Another spill crisis comes under scrutiny

The same day Enbridge announces outstanding financial results — a 19 per cent income rise in the last quarter, among other glad tidings — comes news of a pipeline leak. It was reported that the Lakehead System near Battle Creek, Mich., sprung a leak that poured about three million litres of crude into the Kalamazoo River. It is a tragic, unfortunate development. But let’s put some context around this latest oil disaster.

Oil-covered Canada geese and dead fish in the creek only underline what has become the poster child in this era of intense scrutiny of energy-industry accidents: Nothing strikes an emotional chord like wildlife at risk and dying due to human-caused industrial intervention in a pristine environment. We are repelled and sickened by such occurrences, and so we should be. It is tragic for animals to suffer and let us be very clear about that. The impact of the environmental damage is deplorable. But let us take the discussion to a different level.

First, examine the risk. Any pipeline anywhere poses a risk to environment, wildlife, animal habitat and potentially to human health. But those whom we elect to lead us have determined what is acceptable risk. They do this in conjunction with industry and input from their advisors and regulatory agencies. And with tens of thousands of kilometres of pipelines criss-crossing the continent, the risk has obviously been deemed acceptable by government. The risk also has the tacit approval of society, where people expect to find fuel in the pumps 24/7, whenever they want to gas up.

Is the crisis response and clean-up acceptable? Every pipeline company has sophisticated monitors that gauge pressure and volume. Given that the leak occurred in a high-volume pipeline that carries 30 million litres a day from Griffith, Ind., to a refinery in Sarnia, Ont., a leak of three million litres means that the pumps were shut off three hours and 45 minutes after the spill began. As unacceptable as are the consequences of this, the Enbridge leak was no gusher that went on for months, unlike BP’s Gulf spill. Further investigation and examination will determine whether Enbridge moved quickly enough, so let’s leave that argument alone for now.

Yet whatever the outcome of these investigations, the situation has already turned into a blame game: bad industry, stupid government. But really, the telescope needs to be turned around. Unless and until we are all willing to park our cars and forgo taking to the skies to get around, risks like pipeline leaks are what society has determined to be acceptable to feed our oil addiction. Tell me different when you revert to oxcarts, pedal power and plain old walking.

A footnote: Now comes the inevitable litany of explanation, damage control and reputation management from the energy sector. It would make incredibly more sense for industry CEOs to get in front of the energy story and tell all the good things the industry does than to try explaining away its problems after a crisis occurs. And there will be more crises in the energy sector. Guaranteed.

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