Tar Sand Spill: Eater's Pollution Risk?

Tar sands are a combination of clay, sand, water, and heavy black viscous oil called bitumen. They can be extracted and processed to separate the bitumen, which is then upgraded to synthetic crude oil and refined to make asphalt, gasoline, and jet fuel. The extraction and conversion of tar sands into usable fuel is a costly process that involves strip-mining large areas of land and creating toxic waste and air and water pollution.

Tar sands products are transported across Canada and the United States by ship, rail, and pipeline, with plans to expand. This expansion of the tar sands industry and its transportation infrastructure has raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of spills. Tar sands products such as diluted bitumen (dilbit) and synthetic bitumen (synbit) behave differently from conventional crude oils when spilled. Due to their dense and sticky nature, they can sink in water and are difficult to clean up, posing risks to water sources, wildlife, and human health. The cleanup of a dilbit spill in Michigan's Kalamazoo River in 2010, which cost over $1 billion, is an example of the challenges and impacts associated with tar sands spills.

Tar sands spills are difficult to clean up

The behaviour of diluted bitumen during a spill is significantly different from that of conventional oil. In the first few days following a spill, diluted bitumen behaves like conventional oil. However, it quickly degrades and weathers into a substance that is chemically and physically different, defying standard spill responses. This means that once it becomes clear to responders that the oil is diluted bitumen, it is often too late to effectively clean it up.

The challenges of cleaning up tar sands spills were evident in the 2010 Enbridge pipeline spill in Michigan's Kalamazoo River, which took years and over $1 billion to clean up. This incident highlighted the unique risks associated with transporting tar sands oil and the need for tailored spill response plans.

The heavy and sticky nature of tar sands also poses challenges for detection and cleanup. Leaks can be difficult to detect, and when a spill occurs, the oil can be suspended in the water column instead of floating on the surface, making it harder to remove. Additionally, the higher temperatures and pressures required to transport diluted bitumen through pipelines may contribute to pipeline rupture and increase the risk of spills.

Overall, the unique characteristics of tar sands and the challenges associated with their cleanup underscore the importance of effective spill planning and response.

Tar sands are heavy and sticky

The extraction process is challenging due to the viscosity of the bitumen. It requires strip mining large areas of land, creating open-pit mines, and generating significant amounts of toxic waste. The separation process involves boiling the tar sands to separate the bitumen, which is then mixed with a diluent to make it less viscous and able to flow through pipelines for transport.

The heavy and sticky nature of tar sands poses challenges and risks during transportation and potential spills. When spilled, the heavy components of tar sands can sink in water, making the cleanup process more complex and prolonged. The 2010 spill in the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, where more than 800,000 gallons of tar sands crude were released, is an example of the difficulties in cleaning up tar sands spills. The river remained contaminated years after the incident, making it the longest and costliest cleanup in U.S. history at that time.

The sticky and viscous nature of tar sands also affects pipeline operations. Tar sands, or diluted bitumen, must be transported at higher temperatures and pressures, which can contribute to pipeline corrosion and increase the risk of ruptures. Additionally, leaks from pipelines carrying tar sands can be more challenging to detect, and the sticky nature of the substance can make it more difficult to remove once it has spilled.

The challenges posed by tar sands spills highlight the importance of effective spill response and cleanup strategies. Traditional response methods may not be sufficient, and new techniques may need to be developed to address the unique characteristics of tar sands spills, particularly when they occur in water bodies.

Tar sands spills can harm wildlife and increase cancer rates in humans

Tar sands spills can have a devastating impact on wildlife and human health. The extraction and processing of tar sands wreak havoc on the environment, including the destruction of wildlife habitats and the contamination of water sources. For instance, the Athabasca River in Alberta, Canada, is already at risk of being overdrawn, and adding more tar sands operations would imperil the river, its surrounding wetlands, and the people and wildlife that depend on them.

Moreover, the toxic, sludgy wastewater left over from tar sands production is often stored in vast, open pools, which can leak into nearby rivers, harming wildlife and increasing cancer rates in humans. The contamination of water sources can have far-reaching consequences, as it did in the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill in Michigan, where even five years and over $1 billion later, the river remained contaminated.

The transportation of tar sands also poses significant risks. Due to its heavy and stubborn nature, tar sands oil is difficult to clean up, and traditional response methods are often inadequate. Spills can occur due to aging infrastructure, human error, or natural disasters, and the resulting contamination can persist for years, inflicting long-term damage on the environment and human health.

The burning of tar sands oil further exacerbates the problem by creating more pollution than regular crude oil. The production of tar sands oil emits up to three times more global warming pollution than conventional crude oil, and the refining process generates hazardous by-products like petroleum coke.

Overall, the invasion of tar sands poses a serious threat to both the environment and human health. It is crucial to address these issues and find alternative energy solutions to protect our planet and safeguard public health.

Tar sands extraction impacts local communities and ecosystems

• Destruction of Natural Habitats: Tar sands extraction involves strip-mining large areas of land, leading to the destruction of natural habitats. In the case of the Canadian tar sands industry, this has resulted in the flattening of forests, wetlands, and boreal forests, which are home to a diverse array of species, including migratory birds, grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, and endangered species like the whooping crane.
• Water Pollution and Wastewater Generation: Tar sands extraction is a water-intensive process, requiring large quantities of freshwater. The resulting wastewater is often contaminated and can leak into nearby rivers and water bodies, harming wildlife and increasing cancer rates in humans.
• Air Pollution: The extraction and processing of tar sands can release toxic emissions into the air, contributing to climate change and air quality issues. Burning tar sands oil, for example, creates more pollution than regular crude oil.
• Health Risks: Communities living near tar sands extraction sites have reported health issues, including rare and unusual cancers. The release of toxic chemicals and increased cancer rates near tar sands operations pose significant risks to human health.
• Disruption of Indigenous Communities: Tar sands extraction can disproportionately impact Indigenous and low-income communities, disrupting their traditional ways of life, including hunting, fishing, and trapping, and exposing them to environmental and health hazards.
• Spill Risks: Transporting tar sands oil, such as through pipelines, rail, or ships, carries the risk of spills. Tar sands oil is heavier and more difficult to clean up than conventional oil, and spills can have devastating effects on water bodies, ecosystems, and communities.

Tar sands pipelines are prone to spills

The Kalamazoo River in Michigan was the site of a tar sands spill in 2010, which cost over $1 billion and took five years to clean up, making it the longest and most expensive cleanup in US history. This incident highlighted the challenges of dealing with tar sands spills, as the heavier elements of the oil sank to the bottom of the river, and response boats crushed freshwater mussels while trying to remove the oil.

There are several reasons why tar sands pipelines are prone to spills. Firstly, the infrastructure has issues. The US is crisscrossed by over four million kilometres of pipelines, many of which are decades old and spring hundreds of leaks every year. Pipelines can fail due to external corrosion, or by being struck by a backhoe, for example. Additionally, pipelines carrying diluted bitumen must operate at higher temperatures, which have been linked to increased corrosion and higher pressures that may contribute to rupture. The chemistry of tar sands oil may also contribute to corrosion.

Furthermore, diluted bitumen is among the most viscous, sulfurous, and acidic forms of oil produced today, which may also contribute to pipeline rupture. The higher temperature and pressure required to transport diluted bitumen may also speed up pre-existing corrosion. All these factors contribute to the increased risk of spills from tar sands pipelines.

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