Oil Pipeline company "Oil Spills Can Have ‘Positive’ Effects. Wait, What?

[Ichingcarpenter]

Kinder Morgan’s slogan is “A Different Kind of Energy Company,” but its latest argument for expanding an oil pipeline is just ridiculous. The firm wants to triple its pipeline capacity from Alberta to Burnaby, so it is arguing that oil spills can actually have positive impacts.

“Pipeline spills can have both positive and negative effects on local and regional economies, both in the short- and long-term,” the company said in a submission to Canada’s National Energy Board, the Edmonton Journal reported.

“Spill response and cleanup creates business and employment opportunities for affected communities, regions, and cleanup service providers.”

Say what?

In analyzing various scenarios and the environmental impact on bodies of water like the Fraser River, Kinder Morgan’s 15,000-page submission states that the company believes it is a low risk for an oil spill. Still, some predictably can’t wrap their head around the “positive” statement.

“We know Kinder Morgan is using every trick in the book to push this pipeline through our community, but this takes the cake—proposing that a spill would actually be good for the local economy,” said Kennedy Stewart, a member of Parliament for the Burnaby—Douglas electoral district.

http://thecontributor.com/kinder-morgan-claims-oil-spills-can-have-positive-effects-wait-what

[DetlefK]

1. Car accidents create business and employment opportunities.