Enbridge Pipeline Spill East of Deer River

(Leech Lake Reservation) On Friday, April 16, 2010, a report of an oil spill was called in by local firefighters fighting a forest fire 3 miles East of Deer River, MN, on Leech Lake Reservation property. An unknown amount of crude oil leaked out of a 1-inch crack into a wetland area where the 60 year old pipe is located. The pipelines carry crude oil from the Alberta Canada tar sands through MN to Superior WI.

A 25-acre forest fire was reported on Friday afternoon, the cause of the fire in undetermined at this time. While the fire fighters were fighting the blaze they noticed a black sludge on the ground in a wetland area. Upon further investigation they noticed it was crude oil. The fire was burning along the Enbridge Energy crude oil pipeline. The oil that had leaked out started on fire adding to the fire. Luckily, the firefighters were able to put out the fire.

First picture is a close-up of the exposed pipeline; the outer layer of protection was burnt off during the fire. The second picture is of a portion of the area that is affected. In both pictures are seen the white, diaper-like papers which are used to collect oil out of the wetland waters.

According to the Enbridge Energy Safety Official on the scene today, there are no estimates being released yet on the amount of oil that did leak, but that Enbridge was going to look over their records to try to determine how long the leak may have been there. He also stated that Enbridge Energy didn’t know there was a leak until the fire crews called and notified them. Today workers were placing a temporary sleeve over the crack, but plan to return and replace the 40-foot section of pipe in two weeks.

These kinds of spills, from old and/or exposed pipes in wetland areas, and the apparent lack of sufficient monitoring are among the reasons several Leech Lake Tribal members are taking legal action against Enbridge Energy regarding the “Alberta Clipper Pipeline. Enbridge Energy claims to have state of the art, up to date safety regulations and mechanisms in place and as well as around the clock monitoring of the pipeline pressures to detect leaks immediately, yet leaks like this one can apparently occur for days or more without detection, allowing an unknown amount of oil to leak into vulnerable and sensitive ecosystems and wetlands.

In July, 2009 Leech Lake Member Vikki Howard states” The Leech Lake reservation is 50% water. Water is sacred to all of man-kind, we must protect our water’s from being polluted. It is one of our sacred elements that the Creator has given to us.” The lawsuit also contends that allowing this pipeline to be built through our reservation places “irreparable risks” to our precious water and land base.

“The Indigenous Environmental Network has voiced numerous concerns regarding the stability and safety of these older pipelines. This pipe was put into use in 1949; its now 60 years old, there are places we have seen on the pipeline that are corroded and missing the outer protective layer of asphalt material, right out in the open, exposed in wetland areas. Its very disturbing to see particularly when you consider that there is now a new lease allowing the pipeline to remain in place for another 20 years”, says Marty Cobenais, IEN Pipeline Organizer.

As far as we know, Enbridge has yet to notify the public that this incident occurred.

For more information contact:
Marty Cobenais
Indigenous Environmental Network
martyc@ienearth.org