Saskatchewan to inspect pipelines near rivers, lakes and municipal water intakes

REGINA – Saskatchewan says it will be inspecting all oil pipelines that cross rivers, lakes or other bodies of water that supply municipalities.

Energy and Resources Minister Dustin Duncan says the provincewide inspection is a direct response to a Husky Oil (TSE:HSE) spill into the North Saskatchewan River.

The cities of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort all had to shut off their water plant intakes and find alternate sources of water when the oil plume moved downstream.

Duncan says the province will start with 35 crossings where pipelines intersect with crucial waterways.

“There are a lot of crossings in the province. Obviously we’re going to focus on the high-priority ones that could have an impact on people’s potable water sources,” Duncan said Friday. “We’ve obviously seen what that has meant to a number of communities this summer and the difficulties that has brought.”

Inspections are currently the responsibility of pipeline operators, Duncan said.

“What we’re doing now is having our staff go out and visually inspect and do some followup with the companies just to make sure that we can have confidence, and the public can have confidence, that our potable water sources are safe.”

About 250,000 litres of oil mixed with a lighter hydrocarbon spilled into the river near Maidstone, Sask. in July. Cities that depend on the river for their supply had to conserve water for several weeks after the spill.

Prince Albert has received a $5-million payment from Husky to cover some of the direct costs and indirect losses related to the spill.

Duncan said it’s still not clear what caused the spill. A full investigation is expected to conclude next month.

“There are still some unanswered questions,” he said.

Government officials said Friday that 80 per cent of the oil spilled into the North Saskatchewan River has been recovered. A total of almost 150 animals have died, mostly fish and small mammals.

— With files from CJME