prevent environmental disasters of this magnitude in the future. By gutting the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act, the Harper government opened up lakes and rivers to even more risk than before. These new regulations need to be stronger and more effective at regulating and evaluating industrial projects in Canada that can have an impact on our environment.
In the meantime, we need to demand an end to this pipeline fixation. To many, stopping the expansion of the oil industry and reducing our consumption may sound counter-intuitive because of the impression that we are trapped, and that our economy needs more oil and more pipelines to get out of its current depression.
But it is just that, a trap, a sign of our addiction. And both Notley and Wall are entrenching themselves deeper into this addiction by going to bat for an industry that is quickly failing globally. Transitioning and diversifying our economy is not an easy task, but it is an essential task. The longer we wait, the harder it will be. As Murray Mandryk pointed out last Friday in the Leader-Post [ http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnist ... -film-jobs ], Wall is doing an awful job at diversifying the Saskatchewan economy and seems only able to promote oil interests. Jobs are being lost in education, film, and other non-renewable resource industries, not just in the oil industry.
Low oil prices and the global movement toward alternatives present an opportunity that needs to be seized immediately, an opportunity that will create jobs and won’t pollute our waters. Internationally, investments in renewable energy have recently surpassed investments in new fossil fuel projects, but Canada is lagging behind. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/renew ... -1.3614477 ] Communities and families are already implementing their own alternatives, but it’s time for our governments to step up to the plate and support this transition and encourage low-carbon climate jobs.
This emergency is a reality check. The oil spilled by Husky Energy that is still flowing down the North Saskatchewan River is a catastrophe. It is one spill too many, and while we work toward overcoming our dependency on oil, we need to do all we can to prevent future catastrophes, be it by pipeline or by train, as it is clearer than ever that industry cannot be trusted to do this on its own.
Daniel Cayley-Daoust is the Energy and Climate Campaigner and Emma Lui is the Water Campaigner for the Council of Canadians.
Take Action: Protect every lake and every river in Canada
[ https://secure.canadians.org/ea-action/ ... n.id=52987 ]
Daniel Cayley-Daoust's blog
Energy and Climate Campaigner for the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/daniel-cayley-daoust ]
[ http://canadians.org/blog/saskatchewan- ... e-away-oil ]
July 29, 2016 - 11:38am
Oil from Husky Energy pipeline spill into North Saskatchewan River. Photo: Shelley Essaunce
By Daniel Cayley-Daoust and Emma Lui, published in the Regina Leader-Post, July 29, 2016
[ http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnist ... y-from-oil ]
As we write this, more than 200,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluents is flowing uncontrollably down the North Saskatchewan River. It has already forced three cities to close their drinking water intakes and is impacting First Nations in Treaty 6 territory. Prince Albert plans to restrict water use for up to two months and has been forced to draw water from the South Saskatchewan river 30 kilometres away — a river that is already over-extracted.
Within hours of the Husky Energy pipeline spill, Alberta premier Rachel Notley and Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall were both parroting the same bit of propaganda — that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil and we need more of them. The sheer audacity of these statements points to our level of addiction to oil, and it isn’t good.
Though proponents claim pipelines are the so-called “safest” method of transporting oil, we have seen 8,360 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006, [ http://www.saskoil.org/fieldnotes/2016/ ... e-of-18000 ] of which Husky is responsible for 1,463. This isn’t isolated to Saskatchewan either — there have been 28,666 crude oil spills in Alberta in the last 37 years. [ http://globalnews.ca/news/571494/introd ... n-alberta/ ] How is this considered safe?
The problem is that there are far too many spills from both rail and pipelines. The answer to this is twofold: we need to regulate existing pipelines and rail transport better, and we need to overcome our addiction to oil and begin the transition away from fossil fuels.
The Trudeau government has committed to reviewing environmental and freshwater legislation this fall. We hope this will be an opportunity to develop stronger regulations and prevent environmental disasters of this magnitude in the future. By gutting the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act, the Harper government opened up lakes and rivers to even more risk than before. These new regulations need to be stronger and more effective at regulating and evaluating industrial projects in Canada that can have an impact on our environment.
