Topic: Administration blocks restart of massive oil pipeline, citing leaks

[rickl]

The Obama administration said Friday that a massive pipeline carrying oil across much of the United States must remain shut down until federal regulators are satisfied that it can operate without future leaks.

TransCanada’s Keystone pipeline leaked twice last month, fueling opposition to a pending expansion of the project, which is undergoing a wide-ranging federal review.

The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a “corrective action order” Friday informing TransCanada that it must take a series of steps before resuming normal operations at the pipeline, which runs from Canada to Oklahoma.
“After evaluating the foregoing preliminary findings of fact, I find that the continued operation of the pipeline without corrective measures would be hazardous to life, property and the environment,” Jeffrey Wiese, PHMSA’s associate administrator for pipeline safety, said in the order.

PHMSA is mandating that TransCanada provide a detailed “restart plan,” conduct “mechanical and metallurgical” testing, and analyze the pipeline components that failed last month.

In addition, the order instructs TransCanada to conduct a review of its entire pipeline system within 60 days, among other things.

The order comes at a politically sensitive time for TransCanada. The company is seeking federal approval to expand its Keystone pipeline to carry Canadian oil sands from Alberta to Texas.

The rest.  Hat tip Instapundit.

[charlesoakwood]

Another step by the Obama administration to shut down oil in the USA.

Texas refines about 30% and Louisiana and equal or better amount of oil.  And according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration: "The top five sources of US crude oil imports for March were Canada (2,151 thousand barrels per day)...", shutting down that pipe will choke that off.

This could be another one of the administration's extortion ploys.  Inspecting a pipe line from Alberta to Oklahoma in 60 days, that's unimaginable, not only the time and equipment but the manpower, it would be cheaper to pay him off.

 

[John Florida]

 OH yes we need politicians inspecting pipeline.

[trapeze]

Looks like a coordinated attack. Homeland Security should look into it.

[John Florida]

Looks like a coordinated attack. Homeland Security should look into it.

 Sure and don't forget to call justice Dept. too.

[charlesoakwood]

Justice!  Justice?  We don't need no stinking justice.

Grand Junction Anti Obama Billboard Shows Obama as a Terrorist, Gay,Mobster, And Illegal Alien

[Sectionhand]

That's okay . This and other stupid moves are ensuring that the lid will be securely nailed shut on his coffin in 2012 .

[John Florida]

That's okay . This and other stupid moves are ensuring that the lid will be securely nailed shut on his coffin in 2012 .

   Your keyboard to Gods eyes.

[Sectionhand]

That's okay . This and other stupid moves are ensuring that the lid will be securely nailed shut on his coffin in 2012 .

   Your keyboard to Gods eyes.

One can hope .

[Libertas]

Obama is such a comie punk turd!  I guess he feels if he can put the squeeze on oil he can get a two-fer: shore up his miserable base and drive up gas prices some more so people forget about all the unemployed and the dismal economy...just point them at the oil companies and the the phony baloney blame game begin!

What a fvckstick!

I'm guessing more and more people are seeing through the thin veneer and seeing the angry petulant boy-tyrant beneath so his stunts will run out of gas and he'll be the one without a chair once the music stops!

[rickl]

Obama is such a comie punk turd!  I guess he feels if he can put the squeeze on oil he can get a two-fer: shore up his miserable base and drive up gas prices some more so people forget about all the unemployed and the dismal economy...just point them at the oil companies and the the phony baloney blame game begin!

I've always thought that one of his long-term goals is to nationalize the oil companies.  This could be a means to that end.  Drive up prices and then demonize oil "profiteers".  Classic Commie tactics.

[Glock32]

Yes, I think that's their MO in general. Make it impossible for private industry to keep its head above water due to byzantine regulations, and if they try to compensate by raising their prices, then demonize for them that. Both avenues -- the regulation-out-of-existence of the failures, and the demonization of the successes -- provide a pretext for nationalization, usually with some rationalization like "we live in a complex, highly technical society where the resources of a single private entity are quite simply no longer enough; only the state can properly meet these demands. We've made an honest effort at doing things the old way, but that only resulted in price gouging and fleecing of the consumer." i.e., it's all in the name of proggggg-ress.