Canada oil train disaster a lesson for Keystone XL opponents

American Thinker ^ | 07/09/2013 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

American greenies imagine they can save the planet by stopping construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, but in the real world they will expose Mother Gaia (and human beings) to greater harm by forcing more oil to be transported by rail. Pipelines are far safer than rail transportation, as we are reminded by the horror that engulfed much of the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec in flames. Thirteen people are known dead, but as many as 50 are missing, while charred bodies still are being pulled from the ruins.

This reality should haunt the nightmares of greenies, people generally given to worry. Forget global warming, this was real warming to hellish levels. Even for those environmentalists who regard humans as a plague, the environmental damage in Lac-Megantic is severe. The AP reports:

Crews were working to contain 27,000 gallons of light crude that spilled from the tankers and made its way into nearby waterways. There were fears it could flow into the St. Lawrence River all the way to Quebec City.

An increasing share of oil in America is being transported by rail. The North Dakota shale oil bonanza is vastlyenriching the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, a Warren Buffet property. Keystone XL could take away a good share of that traffic. But the trend is nationwide. A local Bay Area refinery plans to spend $50 million to create a rail facility for receiving tanker car transported oil. No doubt, precautions will be taken locally to prevent or mitigate any possible environmental damage, but what of the vast network of rails on which oil tanker cars could travel?

The plain fact is that there is far more human interaction required to move oil by rail than by pipeline. One small fault on rail bed or track could cause a derailment

[Erik Latranyi]

Gas & Oil drilling is safer than ever.

Gas & Oil transport is safer than ever.

Gas & Oil refining is safer than ever.

Gas & Oil distribution is safer than ever.

You would never know this if you listed to liberals.

[DakotaGator]

MSM used the SF plane story and anything else to hide the Quebec City story and to protect obami.

Ah yes. Our wonderful MSM, promoting the sheeple's right to be ignorant!

[Rodamala]

I don’t believe the Keystone XL pipeline is to be routed through Quebec.

People need to realize that pipelines go from one point to another... and offer zero marketplace flexibility. They have their place... but crude by rail offers the market something that pipelines can not.

[The Great RJ]

Last March a Canadian Pacific train derailed near Parkers Prairie, MN spilling 30,000 gallons of Canadian crude oil so similar incidents happen here too.

[SeekAndFind]

Last March a Canadian Pacific train derailed near Parkers Prairie, MN spilling 30,000 gallons of Canadian crude oil

[deport]

Keystone XL Pipeline Project

[Smokin' Joe]

It would only take a small leak in a coupling, a pinhole in a hose, etc. to eventually bleed enough air pressure out of enough cars (and locomotives) for those being pulled downgrade by gravity without brakes to overcome the braking force of any remaining cars.

Anyone who has been in an industrial environment knows with rare exceptions there are always small leaks in pressurized systems, not a problem where pressures are replenished by constant operation or topping off reservoirs, but without that, subject to failure.

With the locomotives all shut down, it was only a matter of time. Pity no one thought to chock the wheels...

[thackney]

There was a fire before this at the original train location. The Fire Department shut down the locomotive that was keeping the air supply powered.

[thackney]

Especially air system that normally vibrate all day long, day after day.