History of Environmental Issues with Pipelines
“The Kalamazoo River spill in 2010 caused crude oil to spread to a Michigan wetland; water and soil contamination and adverse effects on wildlife were recorded. The accident occurred in an environmentally sensitive area with low human population and the product spread rapidly. This accident cost Enbridge Energy nearly USD 1 billion and, despite the oil company's extensive environmental remediation work, residual environmental impacts persist [26].”
REASON FOR CONCERN
EARTHJUSTICE
“Controlled by a Dallas billionaire, Energy Transfer moved quickly to overturn a federal district judge’s July 6 decision ordering the line shuttered and emptied of oil while federal regulators conduct an in-depth analysis determining whether it is safe to operate. Backed by Trump, who expedited completion of the pipeline with a 2017 executive order, DAPL crosses beneath the Missouri River at Lake Oahe just half a mile from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation in North Dakota, on unceded ancestral lands. An oil spill would poison the Tribe’s drinking water and the drinking water supply for some 17 million people downriver.”
WATER, SOIL, AND FLORA AND FAUNA IMPACTS
Based on previous knowledge accumulated through studies, we can see the direct environmental impacts that occur from crude oil pipelines. Besides the initial damage caused by digging up the land and disturbing an ecosystem, there is a high threat on water, soil, and wildlife/plants once the pipeline is working. Here are some previous issues found from crude oil pipelines that can predict the future of DAPL if is remains active.
SOIL CONTAMINATION
"The soil mixed with crude oil samples shows a decrease in the moisture content proportionally with the contamination concentration. This may be due to the polar and nonpolar reaction of the soil; crude oil is a nonpolar liquid which will adsorb the moisture in the soil and decrease the amount of moisture content in the soil... microstructural transformation of the soil. It may be due to the formation of lumps which could glue together with soil particles so as to reduce the influence of water particles."
WATER CONTAMINATION
"In January 2015, when the Poplar oil pipeline spilled 40,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana, contaminating water supplies for local residents and harming valuable fish and wildlife habitat...At the peak of the cleanup effort, a spokesman for Bridger Pipeline, the company that operates the Poplar Pipeline said that oil was being recovered at the rate of one teaspoon every ten minutes. At that pace, it would have taken 1,753 years to remove all the oil from the river."
ANIMAL IMPACT FROM CONTAMINATION
"Oil pollution can damage ecosystems, including plants and animals, and contaminate water for drinking and other purposes. The feathers and fur of birds and marine animals can become coated in oil; when the animals are covered in oil, they can no longer insulate themselves against the cold water, and birds have difficulty flying. Furthermore, when the animals clean themselves, they ingest some of the oil. Most birds that are coated in oil would not survive, if it weren’t for people cleaning them. In fact, to clean one bird requires a one hour examination from a veterinarian, two people, each working for two days to clean the bird, and then holding the bird in captivity for 20 to 40 days (which requires about two hours each day of work)."
PLANT IMPACT FROM CONTAMINATION
"Plants that grow in or near the water can be harmed by oil pollution. An oil spill can block the sunlight that plants need for photosynthesis, which kills plants growing in the water. Oil spills can result in closed beaches and harbours. Oil pollution affects fishing and hunting, which is especially detrimental for people who rely on hunting and fishing, such as many rural communities. Water sources that are intended to provide drinking water can become contaminated.
There are some areas that are more sensitive to oil pollution than others. For example, coral reefs, mangroves and marshes are more sensitive than sandy beaches and sea-grass beds. Currents and wind can sometimes carry the oil far from the spill location, causing damage to the vegetation, birds and marine animals along the way."
