Alberta RCMP say natural gas pipeline shot with high-powered rifle

HINTON, Alta. – RCMP in western Alberta are investigating the shooting of a natural gas pipeline but don’t believe it was malicious.

Mounties say the Talisman Energy pipeline was intentionally hit with one bullet from a high-powered rifle on the weekend.

The line, located about 60 kilometres north of Hinton, leaked a large quantity of natural gas before safety devices shut it down.

There was no explosion.

Const. Steve Lundberg describes the shooting as isolated.

He says it’s common for people in the area to use deactivated pipelines for target practice.

“I don’t know if perhaps the shooter thought this was a deactivated lease site and didn’t expect natural gas to be actively in the pipe,” he says.

“I definitely wouldn’t call it sabotage or terrorism … I believe it was just carelessness and foolishness.”

Note to readers: CORRECTS headline, removes “sabotage” from headline