AMHERST, S.D. — It has been estimated that 210,000 gallons of oil leaked in northeastern South Dakota Thursday.
“Crews shut down the pipeline Thursday morning and activated emergency response procedures after a drop in pressure was detected resulting from the leak south of a pump station in Marshall County, TransCanada said in a statement. The cause was being investigated.” (MSN)
TransCanada Corp is the company responsible for the Keystone Pipeline.
Officials do not believe that surface body waters or drinking systems have been affected.
In a statement, Daniel Sheehan, chief counsel of the Lakota People’s Law Project, said:
“We told you so. It was just a matter of time. There have been over 200 significant leaks in these pipelines since the year 2000. This is the exact threat that the Lakota people were trying to protect their sole source of water from at Standing Rock.”
Sheehan and the law project defend those who are actively working to oppose the Keystone XL project (an extension of the Keystone Pipeline) because of how close the pipeline would be to tribal lands and possible contamination of the drinking supply due to oil leaks.
“The Keystone Pipeline is part of a 2,687-mile system that also is to include the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which has faced persistent opposition from environmental groups, American Indian tribes and some landowners.”
Despite considerable public opposition, a federal permit for the project has been issued by President Trump.
“The project has received needed approvals in states between Alberta, Canada, and Nebraska. Nebraska regulators plan to announce their decision next week.”
Read more on the story:
Keystone pipeline leaks over 200K gallons of oil in South Dakota
