Two protesters holding a sign that says Keystone XL Pipeline not in our national interest.

Keystone oil pipeline leaks again in North Dakota, adding to long list of failures

A leak in the Keystone oil pipeline has spilled 3,500 barrels of crude in North Dakota, marking the 23rd spill in its 15-year history.

Josh Funk reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

The Keystone oil pipeline, built in 2010 by TC Energy and now operated by South Bow, leaked again Tuesday, releasing 3,500 barrels of oil in North Dakota.
The pipeline has had 23 total spills, including a 2022 rupture in Kansas that was the largest U.S. onshore oil spill in nearly a decade.
Investigators blame many of the spills on flawed construction, poor welds, and original design issues identified in government and safety agency reports.

Key quote:

“Keystone’s incident history illustrates the problematic pipeline’s systemic issues.”

— Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust

Why this matters:

The Keystone pipeline has long been a flashpoint in the debate over fossil fuels, not just for its contribution to carbon emissions but for its persistent vulnerability to leaks — failures that have environmental and public health consequences well beyond the immediate site. Compounds like benzene, toluene, and heavy metals are released when spills occur, creating particular health risks for people living nearby. With each rupture, the pipeline reveals deeper structural issues: aging materials, regulatory blind spots, and a fundamental tension between energy infrastructure built for a carbon-heavy past and a climate reality demanding urgent transition.

apnews.com

Smoke billows from an industrial chimney at sunset near several homes.

Credit: Tanner Messenger/Unsplash

Judge rules EPA overstepped in cutting pollution grants

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from canceling $600 million in environmental justice grants aimed at helping underserved communities reduce pollution.

Rachel Frazin reports forThe Hill.

In short:

The grants stem from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside $3 billion for environmental justice programs.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Biden had planned to distribute the $600 million through regional groups, which would fund local efforts, before the Trump EPA terminated the grants earlier this year.
Judge Adam Abelson ruled the EPA's cancellation exceeded its authority “precisely because they are ‘environmental justice’ programs."

Key quote:
The move included a “lack of any reasoned decision-making, or reasoned explanation.”

— Judge Adam Abelson, U.S. District Court

Why this matters:
Underserved communities often face the greatest environmental health risks and climate impacts. These grants were designed to help local groups respond to long-standing environmental harms and health risks, and canceling them would have cut off vital support just as cleanup efforts were beginning to gain traction. The Trump administration has also attempted to cancel a similar $20 billion program that would fund climate-friendly projects.

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