The Keystone oil pipeline system, operated by South Bow, recently experienced a spill near a North Dakota community, resulting in a shutdown for almost a week. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) approved the restart of the pipeline at reduced pressure, with various corrective actions in place to prevent future incidents. The spill, estimated at 3,500 barrels, led to the replacement of the failed pipe and ongoing investigations by PHMSA.
The Keystone pipeline, spanning nearly 2,700 miles, has experienced multiple leaks and spills in recent years, raising concerns about its safety and impact on the environment. PHMSA detailed previous incidents, including releases of large amounts of crude oil, and highlighted a pattern of increasingly frequent and larger incidents over the years.
The recent spill on the Keystone pipeline in North Dakota is not the first of its kind, as a similar rupture occurred in the same state in 2019. Both incidents involved pipes manufactured by the Berg Steel Pipe Corporation, suggesting a potential issue with the pipeline’s construction or maintenance.
The environmental impact of oil spills, such as the one on the Keystone pipeline, can be long-lasting and devastating to ecosystems and communities. As regulatory agencies continue to investigate the causes of these incidents and require corrective actions from pipeline operators, the need for stricter oversight and maintenance practices to prevent future spills remains a critical concern.
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