01/05/2007

Associated Press

A pipeline rupture that leaked thousands of gallons of crude oil across a frozen field caused little environmental damage, yet re-energized a group that already has gone to court trying to block a new pipeline planned for the same route through Wisconsin.

The state Department of Natural Resources has approved construction permits for Houston-based Enbridge Energy Co. to install the 321-mile crude-oil pipeline.

But Midwest Environmental Advocates of Madison sued the DNR two weeks ago, claiming it didn't perform a thorough environmental impact study before granting approval.

"Our main concern is, what causes these ruptures?" said Brent Denzin, an attorney for the group. "And what if it happens in one of the 68 miles of wetlands this (new) pipeline will run through? What then?"

Officials are investigating what caused Monday's rupture that leaked crude oil onto half an acre of a 30-acre plot of farmland near Curtiss in central Wisconsin's Clark County.

The oil leaked from a 4-foot crack in a length of pipe that has been removed and sent for analysis, said Enbridge Energy spokeswoman Denise Hamsher.

About 52,500 gallons — or 1,250 barrels — of crude oil spilled, much of it recovered by workers after it pooled in drainage ditches, Hamsher said. Cleanup crews worked around the clock since the spill and expected to finish Thursday night, she added.

But even if Enbridge cleaned the leak quickly, that doesn't excuse its track record of spills, Denzin said.

According to the company's 2006 Corporate Responsibility Report posted on its Web site, Enbridge averaged 53 spills per year between 2001 and 2005, accounting for a total spillage of about 2.5 million gallons of crude oil.

"The DNR said they didn't think the new pipeline would have a significant impact (on the environment)," Denzin said. "But with those types of failures in the past, we simply couldn't buy the fact it wasn't significant."

Dave Siebert, the director of the DNR's Office of Energy, said the DNR felt comfortable with the quality of its six-month environmental assessment effort prior to granting Enbridge's permit.

Hamsher said the recent spill may raise issues about pipeline safety, but it also shows how effective Enbridge's spill-control measures are.

"The system detected the spill immediately and shut down, the crews were down there right away and we avoided any environmental impact," she said.

The company transports 1.5 million barrels of crude oil — or 63 million gallons — a day through its pipeline network in the Upper Midwest, according to Hamsher.

The farmer on whose land the spill occurred said Enbridge did an "excellent" job of containing the spill and cleaning up promptly. Dean Jarvis, 54, said the company will replace any contaminated soil but he wasn't sure whether he'd be given additional compensation.

"In my opinion, they don't have to. If they do, fine," Jarvis said.

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On the Net:

Enbridge Energy Co. http://www.enbridgeus.com

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/

Midwest Environmental Advocates: http://www.midwestadvocates.org/