Keystone Pipeline Spills Unknown Amount of Oil in North Dakota

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Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org

Bismarck, ND -- It has been reported that the Keystone 1 pipeline -- part of the pipeline system that would include the controversial proposed Keystone XL pipeline -- has sprung yet another leak, this time in North Dakota. The cause and size of the spill are still under investigation. 

This is not the first spill from Keystone 1; the pipeline had a dozen spills in its first year of operation alone, and last year spilled more than 400,000 gallons of oil into farmland in South Dakota. TC Energy -- formerly TransCanada -- hopes to begin construction on Keystone XL next year despite numerous legal challenges and permitting setbacks. 

In response, Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels associate director Catherine Collentine released the following statement:

“We don’t yet know the extent of the damage from this latest tar sands spill, but what we do know is that this is not the first time this pipeline has spilled toxic tar sands, and it won’t be the last. We’ve always said it’s not a question of whether a pipeline will spill, but when, and once again TC Energy has made our case for us.” 

 

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