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Enbridge Line 3 Stalled Once Again

Enbridge Energy's plan to replace an aging crude oil pipeline that runs through northern Minnesota hit another obstacle Tuesday when two state agencies said they would hold up approval of the project's permits until problems with its environmental review are resolved.

Court Lifts Injunction Blocking Keystone XL Pipeline

An appeals court has lifted a judge's injunction that blocked construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S., but the developer has said it's too late to begin work this year and environmental groups vowed to keep fighting it.

Enbridge Seeks Michigan Court Ruling on Line 5 Pipeline Deal

Enbridge said will go to court after failing to strike a deal with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on building an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the channel that connects Lakes Huron and Michigan.

Texas May Stiffen Penalties for Pipeline Damage

Lawmakers in Texas are considering a bill that would stiffen penalties for damaging or trespassing around oil and gas operations despite opposition from environmental groups who say it would quell peaceful protests and overly criminalize offenses.

Lawmaker's 'Nazi' Remark over Pipeline Fight Draws Criticism

A Pennsylvania state lawmaker protesting a natural gas liquids pipeline project in her neighborhood has apologized for saying "Nazis were just doing their jobs too" and drawing a comparison to pipeline workers.

Plains All American fined $3.3M for California Oil Spill

Plains All American Pipeline was fined nearly $3.35 million for a 2015 California coastal oil spill caused by the rupture of a corroded pipeline.

Michigan Governor Open to Possible Line 5 Tunnel Construction

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that she's open to allowing construction of an oil transport tunnel beneath the channel where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet, despite previously halting work on a tunnel plan developed by her predecessor.

CEA Report Details Potential of Piceance, Uinta Basins

The CEA has released a detailed report on “Natural Gas Markets for the Western States and Tribal Nations,” explaining how the abundant natural gas resources in the Piceance and Unita basins in Colorado and Utah can bring significant economic and environmental growth the region with the approval of more production and infrastructure expansion.

Sunoco Settles Mariner East 1 Case with Pennsylvania PUC

Energy Transfer's Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary has reached a $200,000 settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) over an 840-gallon ethane and propane leak from Mariner East 1 pipeline in 2017.

Beyond the Tribal Effect: Steps to Successful Permitting on Native American Lands

The playing field of environmental permitting can be complicated, exhaustive, and time consuming. Among the most challenging rules and regulations for the energy industry are those which were designed to uphold national obligations to tribal nations.

Con Edison Halts Gas Hookups, Citing Interstate Pipeline Constraints

Consolidated Edison Inc said it will impose a moratorium on new natural gas service in parts of New York's Westchester County to protect system reliability due to limited space on interstate pipelines to the region.

Unwanted Night Moves

Whenever the subject of internal corrosion in pipelines comes up, it rekindles some unpleasant memories from my extensive time as a pipeline company spokesperson. Being part of an emergency response team for over 12 years was rewarding in many ways, but there was always an uneasy feeling when the phone would ring in the middle of the night.

PHMSA and Advisory Group Finalizing New Safety Program

A Voluntary Information Sharing (VIS) advisory group, working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), voted to recommend a new, industry-wide safety reporting program in which employees, in a “no-fear” environment, would report pipeline operational and infrastructure risks and hazards. Reports would be “de-identified” and centralized. The goal is that potential problems would be found and corrected before they worsened, possibly becoming emergency situations.

NACE International Roundtable: Corrosion Management for Pipeline Integrity

To explain the value of corrosion management systems (CMS), how they work, and what programs and platforms are available to help organizations improve corrosion control programs, three experts in oil and gas pipeline corrosion management share their knowledge and experience with CMS. They are Michael Ames, Chapman Engineering; Gerry Koch, DNV GL; and David Kroon, Aegion Corporation.

Enbridge Delays Line 3 Pipeline Opening in Minnesota by Year

Enbridge Energy is delaying the start-up of its planned Line 3 replacement crude oil pipeline through northern Minnesota by a year, until the second half of 2020.

Canada’s Energy Regulator Endorses Contentious Pipeline

Canada’s energy regulator endorsed a contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion on Friday that would almost triple the flow of oil from the Alberta oil sands to the Pacific Coast. The National Energy Board (NEB) said the expansion is in the country’s national interest but set out 16 new conditions.

Colombia’s Cano Limon Pipeline Bombed for 6th Time this Year: Ecopetrol

Colombia’s Cano Limon pipeline was bombed again, state-run oil company Ecopetrol said, the sixth time it has been attacked this year.

San Francisco Gas Explosion Shoots Fire that Burns Buildings

A gas explosion in a San Francisco neighborhood shot flames into the air for hours Wednesday and burned five buildings, sending panicked residents and workers fleeing into the streets. It took utility crews more than two hours to put out the fire after private construction workers cut a natural gas line, igniting the towering flames.

4 Activists Arrested Attempting to Shut Down Oil Pipeline

Four climate-change activists from the Catholic Worker movement were arrested in an attempt to shut down an Enbridge's Line 4 oil pipeline in north-central Minnesota.

Future Policy Implications and Response to ‘Big Green’ Advocacy

A moderate middle group that strives to put the U.S. as the world leader in environmental protection and energy production is in the best interest of all of us – regardless of political affiliation or socio-economic background.

Death Toll Reaches 94 in Mexico Fuel Pipeline Fire Horror

People in the town where a gasoline explosion killed at least 94 people say the section of pipeline that gushed fuel has been a habitual gathering site for thieves, repeatedly damaged and patched like a trusty pair of jeans.

66 Killed in Mexico Pipeline Blast after Thieves Rupture Line

At least 66 people were killed and dozens were injured or reported missing after a gasoline pipeline was tapped by fuel thieves and exploded in central Mexico Friday, state and federal authorities said.

Pipeline Shutdowns Lead to Import Bottlenecks at Mexican Ports

Bottlenecks for offloading imported fuel are forming at some Mexican oil ports following government orders to shut pipelines to limit losses from widespread fuel theft.

Keystone XL Hearing may Proceed Despite Government Shutdown

Justice Department attorneys say the U.S. government shutdown shouldn't delay a court hearing on a judge's decision to halt Keystone XL pipeline construction.

Judge Allows Tribes to Challenge Corps’ Dakota Access Study

A federal judge is allowing four Native American tribes in the Dakotas to challenge the recent conclusion of federal officials that a Dakota Access oil pipeline spill wouldn't unfairly affect them, further prolonging a court case that has lingered for more than two years.

Dakota Access Tree Replacement Lags Deadlines

The company hired to replace trees cut along the Dakota Access pipeline route has struggled to meet its deadline for reasons ranging from equipment and staffing issues to pushback from some landowners and agencies.

Maryland Board Rejects TransCanada Project Easement

Maryland's Board of Public Works voted against a proposed pipeline easement across the western part of the state that would enable TransCanada to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to West Virginia.

Columbia Gas’ Merrimack Valley Accident: Fallout Just Starting

Federal and state agencies immediately jumped into action to uncover causes and preventative lessons that might be learned from the fatal September explosions, but other investigations could have implications for pipeline operations far beyond Massachusetts.

Retiring Stavropoulos Leaves PG&E a Safer Utility

Eight years after joining PG&E in the wake of the San Bruno explosion, Nick Stavropoulos retired as an industry role model for restoring a sense of pride at the giant San Francisco utility.

APGA Chairman to Focus on Safety and Consumer Education

P&GJ talks about industry priorities and challenges with Owen Reeves, 2018-2019 chairman of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), which represents more than 70% of all publicly owned natural gas utilities in the United States.