About 40 protesters staged a mock oil spill and cleanup on Highway 6 near the city of Hamilton to show their concerns about a planned pipeline reversal through a rural area near the city.
The demonstration stopped traffic for about an hour and half.
Last year, Canada’s National Energy Board granted approval for Enbridge Pipelines Inc. to change the flow direction of the Line 9A pipeline, which runs oil from the city of Sarnia to Hamilton. This would change the flow from westbound to eastbound. It is now seeking approval to change the flow of Line 9B, which cuts through Hamilton.
Protesters worry that the flow reversal could raise the risk of a spill into the Beverly Swamp in the headwaters of Spencer Creek, Hamilton’s largest watershed.
A hearing on the issue is scheduled for the week of Aug. 26.
Last month CBC News quoted Guy Paparella, director of the planning and economic development department at the City of Hamilton, as saying the city is concerned about Enbridge’s response if the pipeline burst.
Officials in the cities of Kingston, Toronto and Mississauga are also concerned that the proposed reversal of the pipeline’s flow may threaten the integrity of the pipeline itself.
More information:
CBC News – Enbridge pipeline protesters close Ontario highway – here
CBC News – Hamilton officials worried about integrity of Enbridge pipeline if flow reversed – here
Enbridge Inc – Line 9 Reversal Phase I Project Overview (includes map) – here
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.