Residents concerned over Diamond pipeline

The Diamond Pipeline – a joint industry project between Plains All America Pipeline and Valero – has caused residential concern over the line passing through Clarksville’s (Arkansas) watershed.

The proposed 20 in. pipeline will transport crude oil 440 miles from Cushing (Oklahoma) to Memphis (Tennessee). The pipeline will consequently pass through Arkansas, transporting approximately 200 000 bpd.

The Diamond pipeline is expected to cost US$900 million, with construction beginning this year and terminating in 2017.

Danna Schneider, a General Manager of Clarksville Light and Water (C&W), stated: “A lot of people just don’t want an oil pipeline coming through our community but this situation isn’t really about that. We really don’t want it in our watershed.”

As a result, herself and other General Manager of C&W John Lester have conducted public meetings to spread awareness about the pipeline plans and the potential threat to the water supply.

During a meeting, Schneider expressed her concerns over the pipeline installation through the city and its passage through the county’s watershed.

“Clarksville Light and Water services 28 000 customers and if anything happens, our concern is not just today and what takes place because this is going to be very disruptive, but what if in the future there should there be any type of rupture, leak, tremor that occurs. We would like for them not to take this route through Johnson County, and the main reason is because it goes through the watershed. We are concerned about the quality of life here. It will also go to Pope County as well.”

Lester was also troubled by the watershed concern, stated: “It is my responsibility as the general manager of CL&W to protect the people we service, so that is when I really became involved. We are trying to do our part of making the community more aware of what is going on.”

The next public meeting will take place at the University of the Ozarks campus at 6 pm (CST time).

Edited from various sources by Stephanie Roker

Sources: The Courier, KATV, 4029 TV

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/25022016/residents-concerned-over-diamond-pipeline/