The Husky Energy oil spill that sent between 200,000 and 250,000 litres into the North Saskatchewan River could have a negative effect on attitudes toward pipelines, according to one Saskatoon environmentalist.
“It may impact the perception in Saskatchewan of pipeline safety because we haven’t had really serious incidents of a major breach that impacted the environment before,” said Peter Prebble, director of environmental policy with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.
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The most recent significant spill in Saskatchewan came in 2007, when a rupture in an Enbridge pipeline near Glenavon, Sask. released 990,000 litres of crude oil into an area of farmland.
“This is a much bigger incident,” Prebble said.
Pipelines are widely considered the safest form of oil transportation when it comes to the risk to human safety.
“But with respect to actual spills and impact on the environment, you actually get more spills from pipelines than you do with movement of oil by rail,” Prebble said.
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The City of Prince Albert declared a local state of emergency Monday in response to the spill near Maidstone, Sask. on July 21.
An investigation has started with enforcement officers, “to determine whether there has been a contravention of federal, environmental or wildlife legislation,” according to Lo Cheng, director of environmental emergencies for Environment and Climate Change Canada.
“As this is a matter under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time on that issue,” she said.
With files from The Canadian Press
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