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National Wildlife Foundation’s Beth Wallace on the potential impact on the Great Lakes’ ecosystem and economy of an oil spill.
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-- -- right here in the US of possible oil spill in the Great Lakes in northern Michigan I was really shocked by this the Great -- supply drinking water to thirty million people we knew that he supports seven billion dollars and fishing industry.
But there -- a pipeline running right underneath it carries oil from Canada through the narrow streets of the Mac -- A new report says -- plan to increase capacity of that pipeline.
Could turn this beautiful scene into something that looks more like this well.
Down -- so an oil spill that could rival the BP gulf spill joining me.
Fox Business because of interviews -- Wallace from the national wildlife foundation who authored this report and that.
You know I was surprised to see this report I didn't realize that the resist danger of a spill I haven't heard a lot about it is it really legitimate concern.
-- definitely.
You know -- note back 2 years ago I am from a community that was impacted by a number of spell.
An account as -- river when they dumped around -- million gallons that was the largest and most costly inland oil spill in history.
And this is a wake up call for the National Wildlife Federation it out of looking other pipelines and their region.
And saying where else is there's possibility.
And that we saw line five that we realize -- sixty years old.
It is things waited for expansion.
Despite the fact that -- -- does not improving its safety in northern an artist has and so.
Mr.
purchase outlines our concerns and provides recommendations one of those is to not allow the expand.
So one thing Enbridge has said in the past and others in the area of said that.
You know there is demand for greater capacity in this pipeline but they have been upgrading the pumping stations so that solves the problem do you buy that answer.
Net net sit so what happens is they upgrade the pumping stations along the route of the pipeline and ordered up.
Push more out power to the pipe and -- push more products that are in this this gives them the opportunity -- get.
More more oil to of their refineries.
And real best pipeline in particular -- do not feel like needs to me.
And a -- that expansion plan and we feel like instead there needs to be focused on their emergency response plans.
It perhaps need to look at replacing -- pipeline since that sixty years old and it travels one of the most sensitive places in the world.
And EO.
-- back to their emergency response plan it's -- seventeen hours to report this film -- river.
And they say that it'll take them about eight minutes to discovers thought the straight -- and I were not convinced of that.
And -- another hit a three -- Stephen A responds to assault the -- -- because they're nearest emergency response plan.
And it hurt -- is three hours away and that's just not good enough and and then not a reason to -- parents -- reason not to allow them to expand its pipeline of -- another thing the people disagree with you say all the time is that there's constant inspections.
They are always out there inspecting so it's not likely that something would happen.
And they wouldn't know what's going on.
Sure well you know -- another -- account zero river this that pipeline evidently had a crack and that and this is the -- that ruptured.
It's for five years before the over the rupture even occurred and -- knew about that but.
There assessment of the crack was was not up to par -- didn't meet certain standards and so how can we trust the fact that there there assessment of these pipelines are accurate and we tried to get this information from.
The pipeline safety administration and from member -- and they won't provide it's considered national security arrest and so.
We have no idea we just have to take their word for and if there there history in the region has.
Has shown us that perhaps we shouldn't be taking their word for and and we should be asking congress for what -- the bottom line -- what you would like and -- to do.
Because because we need a little while Canada -- -- replacement.
Go have not -- have been Davis is another Canadian company that is as pushing products through the United States.
And we would love for a -- To replace this pipeline in its entirety -- also love.
For the pipeline safety administration say no you're not allowed to expand its pipeline given the sensitivity of the location as you mentioned.
At thirty million people -- -- -- and that's what this the Great Lakes that are fresh water drinking source one point five million people.
-- and the Great -- spur job once bill similar to what happened BP your -- happen in the count as a river could destroy all of that congress has even invested billions of dollars into restoring a Great Lakes and so it only makes sense that we.
-- and demands that this company and have the utmost respect and and consider a full replacement of the fine back Wallace thanks coming on the show.