In the meantime, we need to demand an end to this pipeline fixation. To many, stopping the expansion of the oil industry and reducing our consumption may sound counter-intuitive because of the impression that we are trapped, and that our economy needs more oil and more pipelines to get out of its current depression.
But it is just that, a trap, a sign of our addiction. And both Notley and Wall are entrenching themselves deeper into this addiction by going to bat for an industry that is quickly failing globally. Transitioning and diversifying our economy is not an easy task, but it is an essential task. The longer we wait, the harder it will be. As Murray Mandryk pointed out last Friday in the Leader-Post [ http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnist ... -film-jobs ], Wall is doing an awful job at diversifying the Saskatchewan economy and seems only able to promote oil interests. Jobs are being lost in education, film, and other non-renewable resource industries, not just in the oil industry.
Low oil prices and the global movement toward alternatives present an opportunity that needs to be seized immediately, an opportunity that will create jobs and won’t pollute our waters. Internationally, investments in renewable energy have recently surpassed investments in new fossil fuel projects, but Canada is lagging behind. [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/renew ... -1.3614477 ] Communities and families are already implementing their own alternatives, but it’s time for our governments to step up to the plate and support this transition and encourage low-carbon climate jobs.
This emergency is a reality check. The oil spilled by Husky Energy that is still flowing down the North Saskatchewan River is a catastrophe. It is one spill too many, and while we work toward overcoming our dependency on oil, we need to do all we can to prevent future catastrophes, be it by pipeline or by train, as it is clearer than ever that industry cannot be trusted to do this on its own.
Daniel Cayley-Daoust is the Energy and Climate Campaigner and Emma Lui is the Water Campaigner for the Council of Canadians.
Take Action: Protect every lake and every river in Canada
[ https://secure.canadians.org/ea-action/ ... n.id=52987 ]
Daniel Cayley-Daoust's blog
Energy and Climate Campaigner for the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/daniel-cayley-daoust ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Sat Jul 30, 2016 3:32 pm
Husky oil spill began when pumping resumed through pipeline expansion project
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
No environmental impact assessment required for new pipeline going under N. Sask. River
By Geoff Leo, CBC News Posted: Jul 28, 2016 5:03 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 7:44 AM CT
EXCERPT:
No Environmental Impact Assessment for new pipeline
In a letter to Husky on Dec. 16, 2014 the Ministry of Environment informed the company that the project "is not a 'development' that is required to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment."
That's despite the fact that "the project will include a horizontal directional drill to install the pipeline under the North Saskatchewan River, Birling Creek and any unfrozen, native wetlands."
Emily Eaton, a University of Regina geography professor who has been studying the impacts of oil development on Saskatchewan communities, says it's surprising that drilling under a major water source wouldn't trigger an Environmental Impact Assessment.
"It doesn't seem to be something that's particularly risky even though it should be," Eaton said. "So they're counting on it not spilling I guess. Which, they should know better because the oil industry is spilling every day in the province."
'Widespread public concern is not anticipated'
The ministry concluded that "effects on unique, rare or endangered features of the environment are not anticipated."
It noted that "the pipeline route was selected to: parallel existing disturbance and infrastructure; be located primarily on cultivated land; and to avoid wetlands and watercourses. Unique or sensitive habitat types were avoided where possible during route selection."
It found the 23 km of pipeline would not impact rare plants or wildlife in the area and it wouldn't cause public controversy.
"The project will likely cause minor environmental change during the construction phase; however, residual effects will not be significant and therefore widespread public concern is not anticipated."
In a letter to Husky, the ministry reminded the company that it must comply with all federal, provincial and municipal regulations and "must comply with all reasonable follow up ministerial requests to monitor compliance."
Late last week, after the spill occurred, Husky updated its investors on the progress of the Saskatchewan Gathering System in its second quarter update.
"Construction continued on the Saskatchewan Gathering System expansion, with work expected to be completed in the third quarter."
A Husky spokesperson said the company is still on track to complete the project despite the spill.
