Release: Pipeline Anomalies Expose Safety and Transparency Failures of GTN Xpress Expansion
FOR RELEASE
Stop GTN Xpress Coalition
Bend, Oregon
20 December 2024
Pipeline Anomalies Expose Safety and Transparency Failures of GTN Xpress Expansion
A recent report from Natural Gas Intelligence revealed “significant anomalies” along the Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) pipeline, forcing the company to declare a force majeure, a legal term used when a company cannot fulfill its obligations due to unexpected and uncontrollable events. This report comes on the heels of an EE News article where a former pipeline inspector raised concerns over corrosion and damages to the pipeline.
Despite the serious implications, this incident has largely been kept quiet, with limited details shared with the public or regulatory agencies. The force majeure led to a reduction in natural gas flows at the Kingsgate hub.
Under current regulations, these incidents are reserved for annual reporting to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), meaning critical safety information may not come to light for months or even years.
"This is a glaring example of how the fossil fuel industry operates in secrecy, putting profits ahead of public safety and transparency," said Nora Harren of 350 Deschutes. "If GTN can’t maintain its existing infrastructure, how can they justify expanding it with the GTN Xpress project, which is happening in our community in Deschutes County?"
Why the Silence Matters
The GTN Xpress pipeline runs through vulnerable communities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, where residents face the risks of pipeline leaks, explosions, and increased emissions from expanded fracked gas flows. Discreet disclosure of these anomalies endangers public safety and erodes trust in the regulatory system meant to protect communities.
"By waiting until annual reports to PHMSA, GTN is effectively keeping communities in the dark about serious safety risks," said Helen Yost of Wild Idaho Rising Tide. "This lack of transparency is unacceptable when lives and livelihoods are at stake."
“The health impacts of such failures are profound,” said James Moschella of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Pipeline leaks release hazardous air pollutants that can exacerbate respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other chronic health problems, particularly for children and seniors. Communities deserve the most up-to-date information to protect their health and safety.”
Communities across the GTN pipeline corridor have rallied this week in powerful demonstrations against the start-up of GTN Xpress. Targeting methane perpetrators like TC Energy, Intermountain Gas, and Cascade Natural Gas, demonstrators have traveled hundreds of miles to assert their opposition directly at the doors of these corporations, highlighting the rupture risks, and environmental harms posed by this project.
Guidance for Communities: Protecting Against Pipeline Risks
To counter the risks of pipeline failures and expansions, the Stop GTN Xpress coalition encourages communities to take action:
Understand Your Rights: Learn about local and state regulations, as well as how to engage with PHMSA and other regulatory bodies.
Pressure for Transparency: Demand immediate public disclosure of pipeline safety incidents, not delayed annual reporting.
Organize Locally: Collaborate with advocacy groups, faith leaders, and community members to build coalitions against harmful fossil fuel projects.
Advocate for Renewable Energy: Push for investments in clean energy alternatives that reduce reliance on dangerous infrastructure.
Engage Your Lawmakers: Call on elected officials to reject GTN Xpress and strengthen oversight of existing pipelines.
A Call to Stop GTN Xpress
"This is exactly why we’ve been fighting the GTN Xpress expansion," said Harren. "The pipeline is already a ticking time bomb. Expanding it will only increase the risks to our communities and worsen the climate crisis."
The Stop GTN Xpress coalition demands:
Immediate reform to PHMSA’s reporting requirements to ensure timely public access to safety information.
Rejection of the GTN Xpress expansion in favor of cleaner, safer energy solutions.
About Stop GTN Xpress Coalition
The Stop GTN Xpress coalition is a network of organizations and advocates fighting the proposed GTN Xpress pipeline expansion. The coalition is committed to safeguarding our communities and environment from the harmful impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure.
The coalition includes Rogue Climate, Columbia Riverkeeper, Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), 350 PDX, 350 Deschutes, 350 Eugene, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Breach Collective, Extinction Rebellion Portland, Sierra Club, Beyond Toxics, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oregon Interfaith Power and Light (OIPL), 350 Corvallis, 350 Salem, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light (WAIPL), 350 Seattle, We Black Radio, Third Act, Waterkeeper Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, and the Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network (COIN).
Track WPSR’s Climate and Health work at WPSR.org/climate.
