June 8, 2012
AWA News Release: Pipeline Spill into Red Deer River Points to Huge Concerns With Pipeline Regulation
A pipeline leak north of Sundre, Alta. spilled between 1000 and 3000 barrels (160,000-475,000 litres)…
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Alberta is criss-crossed by more than 400,000 kilometres of pipeline, of which 85% are oil and gas pipelines.
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Pipeline systems play a vital role in delivering the energy demanded by North Americans—due to their sheer number and distance covered as well as the considerable environmental and human health risks, pipelines must be better planned, managed and regulated.
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A pipeline corridor (or right-of-way) is the area cleared to accommodate pipe diameter, and construction, maintenance and regulation activities. These corridors generate a significant developmental footprint upon the landscape. Typical corridors are between 15 and 18 metres in width, while larger pipelines may require corridors up to 45 metres wide.
Cold Lake pipeline (C. Campbell)
Position
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) believes pipelines pose significant risks to human and environmental health. Pipelines must be built to the highest possible standards of safety. Pipelines must be routed to avoid impacts to environmentally significant areas including regionally designated areas, protected areas, critical wildlife habitat, intact fragments of grasslands and parklands natural landscapes, and AWA areas of concern, as depicted on our Wild Alberta map. The use of best management practices to minimize disturbance is essential and corridor access must be monitored and controlled through locked gates. Effective monitoring and harsh penalties for noncompliance or environmental damage is imperative.
AWA believes the public needs more evidence that Alberta’s older pipelines are safe, that important ecosystems are preserved through appropriate route planning and best management practices (BMPs) and that approvals are being given with public and ecological health and best interests in mind.
Keystone XL
AWA is concerned with the further destruction of dwindling native grasslands. The lengthy list of sensitive species that rely upon intact grassland habitat that will be impacted by the Keystone XL project has not been adequately considered in the approval process for this pipeline.
TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline is a 2,673 kilometre crude oil pipeline, which would begin in Hardisty, Alberta, pass southeast through Saskatchewan, and into the United States, eventually connecting the Alberta oilsands to refineries located on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Northern Gateway
Though the 1,172 kilometres of pipeline manage to avoid AWA’s Areas of Concern (as depicted in the Wild Alberta map), it will nonetheless fragment vast areas of habitat and wilderness across Alberta and northern British Columbia.
The Northern Gateway project will cross a half dozen mountain ranges, hundreds of streams and a number of major rivers, including the headwaters of the Fraser River and the Skeena River.
AWA supports environmental and First Nations colleagues in British Columbia, as they work to oppose and mitigate the extensive environmental risks posed by Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline.
To read AWA’s full position on pipeline development:
2011-11-1-AWA Position Statement: Pipelines
June 5, 2012
Great News for Kananaskis Country!
Kananaskis Country has won a reprieve from a proposed sour gas development. The long-running saga…
March 7, 2012
Kananaskis Sour Gas Proposal Suffers One More Setback
Construction of Suncor Energy’s ill-fated Sullivan sour gas development in Kananaskis Country seems unlikely to…
November 1, 2011
AWA Position Statement: Pipelines
AWA believes pipelines pose significant risks to human and environmental health. Pipelines must be built…
November 1, 2011
AWA Position Statement: Pipelines
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) believes pipelines pose significant risks to human and environmental health. Pipelines…
June 1, 2011
Kananaskis Country Receives Temporary Reprieve from Sour Gas Development
Wild Lands Advocate update, June 2011, by Nigel Douglas 20110600_ar_wla_update_kan_sullivan_ndouglas.pdf
January 12, 2010
News Release: EnCana Avoids Trial on Charges of Canada Wildlife Act Violation in Suffield National Wildlife Area
ENGO news release. The Suffield Coalition is disappointed to have learned last week that the…
February 1, 2009
ERCB Denies Pipeline Applications
Wild Lands Advocate article, February 2009. Nigel Douglas 200902_AR_wla.pdf
December 1, 2008
Paramount Pipeline Within Rumsey Natural Area Review Of Environmental Assessment
Scientific review of Paramount Resources’ minimal environmental assessment of a pipeline project. Review is authored…
November 25, 2008
Pipeline Development in Rumsey Natural Area Another Betrayal of Trust
August 5, 2008
Oil Spill in Red Deer Reservoir: Thousands of Oil Pipelines Cross Water Sources
Article by Water Matters Society of Alberta 20080805_Oilspill_RedDeerreservoir.pdf
June 18, 2008
Gleniffer Oil Spill could be Bigger than Estimated
CBC news article: Gleniffer Oil Spill could be Bigger than Estimated 20080618_CBCNews_Gleniffer_oilspill.pdf
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