The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with South Bow, the operator of the Keystone pipeline system, regarding a major oil spill that occurred in Kansas in 2022. The spill released approximately 14,000 barrels of crude oil into a creek and surrounding land in Washington County, Kansas, making it one of the largest onshore oil spills in the United States in recent years.
Details of the Settlement
Under the terms of the agreement, South Bow will pay a civil penalty of $12 million and implement a series of corrective measures to prevent future spills. The company also agreed to enhance its pipeline monitoring and leak detection systems across its network. The settlement resolves allegations that South Bow violated the Clean Water Act and the Pipeline Safety Act.
According to the Department of Justice, the spill occurred on December 7, 2022, when a rupture in the Keystone pipeline released crude oil into Mill Creek, a tributary of the Little Blue River. The oil spread over approximately 30 acres of land and affected nearby wetlands and wildlife. Cleanup efforts took several months and cost South Bow an estimated $100 million.
Impact and Response
The spill prompted a temporary shutdown of the pipeline, which carries crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast. Environmental groups criticized the response time and the long-term ecological damage. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversaw the cleanup and monitored water quality in the affected area.
“This settlement holds South Bow accountable for the significant environmental damage caused by the spill and ensures that the company takes meaningful steps to improve safety,” said a spokesperson for the Justice Department. “We will continue to enforce environmental laws to protect communities and natural resources.”
South Bow, a subsidiary of TC Energy, said in a statement that it is committed to operating safely and responsibly. “We have cooperated fully with investigators and have already implemented many of the improvements required by the settlement,” the company said.
Broader Implications
The Keystone pipeline has been a subject of controversy for years, with environmentalists opposing its expansion due to concerns about spills and climate change. The 2022 spill was the largest on the Keystone system since it began operations in 2010. The settlement is seen as a precedent for future enforcement actions against pipeline operators.
Local residents and farmers affected by the spill expressed mixed reactions. Some welcomed the settlement as a step toward accountability, while others argued that the penalties were insufficient given the scale of the damage. “The creek is still not fully recovered,” said a local landowner. “We hope the monitoring and prevention measures will make a difference.”
