Climate activists target 5 pipelines

Ten environmental activists were arrested last week after claiming credit for temporarily shutting down five major pipelines carrying oil from Canadian tar sands to the United States, including two operated by Houston companies.

The group, Climate Direct Action, said it turned off emergency safety valves for pipelines in Washington, Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota, including the northern leg of TransCanada’s Keystone pipeline. Others targeted were the TransMountain pipeline owned by Houston-based Kinder Morgan, Houstonbased Spectra Energy’s Express Pipeline, and Canada-based Enbridge’s Line 4 and 67 pipelines. The activists claimed they stopped tar sands from coming to the U.S. via pipeline for the first time.

The group said it supports the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which is fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline project of Energy Transfer Partners of Dallas. A Climate Direct action spokeswoman called for President Barack Obama to “mobilize for the extraordinary shift away from fossil fuels now required to avert catastrophe” that could be caused by climate change, blamed on fossil fuels.

AKinder Morgan spokeswoman said “reckless trespassers” broke into its Puget Sound pipeline system in Washington, but the pipeline wasn’t operating at the time. Three were arrested there.

Enbridge’s two pipelines were targeted in Minnesota. The company said the activists’ actions were criminal acts that could endanger the public and the environment.

Spectra confirmed that people tampered with a pipeline valve in Montana, and it temporarily shut the pipeline as a precaution.

“Our first concern is for the safety of the community and the environment,” a spokesman said.