Enbridge Oil Pipeline found dangerously exposed in the Rouge River

Aug
02
2012
Maybe instead of seeking to build major new pipelines, it’s time for Enbridge to get existing pipelines up to snuff.
Enbridge Oil Pipeline exposed in Rouge River
photo credit: Adam Scott

To help prevent pollution from pipeline spills, I recently mapped exactly where major oil pipelines cross some of our most populated and environmentally sensitive places.  In particular, I wanted to look into where Enbridge’s big ‘Line 9’ oil pipeline crosses rivers in Southern Ontario. Enbridge wants to make some changes to the route to ship risky tar sands oil to the East coast, part of a bigger plan known as ‘Trailbreaker’.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered the pipeline goes through...wait for it... the Rouge River, the future site of Canada’s first urban national park. I decided to investigate to see what it actually looks like up close when a buried oil pipeline crosses a major river, and went out the park with a few unanswered questions. Was there anything to actually see? How do they protect the river from possible spills?
 
My surprise that we’d have a pipeline from this spill-prone company (the U.S. government said it behaved like “Keystone Kops” in a recent, disastrous spill in Michigan, just weeks before yet another spill in Wisconsin) in a national park paled to my surprise at what I found.
 
Turns out it’s not buried. It just sticks out of the river bank. Yup, exposed right in the fast flowing river, vulnerable to any debris like a log or piece of ice coming downstream. 
 
You can see my photos here
 
What better place for an exposed pipeline!  A soon-to-be national park, smack in the most densely populated part of the country. Indeed, the Park is home to a vital pocket of preserved Ontario wilderness and many threatened or endangered species. Local leaders and the community have worked tirelessly for over a decade to ensure it’s properly protected for future generations.  Oh, and the Rouge River itself flows directly into Lake Ontario, a source of drinking water for millions.
 
Let’s remember that unlike normal oil, tar sands oil doesn’t float after it spills. It sinks, which makes cleaning it up much harder and much more expensive. That spill in Michigan cost a cool billion to clean up.
 
Who knows what other parts of the pipeline are also exposed?  I guess I will have to walk the whole thing.
 
Maybe instead of seeking to build major new pipelines across pristine areas in B.C. and ship riskier tar sands oil through Ontario and Quebec, it’s time for Enbridge to get existing, ageing and exposed pipelines up to snuff. 

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Aug
02
2012

huh?


Hilary Stead says:

Is that some kind of tape holding the pipe together?
Creepy!
Is that what we can expect out here in BC?
Thanks for taking the pictures.
Hilary Stead
Duncan, BC

reply to this comment
Aug
02
2012

Monitoring is insufficient to prevent risks


Louisette Lanteigne says:

Enbridge does in creek assessments only once every 5 years and the rest of the monitoring for the buried pipelines is done by air plane. In light of the flood drought situation brought on by climate change this isn't reasonable. Erosion can expose pipes and open greater risks. Enbridge lacks the ability to detect pin hole leaks. The data they used to install these pipes did not include hydro-geological risks we know of today simply because the science to show the risks is fairly recent. Back in the day these pipes were installed, they believed clay was impervious and science now shows it only slows the rate of infiltration into aquifers, it does not prevent it. We must use caution, we must update the science to reasonably mitigate risks.

reply to this comment
Aug
03
2012

As a Rouge Park volunteer I


Radmila Rakas says:

As a Rouge Park volunteer I am disturbed by the news you wrote about. I approached them and heard that the the pipeline is on provincially-owned hydro corridor land, not on Rouge Park property. TRCA and Rouge Park staff have been working with Enbridge to develop a mitigation solution for this exposure, which will be implemented shortly.This information should be treated as inofficial.

reply to this comment
Aug
07
2012

The pipe sits directly in the


abscott says:

The pipe sits directly in the Rouge River, within the Rouge Park's boundaries - so hydro corridor notwithstanding, it affects the future of the park. TRCA records show that Enbridge has been aware of the exposed pipeline since at least 2009, so it seems the company has been 'working' on a proper solution for years. Yet despite all of this time, Enbridge has not yet even applied for permits to fix the problem.

Ultimately, Enbridge, (not the Park) is responsible for any failure to ensure the safety of the pipeline.

reply to this comment
Oct
04
2012

Yap I am agree with you,


Civil Construction, says:

Yap I am agree with you, without taking proper permission for pipeline construction it may be harmful for the firm who involved in the projects.

reply to this comment