- - - -
■ Husky oil cleanup will be bigger, longer than predicted, says Prince Albert mayor - July 27, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3697076 ]
■ Prince Albert updates water supply plans - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■Husky admits crews missed leak night of Saskatchewan oil spill - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699007 ]
■'We're fairly confident': Prince Albert hopes new water supply will work - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■POINT OF VIEW | Husky Energy emails are ineffective in wake of oil spill, says expert - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699640 ]
= = = = = =
SK NDP - A provincial crisis and Sask. Party is missing in action
From: Trent Wotherspoon
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2016 3:13 PM
Subject: A provincial crisis and Sask. Party is missing in action
It has been over a week since we first learned of the pipeline leak that dumped over 200,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River.
This is a provincial crisis, contaminating the beautiful and vital waterway that winds through our province supporting life, lives and communities.
Right now, our priority remains ensuring the availability of clean drinking water and the clean-up of this spill. But, this spill is also a heart wrenching reminder of the need for consultation with First Nations and municipalities and proper risk assessments, inspections and protections.
It is equally fair to say that the lack of action and communication by the Premier and the Sask. Party cabinet – including the Environment Minister who’s riding is affected - has been troubling and is unacceptable. They've been missing in action.
In contrast, I was grateful to be invited, along with other members of your NDP caucus, to meet with leaders in the affected First Nations and municipal communities. In meetings and visits in both Prince Albert and North Battleford, I was not surprised but still touched to see and hear stories of neighbours and community members coming together and approaching the clean-up and each challenge with care and commitment. Rallying together in the face of challenge is what we do in Saskatchewan.
I want to thank our MLA in Prince Albert, Nicole Rancourt and her staff for all the work they have done during this very difficult and important time.
Ultimately, it is Husky who is responsible for covering the costs of the clean-up but, obviously and sadly, there is no magic wand to make it all go away. As the clean-up progresses and more of the consequences become known, we renew our call for the company and the government to be fully open, honest and transparent. This is critical to protecting us for the future.
Your NDP caucus will stay in touch with communities, people and officials and we remain committed to helping in whatever way we can.
As Saskatchewan people always have in times of crisis, we must now stand together.
-Trent
Saskatchewan NDP
[ http://www.saskndp.ca/ ]
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699767 ]
No environmental impact assessment required for new pipeline going under N. Sask. River
By Geoff Leo, CBC News Posted: Jul 28, 2016 5:03 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 29, 2016 7:44 AM CT
EXCERPT:
No Environmental Impact Assessment for new pipeline
In a letter to Husky on Dec. 16, 2014 the Ministry of Environment informed the company that the project "is not a 'development' that is required to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment."
That's despite the fact that "the project will include a horizontal directional drill to install the pipeline under the North Saskatchewan River, Birling Creek and any unfrozen, native wetlands."
Emily Eaton, a University of Regina geography professor who has been studying the impacts of oil development on Saskatchewan communities, says it's surprising that drilling under a major water source wouldn't trigger an Environmental Impact Assessment.
"It doesn't seem to be something that's particularly risky even though it should be," Eaton said. "So they're counting on it not spilling I guess. Which, they should know better because the oil industry is spilling every day in the province."
'Widespread public concern is not anticipated'
The ministry concluded that "effects on unique, rare or endangered features of the environment are not anticipated."
It noted that "the pipeline route was selected to: parallel existing disturbance and infrastructure; be located primarily on cultivated land; and to avoid wetlands and watercourses. Unique or sensitive habitat types were avoided where possible during route selection."
It found the 23 km of pipeline would not impact rare plants or wildlife in the area and it wouldn't cause public controversy.
"The project will likely cause minor environmental change during the construction phase; however, residual effects will not be significant and therefore widespread public concern is not anticipated."
In a letter to Husky, the ministry reminded the company that it must comply with all federal, provincial and municipal regulations and "must comply with all reasonable follow up ministerial requests to monitor compliance."
Late last week, after the spill occurred, Husky updated its investors on the progress of the Saskatchewan Gathering System in its second quarter update.
"Construction continued on the Saskatchewan Gathering System expansion, with work expected to be completed in the third quarter."
