U.S. congressional leaders said Wednesday they will probe Canadian pipeline company Enbridge about defects uncovered on its Lakehead pipeline system.
A federal review conducted by the Detroit Free Press found that inspectors uncovered three defects in the past five years on the Lakehead pipeline system operated by Enbridge Energy Partners.
Line 6B of the Lakehead pipeline system burst in late July, spilling roughly 20,000 barrels of oil into the waterways of southern Michigan. Enbridge said last week that Line 6A of the pipeline network spilled oil onto a roadway and into a nearby retention pond, though the size of the spill was unclear.
The Free Press said its investigations suggested that minor issues could sometimes lead to greater problems with underground pipelines. Defects found on Line 6B, the Free Press said, were considered too small to repair or report to federal authorities.
Republican lawmakers from Michigan said Enbridge failed to repair around 200 so-called anomalies on the Lakehead pipeline system last year, opting instead to lower the pressure on the pipeline.
U.S. lawmakers asked Wednesday on whether Enbridge addressed many of the defects uncovered on the Lakehead system. Authorities also questioned whether the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has tight enough standards to prevent pipeline accidents.
A federal review conducted by the Detroit Free Press found that inspectors uncovered three defects in the past five years on the Lakehead pipeline system operated by Enbridge Energy Partners.
Line 6B of the Lakehead pipeline system burst in late July, spilling roughly 20,000 barrels of oil into the waterways of southern Michigan. Enbridge said last week that Line 6A of the pipeline network spilled oil onto a roadway and into a nearby retention pond, though the size of the spill was unclear.
The Free Press said its investigations suggested that minor issues could sometimes lead to greater problems with underground pipelines. Defects found on Line 6B, the Free Press said, were considered too small to repair or report to federal authorities.
Republican lawmakers from Michigan said Enbridge failed to repair around 200 so-called anomalies on the Lakehead pipeline system last year, opting instead to lower the pressure on the pipeline.
U.S. lawmakers asked Wednesday on whether Enbridge addressed many of the defects uncovered on the Lakehead system. Authorities also questioned whether the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has tight enough standards to prevent pipeline accidents.
