ABC reports that the Keystone pipeline system has been shut down following an oil spill estimated to have released 14,000 barrels.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A pipeline operator put a damaged section in Kansas back into service Thursday, a little more than three weeks after a spill dumped 14,000 bathtubs' worth of crude oil into a creek.
Canada-based T.C. Energy announced that it had completed repairs, inspections and testing on its Keystone pipeline in northeast Kansas to allow a “controlled restart" of the section from Steele City, near the Nebraska-Kansas line, to Cushing, in northern Oklahoma. The 2,700-mile Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois.
A spill on Dec. 7 shut down the Keystone system after dumping 14,000 barrels of crude oil into a creek running through rural pastureland in Washington County, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City. Each barrel is 42 gallons, the size of a household bathtub.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm gave TC Energy permission last week to restart the section of pipeline after telling the company that it would have to operate it at lower pressure than before. The company's announcement disclosed that it still is working to determine the cause of the spill.
“We recognize that incidents like this raise questions. We have questions too. We are committed to asking those tough questions, fully investigating and sharing our learnings and actions,” Richard Prior, the company's president for liquids pipelines, said in an online message.
The company reported that as of last week, it had recovered almost 7,700 barrels of the spilled crude oil, or a little more than half. The company and government officials have said drinking water supplies were not affected. No one was evacuated, and most of the Keystone system was back in operation in eight days.
The spill was the largest onshore in nine years and larger than 22 previous spills on the Keystone system combined, according to U.S. Department of Transportation data.
“We will not rest until we have recovered and remediated the areas affected by this incident," Prior said in his message. "No incident is ever acceptable to us.”
Concerns that spills could pollute waterways spurred opposition to plans by TC Energy to build another crude oil pipeline in the same system, the 1,200-mile Keystone XL, across Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. President Joe Biden’s cancellation of a permit for the project led the company to pull the plug on the project last year.
Top Journal Star photos for December
A portion of Lincoln's new South Beltway intersection with U.S. 77 is photographed by a drone, just outside on Lincoln city limits on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Roca. The South Beltway is set to open Dec. 14, which is six months earlier than expected. The 11-mile freeway is one of the city's largest construction projects to date.
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst celebrates after making a kill against Kansas during a second-round NCAA Tournament match Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst reacts after scoring against Kansas during a second-round NCAA Tournament match Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Waverly Middle School teacher Caitlin Bell talks with seventh grade students Hayden Ryan (from left), Logan Haas and Bailey Hitz during a language arts class, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Waverly.
Millard West's Grace Kelly (20) drives in for a layup against Lincoln East on Thursday at East High School.
Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson (44) celebrates with her team after a scoring against Delaware State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Miami's Abby Cassiano (15) scores over Kansas' Rachel Langs (2) during a first-round NCAA Tournament match Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska assistant coach Mickey Joseph walks out of Lancaster County Department of Corrections, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, in Lincoln.
Travis Mannschreck stocks records on the opening day of his business, First Day Vinyl , Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, First Day Vinyl Lincoln.
Firefighters from Lincoln Fire & Rescue inspect the damage after a fire Thursday at a Ruskin Place apartment building at 910 Rutland Drive. There were concerns about HVAC units on top of the building causing the roof to sag.
A nearly 40-foot blue spruce is hoisted onto a trailer Monday morning before it was transported to the state Capitol, where it will be on display in the rotunda throughout the holiday season.
Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) quiets the crowd after the Huskers defeated Creighton on Sunday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Sam Volkmer (left), Matthew Bittinger (center), and Alma Cerretta play a board game at Mana Games Cafe in Lincoln.
Lincoln Southeast's Mari Shumaker has his hair fly as he drives to the basket past Millard North's Jacob Martin in overtime on Friday at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Nebraska's C.J. Wilcher (left) and Emmanuel Bandoumel react after a foul call against the Huskers with nine seconds left in overtime in a loss to Purdue on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Purdue's Braden Smith tries to steal the ball away from Nebraska's Sam Griesel on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Samford's Emily Bowman (left) tries to guard Nebraska's Allison Weidner as she dribbles the ball down court in the third quarter on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Estelle Sodji, a fifth grade student at Roper Elementary, jumps up in the air for a Russian toe touch dancing move as part of Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company's Backstage at the Ballet, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Lincoln.
From left to right, Nebraska's Sam Haiby, Kendall Moriarty, Allison Weidner and Callin Hake celebrate a three-pointer made by Jaz Shelley (not pictured) against Wisconsin on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Simon and Rachel Rezac smile upon seeing their donated Christmas tree light up during the annual Nebraska State Christmas tree lighting Sunday.
Construction workers prepare to take out a section of the east stairwell during the demolition of Piper Hall on Monday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Bobby Purviance (center) strapped into a Eksoskeleton by physical therapist Taylor Z during a presentation to showcase the new technology on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at Bryan West Campus in Lincoln. The Eksoskeleton is a computerized walking frame that supports a patient’s body weight as he or she learns to walk and regain mobility. It seeks to benefit patients learning to walk again after a stroke or traumatic injury to the brain or spine. With donations from the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2021. Over 40 patients at Bryan have used the new piece of technology in their recovery.
The former Grandmother's building at 6940 A St. is being torn down to make way for extra parking for the nearby Nebraska Orthopaedic Center.
Capitol Administrator Bob Ripley is leading the renovation of the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which is slated for completion in 2026.
Josh Atanasu takes a moment to himself as he visits the grave of his friend, Jacob Kraatz during a wreath laying ceremony on Saturday at Wyuka Cemetery.
As soon as the South Beltway opened to traffic on Wednesday, truck traffic was shifted away from the former Nebraska 2 route through Lincoln.
Bryce Walker, a pharmacist at Kohll's Pharmacy in Lincoln, works Thursday to fill prescriptions. A consultant's report found that Americans pay the highest prescription drug costs in the world — more than twice what people pay in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Sister Janelle Buettner speaks with Kolby Tran about his science homework Friday at North American Martyrs Catholic School.
Austin Hurt scoops fresh snow off a sidewalk at 12th and O streets Monday
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green poses for a portrait, Monday at Canfield Administration Building in Lincoln.
A band of light hits GY Sgt. Timothy Olsen as he tries to stay warm beneath a canvas tent during a wreath laying ceremony on Saturday at Wyuka Cemetery.
'TIS THE SEASON
Santa (aka Chris Boyer) gives a jaunty laugh as kids ask for gifts during a holiday event Friday at Tower Square in downtown Lincoln.
Lincoln High's Andrew Gaines (right) and Lincoln East's Connor Hamilton react after Hamilton was called for a shooting foul on Thursday at Lincoln High School.
Lincoln East's Madison Adams tries to reel in a pass while defended by Lincoln High's Nyawarga Jock on Thursday at Lincoln High School.
