FH, do you recall if that was Buffet oil tank car accident in your area a while back that wrecked and spilled or burned? and what of other such incidents across the country. I think there was one in s.e. SD in the past year or so, another in n.e. MT or n.w. ND and another in an eastern state.
It would be interesting to know just how many and how serious 'spills' of oil or fuel being transported above ground in the past, and contrast that with modern pipeline along with gallons lost versus gallons moved.
Then there is the matter of the 'pollution' caused by the protesters at their protest sites. Not to mention the self-induced pollution on their home territory!!! There was a photo in RC Journal recently of kids playing in a river at or near the protest site, and that water sure didn't look very 'pristine' and likely was less so with those little kids in it after a few hours.
Maybe we could take them more seriously if they refused to use oil and the benefits it provides for us.
Aside from the jobs and related benefits of building new pipelines, there is the improved speed of transport of the crude oil to refinement facilities, and the increased income to the companies involved will lead to more improvement of aging facilities and pipelines. Those people fighting such improvements seem terribly short-sighted, even selfishly foolish, imo. Sure, there are inconveniences and as with any endeavor in life, there will probably even be accidents and various problems. But, do we stop all activities because there might be detriments along the way? Life just doesn't work that way. We do our best to anticipate and minimize problems while going on with life and commerce.
mrj