A Husky spokesperson said the company is still on track to complete the project despite the spill.
- - - -
■ Husky oil cleanup will be bigger, longer than predicted, says Prince Albert mayor - July 27, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3697076 ]
■ Prince Albert updates water supply plans - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■Husky admits crews missed leak night of Saskatchewan oil spill - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699007 ]
■'We're fairly confident': Prince Albert hopes new water supply will work - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■POINT OF VIEW | Husky Energy emails are ineffective in wake of oil spill, says expert - July 28, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699640 ]
= = = = = =
SK NDP - A provincial crisis and Sask. Party is missing in action
From: Trent Wotherspoon
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2016 3:13 PM
Subject: A provincial crisis and Sask. Party is missing in action
It has been over a week since we first learned of the pipeline leak that dumped over 200,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River.
This is a provincial crisis, contaminating the beautiful and vital waterway that winds through our province supporting life, lives and communities.
Right now, our priority remains ensuring the availability of clean drinking water and the clean-up of this spill. But, this spill is also a heart wrenching reminder of the need for consultation with First Nations and municipalities and proper risk assessments, inspections and protections.
It is equally fair to say that the lack of action and communication by the Premier and the Sask. Party cabinet – including the Environment Minister who’s riding is affected - has been troubling and is unacceptable. They've been missing in action.
In contrast, I was grateful to be invited, along with other members of your NDP caucus, to meet with leaders in the affected First Nations and municipal communities. In meetings and visits in both Prince Albert and North Battleford, I was not surprised but still touched to see and hear stories of neighbours and community members coming together and approaching the clean-up and each challenge with care and commitment. Rallying together in the face of challenge is what we do in Saskatchewan.
I want to thank our MLA in Prince Albert, Nicole Rancourt and her staff for all the work they have done during this very difficult and important time.
Ultimately, it is Husky who is responsible for covering the costs of the clean-up but, obviously and sadly, there is no magic wand to make it all go away. As the clean-up progresses and more of the consequences become known, we renew our call for the company and the government to be fully open, honest and transparent. This is critical to protecting us for the future.
Your NDP caucus will stay in touch with communities, people and officials and we remain committed to helping in whatever way we can.
As Saskatchewan people always have in times of crisis, we must now stand together.
-Trent
Saskatchewan NDP
[ http://www.saskndp.ca/ ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
Re: HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK
by Oscar » Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:37 am
Husky oil spill: Prince Albert delivering water from new source to residents
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702588 ]
Temporary lines to provide water from new sources after Husky oil spill into North Saskatchewan River
CBC News Posted: Jul 31, 2016 2:00 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 31, 2016 5:31 PM CT
A water reservoir, part of Prince Albert's water treatment system. The city has been working to bring new sources of water to the plant following an oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River.
Officials in Prince Albert, Sask., say a new water source has passed lab tests and has been added to their distribution system, providing a measure of relief to a city that has been scrambling to secure water following a spill of oil into the North Saskatchewan River.
In a statement Sunday, around 5 p.m. CST, officials said treated water from an improvised line to the Little Red River was tested and added to the city's reservoir system and — from there — sent to homes and businesses on the local distribution system.
"The water is potable, safe water," the statement noted.
For several days crews have been working on two temporary lines leading to water sources north and south of the city.
A pump attached to one of two new water lines being used to get water to Prince Albert's treatment plant. The city has spent several days working on the bypass system following a spill of oil into the North Saskatchewan River. (CBC)
The Little Red River line was the first of the two to be operational, and pumping water.
The line, an eight-kilometre stretch, will be used to supply water while a longer line, roughly 30 kilometres to the South Saskatchewan River, is completed.
Prince Albert, which has been on a local state of emergency for almost a week, stopped using water from the North Saskatchewan River following a spill of oil from a Husky Energy pipeline that led to some 200,000 to 250,000 litres of heavy oil (mixed with another product called a diluent) entering the river Maidstone, Sask. An investigation is underway to determine why the pipeline ruptured.
The city said Sunday afternoon that work was continuing to fill the longer line, which has pumping machines every two kilometres along the stretch.
