Tag Archives: Oil Spills

Environment

Canada Approved Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion

screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3-43-47-pm1

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley applauded the Prime Minister’s “extraordinary leadership.” Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee calls it “a betrayal of promises made in the last election to act on science, gain public approval and respect Indigenous rights.” There are already 7 legal challenges of this project underway, and more will follow. The government of Canada approved Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion, “subject to 157 binding conditions.”

Continue reading Canada Approved Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion →
Environment

Halt Pacific Northwest Oil Trains

2 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

The oil train you see above may be one of the last to pass through Hood River, Oregon.  Three weeks ago a near catastrophic derailment/fire occurred in the neighbouring town of Mosier. The town is still  dealing with the aftereffects. Thursday the Federal Rail Authority’s (FRA) Preliminary report blamed the incident on Union Pacific’s failure to maintain their tracks.  Now the  Governors of Washington and Oregon are calling upon the FRA to halt Pacific Northwest oil trains.

Continue reading Halt Pacific Northwest Oil Trains →
Environment

Another Oil-By-Rail Fire Near Portland

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

There are currently only one or two trains going through the Columbia River Gorge every day. Imagine what would happen if all the fossil fuel projects in this region were approved. Up to a hundred trains, averaging between a mile and a mile and a half in length, and would make this same trek weekly. Six months ago, a truck driver was killed in a railway accident within Portland’s city limits. The flames spread to eight railway cars, carrying oil or asphalt, which luckily did not catch fire. There was another oil-by-rail fire near Portland today.

Continue reading Another Oil-By-Rail Fire Near Portland →
Environment

BC Says It Cannot Support Kinder Morgan Pipeline

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

The province of British Columbia was not able to respond in time to be part of Monday’s broadcast, “Bitumen Sinks & Is Almost Impossible to Clean Up.” However a Ministry of Environment spokesperson emailed and BC says it cannot support Kinder Morgan Pipeline at this time.

Continue reading BC Says It Cannot Support Kinder Morgan Pipeline →
Environment

Bitumen Sinks & Is Almost Impossible to Clean Up

2 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

Prior to his election as Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau promised that the National Energy Board hearings on the proposed Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion would not go forward. We need a new review process, which both focuses on science and seeks social license in the areas where projects like this are being suggested. That changed after his election. The hearings resumed and, sometime before May 20, the National Energy Board is expected to recommend the Trans Mountain project be approved. If the Prime Minister agrees, there will be a seven-fold increase of diluted bitument coming through the most populated area of British Columbia. In anticipation of the proposed pipeline, the province of British Columbia is drawing up legislation for “world-leading provincial spills regime.” This is the backdrop for the ECOreport’s Monday, April 11, program on CKTZ:   Bitumen sinks and is almost impossible to clean up.

Continue reading Bitumen Sinks & Is Almost Impossible to Clean Up →