A sticky problem

The recent pipeline rupture and oil spill in Mayflower near Lake Conway has certainly highlighted the pipeline risks.

I can’t help but wonder how many of the folks living in the Northwoods Subdivision in Mayflower have supported the Keystone XL pipeline in the past. Surely they are reconsidering their stance after the same tar-sands oil that the Keystone pipeline would carry is now running through their backyards. The Exxon-Mobil pipeline that ruptured in an affluent subdivision in Mayflower was transporting this tar-sand oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

The amount of oil that has spilled is still unknown, and can estimates of the amount of oil that was spilled be trusted? Luckily this was not a natural-gas pipeline, or an explosion could have leveled most of the neighborhood-just ask the residents of San Bruno, Calif.

Hopefully, but doubtfully, this event will open the eyes of Congressman Tim Griffin and state Sen. Jason Rapert. Both have championed for the Keystone XL pipeline. Griffin seems to not miss a chance to tweet about the pipeline and Rapert has also bashed the president for delaying and denying its permit. Griffin even said in a recent interview: “These [pipelines] are extraordinarily safe and environmentally friendly.”

Rapert formed the Fayetteville Shale Caucus to protect the industry from stricter regulation and recently sponsored HB1042 which would allow pipeline companies to claim eminent domain to take your property for their pipeline. Both Griffin and Rapert took tens of thousands of dollars from the oil and gas industry during their campaigns. Both have tried to use the threat of lost jobs at the Welspun pipe factory in Little Rock as a reason to approve the Keystone pipeline. This threat came after the pipe for the project had already been completed by Welspun and the contract to purchase the pipe by TransCanada had already been signed.

Opposition of the pipeline has cited many reasons to deny the permit. Tar-sands oil is dirtier and harder to clean up than regular crude oil. It also releases more harmful air contaminants than its traditional counterpart. It is much more energy-intensive to refine. It is coming from a foreign country and will be distributed mostly to other foreign countries. Multiple reports show that permitting the pipeline will actually raise the cost of gasoline. The carbon emissions that would be released from the burning of the tar-sands oil would greatly contribute to climate change. The pipeline route would travel over the top of a major aquifer that covers multiple states. Eminent domain must be used for a large portion of the pipeline’s route.

The list goes on. This is why Canadian citizens shot down the company’s original proposal to build the pipeline through Canada to the west coast.

Supporters of the pipeline tout temporary job numbers that are inflated, according to the State Department and leaked company emails. The company itself admits that the pipeline would only account for a couple hundred permanent jobs. Supporters also use the notion of energy independence and lower gas prices as reasons to permit the pipeline.

Exxon-Mobil said in its statement after the rupture in Mayflower: “We regret that this incident has occurred and apologize for any disruption and inconvenience that it has caused.”

Inconvenience? Disruption? The residents in this neighborhood were evacuated on short notice. They may not be able to return for days or weeks. When theydo return, it will be to get their stuff as some will have to move. They will not be able to sell their home or property. It may be years before Exxon-Mobil compensates them for this “disruption,” and it may require a lawsuit to accomplish this. The developer of the subdivision will see a great loss from this event. Lake Conway may see harm from any oil that ran into the lake. Area businesses will suffer as fewer people will live in the area and there will be fewer fishermen and other visitors at the lake. Water wells in the area may be contaminated.

Luckily, Lake Conway is not a water supply. The city of Conway gets its water from Brewer Lake. Brewer is threatened by fracking and natural-gas wells on its banks, but this is a story for another day. The same pipeline that ruptured in Mayflower runs through the Lake Maumelle watershed and crosses the Maumelle River numerous times. Lake Maumelle is the water supply for Little Rock.

This is just one relatively small pipeline. Hundreds more, some much larger, crisscross the state. Many are old and may be susceptible to ruptures themselves. Although the effects of this spill have yet to be seen, new Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson said it best: “This could have been much worse.” -

Sam Lane is a resident of Greenbrier and director of ArkansasFracking.org.