PIPELINE MAY BE SAFER OPTION, CARDY SAYS Telegraph Journal 10 JUL 2013 11:40AM FREDERICTON – New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy says western oil would be safer travelling through New Brunswick via pipeline rather than rail in the wake of a deadly train derailment in neighbouring Quebec. “With the increase in rail traffic, especially the oil coming in from Alberta and the oilsands, that’s another reason why I would argue that it is worth looking at this west-east pipeline,” Cardy said. “The advantage of pipelines is that they often go through unpopulated areas, much less populated areas, and that certainly adds a level of safety. “There are far fewer moving parts that a train or a road system and the technology is well proven so it’s another good reason to look at the pipeline as an alternative if we are going to be looking at many more years of increased oil shipments from the west.” He added: “There have been lots of places in the world where pipelines have been very dangerous, usually because they have been poorly maintained. In Canada, we don’t have a terrible record and we have to make sure the safety standards are high and the enforcement regime is rigorous and kept to, but it certainly makes sense as an option in light of the increased flow into the province.” The Lac-Mégantic disaster – which saw a 73-car train destined for Saint John derail and cause massive tank-car explosions – has called into question rail transport versus other options. The Canadian Railway Association estimates up to 140,000 carloads of crude will be transported by rail in Canada this year. That’s up from only 500 carloads transported by Canadian rail in 2009. Reports from as early as last year stated that Irving Oil is receiving at least one train load a week from the oil-rich Bakken Field of North Dakota. It was initially refining limited amounts of crude oil from North Dakota, just south of Saskatchewan, to determine whether the practice makes sense in the long run, according to analysts. Irving Oil also expanded its rail terminal facilities in Saint John which allows the refinery to ship upwards of 100,000 barrels of crude per week. “The record of rail overall has certainly not been bad,” Cardy said. “This is a terrible tragedy is Quebec and think the best thing is to wait to get to the bottom of that. “I know that a lot of communities where the cars are rolling through now that are concerned about it.” He added: “I’m sure there is going to be a lot of pressure to make sure that industry is able to explain exactly what they are doing and what we can avoid anything like that from happening here.”
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 17:30:49 +0000
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