Rainbow Pipeline Leak — Six Months Later…

Posted on: Saturday, October 29, 2011
Posted at: 4:20 PM

It has been 6 months since Plains Midstream Canada reported that there had been a Rainbow Pipeline leak, 100 km NE of Peace River, Alberta.

Initially, the Alberta media were told by Plains Midstream Canada that only a few hundred barrels of oil had leaked from the Rainbow Pipeline…

There was no national media coverage of the Rainbow Pipeline leak until after the 2011 Canadian federal election which was held on Monday, May 2.

On Tuesday, May 3, the rest of Canada learned that 28,000 barrels (4.5 million litres) of crude oil has spilled — making it the largest Alberta pipeline discharge in 36 years.
 
 
 
1 month later, Plains Midstream Canada said 42% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.

2 months later, Plains Midstream Canada said 49% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.

3 months later, Plains Midstream Canada said 49% of oil recovered from the Rainbow Pipeline leak.

6 months after the Rainbow Pipeline leaked 4.5 million litres of oil into the northern Alberta wilderness…

• Plains Midstream Canada fails to acknowledge the 6-month anniversary of the Rainbow Pipeline leak. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada only provides weekly updates. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada indicates that the Rainbow Pipeline leak site will be considered 100% remediated, once the oil-contaminated soil has been removed. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada states that soil remediation is ongoing and that oil-contaminated soil continues to be dried and removed to approved waste disposal facilities and/or treated on-site. [ Web Updates ]
• Plains Midstream Canada estimates the clean-up and soil remediation phase will take a total of 8 months to complete. [ Web Updates ]

 
 
 
View the Rainbow Pipeline Leak — A Timeline

View the Rainbow Pipeline Leak — A Timeline (Continued)

View the Rainbow Pipeline Leak — Three Months Later…
 
 
 
          NOTICE:
 
 
          THERE WAS NO
 
          NATIONAL COVERAGE
 
          OF THE 6 MONTH ANNIVERSARY  
 
          OF THE RAINBOW PIPELINE LEAK.
 
 
          I wonder why…

 
 
 
FYI:

• The Rainbow Pipeline was built in 1965 and runs from Zama, Alberta to Edmonton, Alberta.
• In 2006, 7,500 barrels leaked from the Rainbow Pipeline; an investigation determined the causes were related to its age.
• Plains Midstream Canada purchased the Rainbow Pipeline from Imperial Oil in 2008.
• Plains Midstream Canada is a subsidiary of Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline, with pipelines and crude oil storage facilities throughout the Province of Alberta.
• Plains Midstream Canada says crack detection test conducted in January and April of 2011.

2011-10-29  »  somecanuckchick