Study Warns of Economic Damage in a Keystone Pipeline Spill

New York Times ^ | 03/14/2012 | Dan Frosch

[SeekAndFind]

A report released on Tuesday by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute concludes that the economic damage caused by potential spills from the Keystone XL pipeline could far outweigh the benefits of jobs created by the project.

The institute, which advocates the creation of union jobs in renewable energy and analyzes sustainability issues, said that more than a million people work in agricultural or tourism jobs in the six states along Keystone XL’s route and that the economic costs could be considerable if a major spill occurred.

The risks of an economically damaging accident are higher than those for conventional crude, the report said, because pipelines carrying oil sands crude are more prone to spills, an argument long made by opponents of the Keystone XL project.

The report cited a spill from an Enbridge Energy pipeline in July 2010 that dumped about 843,000 gallons of oil sands crude near Marshall, Mich., and has been especially difficult and expensive to clean.

“Given where the pipeline is scheduled to go, it’s not inconceivable that a spill like the Enbridge pipeline spill could occur,” said Sean Sweeney, the institute’s director and a co-author of the study. “And if it contaminated a major waterway in a remote area, it could take a long time to deal with.”

TransCanada, whose application to build Keystone XL was rejected by President Obama in January, dismissed the report and cited an initial review by the State Department that found the pipeline would have little adverse environmental impact if operated properly.

Terry Cunha, a spokesman for TransCanada, said the company stood by its projections that Keystone XL would create thousands of jobs. “Common sense will tell you that you can’t build the largest infrastructure on the books in the U.S. right now without a significant number of people,” he said.

[FrankR]

There's been a pipeline spill? Who knew?

[SandRat]

I remember hearing the same story about the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline.

[Vigilanteman]

Just think of the economic damage which results from a multi-vehicle pileup on the interstates. We should never have built the interstate highway system. < / sarcasm >

[edcoil]

Need to have the “Department of Shut the hell up” contact Cornell.

[pfflier]

You pay someone enough for a study, their findings will be what you want.

[Vigilanteman]

Ah yes, the one about how the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline would wreak havoc on the caribou herds. Here's pictorial proof.

[hadaclueonce]

Hire a consultant, they will prove anything you want.

“Most” consultant’s that are involved into politics will sell their soul to the devil for one silver dollar.

[organicchemist]

Just think how many jobs will be created just to clean up the spill. Using Obama economics, we should perhaps just dump oil all over the place and reach full employment.

[JimRed]

If the terrorists don’t cut it or blow it up, the enviros will- just to prove that it was “dangerous” all along!

[Puppage]

Study Warns of Economic Damage in a Keystone Pipeline Spill

Well, we'll certainly see the economic damage from NOT building it.

Besides.....there's HOW many oil drills, etc in OK, TX, etc for a hundred years and there's been HOW many spills?

[The Cajun]

A report released on Tuesday by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute

ROTFLMAO! Now there's a group you can believe :^)

Drill here, drill now, pump it down from Canada!

[anoldafvet]

Bull shiite!!!!!

[Dixie Yooper]

Did these knuckleheads take into account how the oil itself will benefit the economy by fueling it? The jobs created around the pipeline are just icing on the cake.

[SoldierDad]

A report released on Tuesday by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute concludes that the economic damage caused by potential spills from the Keystone XL pipeline could far outweigh the benefits of jobs created by the project.

I can do this too! And without an expensive University report!

The economic damage caused by potential accidents from vehicles on the nations highways outweighs the benefits of individuals being able to move around their communities, states, or the country

The economic damaged cause by people, especially children, who might drown in a bathtub outweighs the benefits of being clean The economic damage caused by the potential for bicycle accidents outweighs the benefits of people using bicycles.

My God, these cretins are stupid!!!!!

[VeniVidiVici]

I wonder just why pipelines that carry oil-sands oil are more prone to spills?

Interesting facts from the 800,000 gallon spill cited in the article:

---

Have any municipal water systems been affected by the spill?

Marshall and Battle Creek municipal water systems have not been affected by the oil spill. To date, there have been no indications that the spill has contaminated any municipal water supply system. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA sets legal limits on the levels of certain contaminants in drinking water to protect human health. Water systems have routine water testing schedules and methods that they must follow to detect contaminated water. These rules also list acceptable techniques for treating contaminated water.

Will my private well be impacted by the oil spill?

Calhoun County Public Health Department and Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services officials have been evaluating the potential impact the spill has had on private water wells. The health departments continue to conduct a systematic evaluation of private drinking wells located within 200 feet of either side of the Kalamazoo River and Talmadge Creek. At this point, no well contamination has been detected.

[Tuketu]

But the grants etc from the Dems soars at that University. No doubt they will have a bunch of “IF” statements but no “This is how you do it:. I believe they are the Presidential “Nay Sayers” as O has no ground to stand on other than these types of MORONS.

[Gumdrop]

Another Chicken-Little opinion from a liberal think tank.

[SeekAndFind]

Caribou herds like the warmth the pipeline provides

Reality: Thirty years later we can see the effects of the pipeline on the caribou. Walter Hickel, a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and governor of Alaska, said that the B>caribou herd has not only survived, but flourished. In 1977, as the Prudhoe region started delivering oil to America's southern 48 states, the Central Arctic caribou herd numbered 6,000; it has since grown to 27,128.

[SeekAndFind]

Caribou herds like the warmth the pipeline provides

Reality: Thirty years later we can see the effects of the pipeline on the caribou. Walter Hickel, a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and governor of Alaska, said that the caribou herd has not only survived, but flourished. In 1977, as the Prudhoe region started delivering oil to America's southern 48 states, the Central Arctic caribou herd numbered 6,000; it has since grown to 27,128.