Concern About Oil-Contaminated Dirt Coming To Nebraska

By Gordon HopkinsContaminated dirt from the site of the Keystone Pipeline oil leak that occurred in Kansas is being transported into Nebraska and through Jefferson County.TC Energy, the company formerly known as TransCanada Corporation, operates the 2,687-mile Keystone Pipeline System that transports up to 622,000 barrels of crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to the Midwest and the Gulf Coast. On December 7, 2022, a leak of the pipeline released an estimated 12,937 barrels of oil to Mill Creek, near Washington, Kansas.Last week, FJN reported that TC Energy is hauling dirt from a dig site where the company is preparing for the construction of operational storage tanks located at TC Energy’s existing Steele City Pump Station across the county line and to the spill site in Kansas.Steele City is a key junction for the pipeline.Trucks are also coming back into Nebraska, carrying oil-contaminated dirt from the leak site to Pheasant Point Landfill in Bennington in Douglas County, northwest of Omaha. In addition, other oily solid waste, such as booms, protective clothing, absorbent pads, and other items, are being disposed of at the landfill.A representative of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) told FJN, “Oil-impacted soil, once excavated, is stockpiled on-scene. From there, laboratory analysis is performed to provide the landfill with a waste profile. This analysis has determined it as not being hazardous.”The EPA also noted. “Other than the analysis, there is no processing taking place before being sent to the landfill.”Not everyone is convinced the dirt is safe. Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and founder of the advocacy group, Bold Nebraska, has been an outspoken critic of TC Energy for many years.She told FJN, “We are definitely concerned and find it hard to believe there is no hazardous elements to this contaminated soil.”FJN has requested a copy of the lab report.ContaminantsA complication of the cleanup is the nature of the oil spilled, which consists of “diluted bitumen.” This has been confirmed by the EPA.According to the American Petroleum Institute, “One of the types of crude oil derived from the Canadian oil sands is bitumen, a heavy, sour oil. Bitumen would not flow through a pipeline efficiently, so it is mixed with diluents to be readied for pipeline transportation as diluted bitumen, or ‘dilbit.’ Diluents are usually natural gas condensate, naphtha or a mix of other light hydrocarbons.”Bitumen doesn’t float on water the way crude oil does, making recovery of the oil more difficult.Why is the Dirt Coming to Nebraska?As to why the dirt is going to the Pheasant Point Landfill, the EPA said, “Landfills have discretion on whether or not they wish to receive waste, Pheasant Point Landfill accepted the waste.”Pheasant Point is owned and operated by Waste Management, Inc., (WM), which also owns a facility in Kansas, Rolling Meadows Landfill and Recycling Center, in Shawnee County.When asked why the Nebraska site was chosen, a representative of WM told FJN, “Both Rolling Meadows and Pheasant Point are about the same travel distance from the customer’s location. Pheasant Point is a larger facility which allows it to incorporate the volume of this project into its daily management.”WM said they have heard of no concerns about the dumping.Transparency ConcernsKleeb said, “I do not think Nebraskans know this is happening.”Transportation of the dirt began January 17 and is expected to continue for several more weeks. Jefferson Count Commissioner Mark Schoenrock spoke to Marlon Hopkins, TC Energy Construction Manager, on Monday, February 6. Schoenrock said he was told, “‘We’re going to be doing that yet for a couple more months.’”FJN reached out to Douglas County Commissioners on February 16.“I had not heard that,” responded Chairperson Mary Ann Borgeson, who also said, “We have not received any concerns regarding this issue.”On Monday, February 6, religious leaders and environmental activists held a vigil at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, demanding greater transparency from TC Energy. Also in attendance was Kansas Representative Lindsey Vaughn, who called for a hearing in the State Legislature.Vaughn also concerns about the restricted airspace that has been in place since the spill occurred. Vaughn said, “Third-party drones — if they’re not going to be allowed to monitor the site, then I think there has to be other ways that media or third parties can have greater information or access to what’s going on because that’s one of the best ways to hold all parties accountable for the best outcome possible.”A spokesperson for TC Energy told FJN, “Our focus continues to be on the safe remediation process at the site. The established no-fly zone offers the safest way to effectively progress the work. The no-fly zone will be reconsidered in the future.”

New Faces At FPS

Pauline Niederklein

Related Articles

Legislative Session Ends Without Passing Property Tax Package

Wymore Receives Grant To Demo Gambles Building

Should Flood Buyout Properties Be Taxed?

Proposed Fairbury Parking Ordinance On Hold