Back in October, St. Croix 360 shared for the first time the story of the Line 61 oil pipeline, which crosses four rivers in the St. Croix River’s headwaters and will soon be carrying 50 million gallons per day. The most common response was “I had no idea.”
A lot of people wanted to know more. In partnership with the St. Croix River Association and Washburn County Lakes and River Association, St. Croix 360 recently helped bring some of the best informed people currently working on pipeline safety to the area for a free event about this project.
Frank Zufall of the Sawyer County Record attended and published this report from last Thursday’s event. Below are tweets from yours truly that engaged folks in real-time and serve as notes of sort.
Thank you to all 140 or so people who attended, including several elected officials and first responders. Thanks also to all the panelists.
Monica Zachay of the St. Croix River Association kicks things off w/ an overview of the precious rivers #Line61 crosses. #Line61Spooner
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Deb Ryun of SCRA says everybody here loves the rivers (unlike Iowa, where she previously worked). #Line61Spooner
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Mark Willoughby of Enbridge: Growing supply of crude oil from Canada needs to get to Gulf Coast refineries, pipelines beat rail. #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge: No incident (spill) will ever be acceptable to us. #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
There was a 21-day public comment period for #Line61 expansion in March 2014, permits received in May 2014. #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge donates grants of $750-1500 to local first responder organizations, as well as used equipment. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Patrick Miles, Dane County board, has been involved in efforts to get more insurance coverage for #Line61. #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
About 12 miles of pipeline cross Dane County. Pumping facility with 3 600,000 horsepower engines to increase flow rate. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Why is Dane County the only county that has objected? Pump facility proposed in a special ag preservation district. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Many concerns about pipeline were outside the authority of county to consider. Federal law prohibits local pipeline regs. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Dane County seeking financial insurance to ensure funds available if spill happened. Close holes in Enbridge's insurance. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
At least 5 elected officials here tonight. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Miles says he will talk with officials after about specific concerns in exchange for tips on where to fish tomorrow. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge 1st company to apply for license to export oil outside of the United States. American oil consumption dropping. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Elizabeth Ward: Answer to rail concerns is not to jeapordize waterways. Do it safe, or find other energy sources. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Line 61 at 1.2 million barrels per day would be largest tar sands pipeline in North America. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward: Line 61 has potential to affect almost every watershed in Wisconsin. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward: Most concerning aspect is lack of oversight for #Line61 expansion. Was not permitted for 1.2M barrels per day. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward: Enbridge has been approaching landowners about new pipeline, probably to be called Line 66. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Deb Ryun: What about cleaning up a spill on a frozen river? Winters last a long time here. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby, Enbridge: We drill on cutting holes in ice, laying down booms, extracting oil. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward: Icy rivers are an example of risk when nature interferes with the best laid plans. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Miles: Dane County is working on policies to be more energy efficient. Using methane from landfills to power vehicles. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: We get pretty excited when we see communities get interested in pipeline safety issues. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Major gap is that there is no federal requirement for environmental review of new pipelines. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Federal pipeline regulators don't usually inspect pipelines, instead inspect companies' inspection records. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Leak detection equipment is not reliable for identifying slow, long-term leaks. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Spill response plans are now "sort of available if you're willing to wait months, see heavily redacted copies." #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
You can't find out what Enbridge considers a "high consequence area" (which trigger extra protections). #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Pipeline operators, regulators, public and local governments must all be working together to keep pipelines safe. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Increasing number of significant incidents on hazardous liquid lines over past 10 years. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
High Consequence Areas may be here, require enhanced "Integrity Management rules." More risk assessment and management. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
PHMSA inspected Silvertip Pipeline less than a year before it ruptured in Yellowstone and didn't find any problems. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven suggests sharing any and all studies (floods, bird, endangered species) with Enbridge and PHMSA. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Wisc could seek certification to regulate pipelines, rather than feds. Could require state level spill response planning. #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ryun: Why this meeting when pipeline is a done deal? #Line61 expansion was happening & no one knew. 1st responders need to be aware. #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge has been transporting oil sands products for 40-45 years. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Why didn't anyone know? Ward: I don't think it was an accident that people were unaware. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Enbridge is obligated to have a public awareness program. There should not be a gap in knowledge. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby: Enbridge wants to be part of the conversation. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ryun: Pipeline not buried very deep under Totogatic. How can we get depth of cover at crossings maintained? #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby, Enbridge: Not sure what depth of cover regulations call for. We improved river crossing inspection process. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby: We actively monitor flooding, rainfall and will inspect crossings if there's a risk. #Line61 #STXLine61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: It's a challenge that the rules don't require it has to be, for example, 10 feet below potential river scour. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge: 2 or 3 employees in Hayward area, would be 1st personnel on site. Many in Superior that would be deployed. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby: Temperature of crude in pipe is 60-65 degrees. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge: At 300 yards, pump stations are about 40 decibels. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Miles: Dane County has required pump stations have shrouded lights, max of 50 db at property line. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Question re: corrosion from pipes sited near high voltage lines. Enbridge: probably not, actively monitor/mitigate. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: People like to consolidate utilities (pipelines, power lines, etc.), others worry about voltage and corrosion. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Miles: Dane County permit condition requires biannual emergency responder training/drills. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward: Encourage first responders to ask Enbridge for training. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
How can citizens be trained to monitor/report pipeline breaches. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge: Always appreciate calls from public. 1-800 number on crossing signs. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Report any problems, get out of there. Lots of nasty chemicals in the air by a rupture. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Does procedure for testing capacity actually involve testing with 1.2M barrels per day? #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Enbridge: Hydro-test lines at construction. Pump water through it. Craven: Usually at 1.25x operating pressure. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Question: Lots of cranberry marshes, cattle grazing, tourism. Plan for compensating landowners for contamination? #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Willoughby: Enbridge's top priority is safety. Never seen company walk away from a problem. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Craven: Because right-of-way was acquired before Namekagon River became National Park, no federal environmental review. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015
Ward, Sierra Club: Don't walk away tonight scared or discouraged, get in touch and connect with other folks. #STXLine61 #Line61
— St. Croix 360 (@stcroix360) May 15, 2015