oil spills
Credit: Leonid Ikan/Big Stock Photo
Neglected oil spills in Canadian little-known Canadian oilpatch go unpunished for years
Oil spills in Manitoba have gone unchecked for 16 years, with no fines or penalties issued for 6.5 million liters of leaked oil and saltwater.
In short:
- Manitoba has seen 6.5 million liters of oil and saltwater spill from pipelines since 2008, with no fines issued.
- The provincial government previously cut environmental oversight, leaving oil companies to self-regulate and report spills.
- Experts warn that this self-regulation model poses significant environmental and public health risks.
Key quote:
“It’s really a self-governance model where industry gets to mark its own homework.”
— Alan Andrews, lawyer with the environmental law charity EcoJustice.
Why this matters:
In rural Manitoba, where agriculture and natural resources play a crucial role in daily life, the impact of oil spills can be devastating. The leaked oil and saltwater can degrade soil quality, making it unsuitable for farming and contaminate water supplies, posing risks to both human health and wildlife. Despite these severe consequences, the lack of regulatory action highlights a troubling oversight in environmental governance.
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Credit: Frans Berkelaar/Flickr
Deep-water oil terminal near Texas raises safety concerns
Enterprise Products' new deep-water oil terminal off the Texas coast could pose significant risks due to its unconventional design, which allows tankers to moor closer than usual, potentially leading to catastrophic accidents in severe weather.
In short:
- Enterprise’s Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) project, which can load two supertankers simultaneously, poses a risk due to its tanker mooring distance being much shorter than industry standards.
- Experts warn that in severe weather, tankers could break free and crash into the terminal, causing a catastrophic oil spill and endangering workers.
- Despite new standards suggesting greater mooring distances, the Maritime Administration has not required SPOT to comply, citing previous risk assessments.
Key quote:
"The worst case is the vessel is weather-vaning close to the platform and then a squall comes through and blows the vessel against the platform and knocks it over."
— Lincoln Stroh, chairman of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee.
Why this matters:
A collision at the terminal could lead to a massive oil spill, endangering lives and severely impacting marine ecosystems, suggesting the need for revised safety standards in offshore oil operations. Read more: As inevitable as blood and taxes.
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Credit: CherylCasey/Big Stock Photo
Heiltsuk leaders seek justice on the global stage for a historic spill's fallout
Heiltsuk tribal leaders from coastal British Columbia have taken their grievances over Canada's inadequate spill response to an international forum, aiming to secure legal recognition for cultural losses.
In short:
- Following the devastating Nathan E. Stewart spill, the Heiltsuk Nation struggles with the long-term impacts on their traditional harvesting grounds, leading them to seek international intervention.
- Canada's legal framework currently fails to recognize cultural and environmental losses, prompting the Heiltsuk leaders to advocate for changes at the International Maritime Organization.
- The Heiltsuk's efforts underscore a broader struggle for Indigenous communities to protect their rights and resources against environmental disasters.
Key quote:
“We’re not only looking to make things right for ourselves to protect our shorelines. It’s only a matter of time before another incident."
— Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt.
Why this matters:
This isn't just about the fight against oil spills; it's also a larger story about the right to self-determination for Indigenous peoples and the global need to transition to sustainable energy sources.
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Credit: askarim/Big Stock Photo
Chevron settles for a historic fine over California oil spills
In a landmark move, Chevron has agreed to pay $13 million in fines to California agencies for its oil spill incidents, marking a step towards addressing past environmental damages.
In short:
- Chevron's $13 million penalty sets a record for fines related to oil spills in California, addressing contamination that has persisted for decades.
- The settlement does not mandate an immediate halt to the ongoing spills but introduces a framework for state-supervised management and containment.
- Chevron's response to these fines includes an acknowledgment of their environmental obligations and a pledge to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- Despite the significant fines, Chevron's earnings dwarf the penalties, raising questions about the effectiveness of financial penalties as deterrents.
Key quote:
"It's great to see one of the state's most prolific polluters fined for its destruction to the environment."
— Hollin Kretzmann, attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute
Why this matters:
Across the country, states and the federal government are allocating more resources for cleanup of abandoned, leaking wells, which come with significant environmental and economic impacts. So far, industry's contribution to cleaning up their messes has fallen far short of what's needed, leaving taxpayers at risk of footing the bill.
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Credit: Sosialistisk Ungdom (SU)/Flickr
Shell to divest Nigerian onshore oil operations amid environmental concerns
Shell's proposal, if approved without restrictions by the Nigerian government, could limit the oil giant's liability for decades of environmental pollution.
In short:
- Shell has agreed to sell its onshore oil business in Nigeria's Niger Delta to a consortium for $2.4 billion, aiming to reduce its West African footprint.
- The sale faces scrutiny from activists demanding Shell address longstanding environmental damages before finalizing the deal.
- The Nigerian government's approval is required for the sale, involving assets primarily owned by the national oil company NNPC.
Key quote:
“It would be a matter of very grave concern if the obvious legacy issues, especially the environmental and decommissioning issues, are not adequately and transparently addressed before and by any eventual divestment.”
— Ledum Mitee, local activist
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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Credit: Roy Luck/Flickr
Severe cold leads to dozens of oilfield incidents in North Dakota
Extreme cold this past week has led to a blitz of spills and other incidents in North Dakota's Bakken oil fields.
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Photo by Jared Evans on Unsplash
California oil companies face tougher enforcement under new law
California will soon have more authority to fine oil companies that cause major spills or other hazards. The measure steps up potential fines and allows criminal charges against companies that harm health, safety and the environment.
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