The Keystone Pipeline's Parent Company Changed Its Name, But Not Its Dangerous Practices

It’s alleged that TC Oil Operations, the company that owns the pipeline, failed to provide suitable coating material at numerous locations along the pipeline. The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration issued TC Oil Operations a notice of probable violation and a proposed compliance order June 13. The federal agency issued the notice as a result of an inspection of the Keystone Pipeline’s facilities and records, according to the notice document. TC Oil Operations, also known as TC Energy, had operated under the name TransCanada until changing its name in May.

No fine was proposed by PHMSA as a result of the probable violation, but a compliance order was proposed that requires TC Oil to “correct deficiencies in coating material so that they are suitable for prevention of atmospheric corrosion.” It requires that the company provide a “record of the location of piping with insufficient coating and the date in which the appropriate coating was applied.” The company has six months from the date of the final order to comply, according to the notice document...It notes that TC Oil failed to follow its own procedures in its operations and maintenance when it failed to provide suitable coating material.