The Keystone pipeline system was shut down by operator TC Energy after an oil spill spilled about 14,000 barrels into a creek in Washington County, Kansas.
The system transfers oil between Canada and the United States. Crews were able to control the downstream migration of oil as early as Thursday evening.
The emergency stop was issued early Thursday morning after a pressure drop was detected in the system.
The affected segment was isolated and booms were deployed to control migration downstream of the spill, TC Energy said.
The Environmental Protection Agency dispatched two regional coordinators to the scene. TC Energy also mobilized a response team from Steele City, Nebraska, to begin containment and source control, according to the EPA. Washington County is approximately 20 miles south of Steele City, Nebraska.
According to the EPA, there is no known impact to drinking water wells or the public, but the surface waters of Mill Creek have been affected.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his agency was “monitoring and investigating” the Keystone leak.
“Our Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a corrective action order requiring the affected segment to be shut down, cause analysis, and other safety action taken,” Buttigieg said. in a tweet Friday.
TC Energy said it immediately activated its emergency response procedures and instituted environmental monitoring, including 24-hour air monitoring. It remains unclear what caused the spill.
The EPA said it will oversee TC Energy’s response operations to ensure proper cleanup and assess the cause of the incident.
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