- - - -SNIP - - -
Provincial officials noted Sunday that four communities and rural municipalities were still under local states of emergency:
Prince Albert extended its emergency status for another seven days.
The province also provided an update on cleanup operations, noting that some 38 kilometres along the river had been assessed and seven kilometres had been cleaned.
Booms remain in place on the water to catch any oil that is dislodged from the shoreline during the cleaning process. Officials noted that the cleanup is still in the preliminary stages and said that a total of 126,000 litres had been recovered.
They added that a concern relating to the spill is that oil may settle on the bottom of the river. Officials said some oil has been detected in the 900 collected samples so far.
Officials said they will have a clearer idea of the scope and scale of the environmental impact on Monday.
They added that, as of Sunday, there were 42 cases of wildlife that died, linked to the spill.
Related Stories
[b]■Natural recovery part of Husky oil spill response, expert says - July 30, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702220 ]
■Small business suffers without water in Prince Albert, Sask. - July 30, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702220 ]
■ 'We're fairly confident': Prince Albert hopes new water supply will work - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■ Husky oil spill: Prince Albert testing alternate water lines - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701331 ]
■Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702588 ]
Temporary lines to provide water from new sources after Husky oil spill into North Saskatchewan River
CBC News Posted: Jul 31, 2016 2:00 PM CT| Last Updated: Jul 31, 2016 5:31 PM CT
A water reservoir, part of Prince Albert's water treatment system. The city has been working to bring new sources of water to the plant following an oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River.
Officials in Prince Albert, Sask., say a new water source has passed lab tests and has been added to their distribution system, providing a measure of relief to a city that has been scrambling to secure water following a spill of oil into the North Saskatchewan River.
In a statement Sunday, around 5 p.m. CST, officials said treated water from an improvised line to the Little Red River was tested and added to the city's reservoir system and — from there — sent to homes and businesses on the local distribution system.
"The water is potable, safe water," the statement noted.
For several days crews have been working on two temporary lines leading to water sources north and south of the city.
A pump attached to one of two new water lines being used to get water to Prince Albert's treatment plant. The city has spent several days working on the bypass system following a spill of oil into the North Saskatchewan River. (CBC)
The Little Red River line was the first of the two to be operational, and pumping water.
The line, an eight-kilometre stretch, will be used to supply water while a longer line, roughly 30 kilometres to the South Saskatchewan River, is completed.
Prince Albert, which has been on a local state of emergency for almost a week, stopped using water from the North Saskatchewan River following a spill of oil from a Husky Energy pipeline that led to some 200,000 to 250,000 litres of heavy oil (mixed with another product called a diluent) entering the river Maidstone, Sask. An investigation is underway to determine why the pipeline ruptured.
The city said Sunday afternoon that work was continuing to fill the longer line, which has pumping machines every two kilometres along the stretch.
- - - -SNIP - - -
Provincial officials noted Sunday that four communities and rural municipalities were still under local states of emergency:
Prince Albert extended its emergency status for another seven days.
The province also provided an update on cleanup operations, noting that some 38 kilometres along the river had been assessed and seven kilometres had been cleaned.
Booms remain in place on the water to catch any oil that is dislodged from the shoreline during the cleaning process. Officials noted that the cleanup is still in the preliminary stages and said that a total of 126,000 litres had been recovered.
They added that a concern relating to the spill is that oil may settle on the bottom of the river. Officials said some oil has been detected in the 900 collected samples so far.
Officials said they will have a clearer idea of the scope and scale of the environmental impact on Monday.
They added that, as of Sunday, there were 42 cases of wildlife that died, linked to the spill.
Related Stories
[b]■Natural recovery part of Husky oil spill response, expert says - July 30, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702220 ]
■Small business suffers without water in Prince Albert, Sask. - July 30, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3702220 ]
■ 'We're fairly confident': Prince Albert hopes new water supply will work - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699567 ]
■ Husky oil spill: Prince Albert testing alternate water lines - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701331 ]
■Husky oil spill: pipeline project in area didn't trigger review, Environment Minister says - July 29, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3701150 ]
- Oscar
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9138
- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
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