Pipeline 61 in WI should go the way of Keystone XL

The plan to add capacity to tar sand crude oil Pipeline 61 completely across Wisconsin north-south by the Canadian firm Enbridge Energy - - a known polluter - - should go the way of Keystone XL for many of the same reasons cited today by President Obama when he said Keystone XL would not be allowed to move tar sand crude oil from Canada across the US to southern refineries.

Plus - - Pipeline 61 with its expanded capacity - - actually, a tripling - - is ticketed to carry much more of the thick Canadian crude daily than was planned for Keystone XL, yet is being given an intentionally-cursory environmental 'review' by the conservative, pro-corporate ideologues running the "chamber of commerce mentality" Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for Gov. Walker.

And also was quietly given a sweetheart state budget amendment by compliant legislators this summer that blocked Dane County with its water-rich farm fields from requiring clean-up insurance if the Enbridge project spilled oil.

So much these days for local control in the Badger state.

Also: Remember the 2010 pipeline break into Michigan's Kalamazoo River, the biggest US inland oil spill event ever? 

US EPA photo. Submerged oil recovery on the Kalamazoo River. (6/23/2011)

That was an Enbridge pipeline, and the company has had many pipeline breaks and environmental violations elsewhere.

In fact, almost two years to the day of Enbridge's Kalamazoo River spill, there was this story and headline:

Enbridge races to clean up Wisconsin oil spill, restart line

A summary post about many of these issues, here:

This blog has tried to help with some posts here, or here, for example; additional information has been posted about Enbridge's calamitous spill record in Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, and the Journal Sentinel's reflexive editorial board approval of Wisconsin tar sand oil pipeline capacity without a more conscientious review by the DNR.

So props to Madison 350 for raising the alarm and fighting the fight locally, and also to national Keystone organizer and activist-author Bill McKibben for his tireless work.

You may remember his Madison appearance three years ago: