Feds to inspect Enbridge's Edmonton control room
National Energy Board to inspect operations after U.S. criticized response to leaking pipeline
Federal regulators are reviewing the operations of Enbridge's pipeline operations control room in Edmonton after staff was characterized as "Keystone Kops" by the United States National Transportation Safety Board.
The U.S. board found the Edmonton office ignored repeated leak warnings for 17 hours before shutting down a pipeline that poured 20,000 barrels of oil into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in July 2010.
Enbridge announced that changes have been made to a number of pipeline control and control centre operations, but Canada's National Energy Board wants to see the changes for itself.
In a letter to the chief executive officer of Enbridge Pipeline Inc., the board "will take all necessary actions to protect the environment and the public."
The board plans to meet with staff and inspect control room operations on Aug. 8th and 9th.
The inspection comes as the company is fighting a public relations war being waged over Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through northern British Columbia.