The comment period has been extended for an application about pipelines in the St. Clair River, which drew the attention of environmental groups north and south of the border last month.
Plains LPG Services submitted an application for a U.S. Department of State Presidential Permit in 2012 to update the legal change of ownership of six pipelines that cross the U.S./Canada border and St. Clair River between Sarnia, Ontario and St. Clair, Michigan.
Plains LPG said in a press release the Department of State has recently extended the comment period for 30 days.
“Two of these pipelines are in service and were built in 1971 and 1973, respectively,” Plains LPG officials stated.
“Contrary to previous media reports, both of these pipelines transport liquid petroleum gases (LPG) such as butane and propane. These pipelines have never transported crude oil, and Plains LPG has no intention to transport crude oil on these lines. The two active pipelines follow the appropriate federal regulatory requirements for pipeline inspections, including complying with regulations that require internal in-line inspections in the past five years.”
Plains LPG officials added: “Four of these pipelines are inactive; have been purged and filled with an inert gas. This includes the two pipelines that were originally constructed in 1918. In the 1970s, a 5” pipeline was installed inside each of the original lines. The 5″ pipeline has no integrity dependency on the 8″ line.”
Environmental groups north and south of the border, including Wallaceburg’s WATCH group, were scrambling for answers after a Detroit Free Press article said the 98-year-old pipelines under the St. Clair River could potentially being used to transport heavy crude oil from Michigan into Canada.
Plains LPG refuted the claims, stating that they have “no intention to transport crude oil on these lines.”
Plains LPG stated the State Department requires a company to apply for a new Presidential Permit to reflect any change of ownership for pipelines crossing the international border between Canada and the United States.
“Plains LPG, a subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (Plains), took ownership of the pipelines from the previous owner in 2012 and subsequently filed an application to amend the owner of the pipeline and authorization to transport the same products authorized under the Presidential Permit we acquired with the pipeline,” Plains LPG officials stated.
“Plains LPG has no business plan to change the nature of the pipeline’s operation, and we have no intention to transport crude oil on these lines.”
Plains LPG officials added: “It’s important to note that securing a Presidential Permit does not authorize Plains LPG to bring an inactive cross-border line into service without further approvals from U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities. This includes requirements for advance public consultation with impacted stakeholders.”
Plains LPG says pipelines are one of the safest, most reliable and most efficient means of transporting crude oil and natural gas liquids. Plains continues to safely operate our pipelines and to meet or exceed the regulatory requirements to demonstrate our commitment to public safety and the protection of the environment.
Where are we supposed to leave our comments? Why isn’t that information in this news story? Water is a publicly owned commodity. We deserve to have a say.