WASHINGTON - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and the Democratic staff of the Natural Resources Committee released the following summary of major pipeline incidents from the last two years. This recent history of spills, explosions, environmental damage and loss of life and property demonstrates the need for a comprehensive review of pipeline safety.
“These recent spills may call into question whether federal regulations are sufficient to ensure that oil and gas companies are properly maintaining their lines to protect public health and the environment,"said Rep. Markey, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. “Pipeline accidents are occurring in almost every area of the United States, across the entire oil and gas industry, and need more scrutiny from the federal government."
Summary of Recent Pipeline Spills and Explosions
In 2010 and 2011, there have been a number of spills from oil pipelines as well as explosions from natural gas pipelines.
Recent major Pipeline Spills
* July 2011-Exxon Yellowstone River Spill. 42,000 gallons. Cleanup is still ongoing.
* February 2011xe2x80x95A natural gas pipeline explosion in Allentown, PA killed 5 people, damaged 50 buildings, and caused 500 people to be evacuated.
* January 2011- The Trans Alaska Pipeline leaked 13,314 gallons of crude in the basement of Pump Station 1, causing a temporary shutdown of TAPS.
* September 2010- A natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA killed 8 people, injured 60 others, and destroyed 37 homes.
* July 2010xe2x80x95An oil spill from an Enbridge pipeline in Marshall, MI, released 819,000 gallons of crude oil into a tributary of the Kalamazoo River.
* June 2010-The Red Butte Creek oil spill released 30,000 gallons of crude oil over 2 days.
* May 2010- The Trans Alaska Pipeline System spilled over 5,000 barrels of oil and led to TAPS being shut down for over 70 hours.
* May 2010-May 2011 The Keystone pipeline that extends from Alberta to Oklahoma experiences nearly a dozen spills, punctuated by a 21,000 gallon incident in North Dakota.
ExxonMobil Pipeline Spill, Yellowstone River- Montana
July 1, 2011
ExxonMobil’s Silvertip pipeline ruptured and released an estimated 42,000 gallons, or 1,000 barrels, of crude oil into the Yellowstone River on Friday, July 1, 2011, just outside of Billings, MT. The 12-inch pipeline was buried 2.5 meters below the riverbed. The crude has thus far traveled at least 20 miles downstream, according to EPA estimates. Governor Schweitzer estimates that the oil has flowed up to 270 miles downstream across the border of North Dakota. In addition, the rising level of the river above flood stage has hampered cleanup efforts. The investigation into the cause of the rupture is ongoing. 140 nearby residents have been evacuated while 350 ExxonMobil employees are currently involved in the clean up.
Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion, UGI Corporation, Allentown, PA
February 9, 2011
A natural gas explosion in a downtown neighborhood in Allentown, PA killed five people, destroyed six houses, and damaged 57 other homes and businesses. Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate due to the explosion, fire, or other damage. The 12-inch, low pressure pipeline that was involved was over 150 years old but had pa
