pbs高端访谈:石油管道破裂致20多户居民撤离

 　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Next: how an oil spill near Little Rock, Ark., is casting a shadow over the proposed expansion of the Keystone pipeline¹.

　　MAN:So that is a pipeline that has busted² and has flooded the neighborhood.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:A local resident described the scene in the small town of Mayflower on Friday after Exxon's Pegasus pipeline ruptured⁴ close to his home.

　　MAN:I mean, look. Incredible. And that is oil.

　　23.jpgJUDY WOODRUFF:And not just any oil, a type of heavy crude called diluted⁵ bitumen⁶, from the tar⁷ sands of Western Canada and similar to what the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would carry.

　　Running from Patoka, Ill., to Nederland, Texas, the Pegasus pipeline is capable of transporting 96,000 barrels of oil a day. It passes through this Little Rock suburb, and also through 13 miles of the close-by Lake Maumelle watershed⁸, leaving many concerned with the risks posed to Arkansas' water supply.

　　Yesterday at a bird shelter in nearby Russellville, specialists cleaned ducks covered in the heavy crude. Investigators⁹ are still trying to find out what caused the rupture³. According to Exxon's estimates, between 3,500 and 5,000 barrels of oil spilled. More than 20 homes were evacuated¹⁰.

　　Last year in the U.S., 364 pipeline spills occurred, resulting in the dumping of 54,000 barrels of oil, according to the Department of Transportation. This latest breach¹¹, while considered relatively¹² small, raises new questions about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline extension and whether President Obama should approve it.

　　It would carry 800,000 barrels a day of diluted bitumen crude over 1,700 miles, from the tar sands of Western Canada to refineries¹³ on the Gulf¹⁴ Coast of Texas. Environmentalists worry about potential spills, ruptures¹⁵, and higher gaseous¹⁶ emissions¹⁷ from the use of tar sands oil. TransCanada Corporation and others have been awaiting approval for four years to move ahead with the project. A final decision from the president is expected this summer.

　　We examine some of the questions raised in the wake of this spill with Anthony Swift, an attorney who closely follows pipeline safety for the National—I'm sorry—Natural Resources Defense¹⁸ Council, or NRDC. And Andrew Black, he's the president of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

　　For the record, BP is a member of that group and a NewsHour underwriter.

　　Welcome to you both.

　　So, Andy Black, let me start with you. How serious is this pipeline rupture near Little Rock?

　　ANDREW BLACK, President, Association of Oil Pipe Lines: Well, no matter how rare a pipeline accident is, you don't want to see a scene like that.

　　What an operator wants to do is respond quickly, clean up, and try to learn the cause. As you said, we don't know the cause yet. He wants to share that that information to continue improving the safety records of pipelines¹⁹, which are the safest method of transporting crude oil.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Anthony Swift, how serious do you think this particular incident is?

　　ANTHONY SWIFT, Natural Resources Defense Council: Well, this was a spill of up to 200,000 gallons of tar sands crude.

　　We saw it going through a suburban²⁰ community in Arkansas. It's a very serious spill. EPA considers it a serious spill. And, you know, frankly²¹, we have found that with tar sands spills, these are spills that are more difficult to clean. A similar spill in Kalamazoo, Mich., became the most expensive onshore pipeline spill in history, much because of the unique behavior of tar sands when it spills.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Well, what are you saying, that there's something particularly complicated about this kind of oil?

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:That's exactly right. The tar sands crude is a crude that has not—is not similar to the crudes historically moved on the U.S. pipeline systems. It's basically a mixture of very thick bitumen, which is solid at room temperature, and volatile²² petrochemicals that are very toxic²³ once they reach the air.

　　And once spilled, you have a gas-off of the petrochemicals that expose residents to toxins²⁴ and the bitumen itself then becomes heavier. If it reaches a water body, it flows underneath²⁵ it. It's hard to control.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Andy Black, how much more complicated, how much riskier²⁶ is it to be sending this kind of bitumen crude across the country?

　　ANDREW BLACK:It's no more complicated, Judy.

　　And U.S. pipeline incident records show that. With more than 40 years of moving crude oil from the Canadian oil sands, there's not been one pipeline accident in the United States caused by that and—caused by the type of crude from the Canadian oil sands. And the Department of State, when they have been exhaustively reviewing the Keystone XL pipeline, have similarly found that there are no more corrosive²⁷ elements of crude from Western Canada as there are from California, Venezuela, Mexico. Crude has been safely moved for decades.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:So, if it's the case, why the additional concern on the part of environmental groups?

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:Well, it's simply not true.

　　We saw with the Kalamazoo spill, 800,000 barrels—gallons were spilled from external corrosion²⁸. We don't know what caused the Pegasus spill, but we do know that pipelines moving tar sands-diluted bitumen have had poor safety records. And, as an example, the first shipments that came into the U.S. came in the late '90s into the Northern Midwest.

　　Those pipelines now over the last three years have spilled 3.6 times as much crude oil per pipeline mile as the national average.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:And, in fact, we were seeing, Andy Black, as we have just reported, 364 spills or ruptures in the country last year, and you just heard that number of just this particular kind of tar sands crude. It sounds like what the two of you are saying doesn't reconcile.

　　ANDREW BLACK:Well, two things.

　　First, I would like to put that number in context. The 54,000 barrels spilled last year, that's out of 11.3 billion barrels of crude oil moved safely last year, crude oil and refined petroleum²⁹ products, a reliability³⁰ record that's 99.9995 percent.

　　As to the accident in Michigan, as Mr. Swift mentioned, that it was an external corrosion-caused accident, which the National Transportation Safety Board said had nothing to do with the type of crude that it was carrying.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:External corrosion meaning the outside of the pipeline, rather than what was flowing through it?

　　ANDREW BLACK:Exactly.

　　If there was a problem with Canadian oil sands with corrosion, it would have caused an internal corrosion accident, and it didn't. And no pipeline accidents from internal corrosion have occurred on pipelines carrying that crude from Canada.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:What about that? Because that bears directly on what might happen with the Keystone pipeline.

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:That's right.

　　And we know small set of California pipelines that higher-temperature pipelines spill more frequently due to external corrosion than conventional pipelines. If they're over 100 degrees, they spill up to 23 times as often due to external corrosion.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:So you're saying what is going through the pipeline affects what's happening outside of it?

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:Around the pipeline.

　　ANDREW BLACK:If you look at the State Department study, not ours, the State Department's, they say you need to look at that California study with caution. Those are different design characteristics on a pipeline.

　　Again, no accidents on U.S. pipelines carrying oil sands crude caused by oil sands crude.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:He's stating that as a fact.

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:And it's not.

　　The NTSB didn't say that the conditions under which the pipeline was operated based on what the crude -- what crude it was carrying had nothing to do with the accident. It just didn't weigh into it. And the State Department hasn't studied this issue. Pipeline regulators have said that they haven't studied this issue.

　　In fact, the head pipeline regulator told Congress in 2011 that her agency couldn't guarantee that regulations were strong enough for diluted bitumen pipelines.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:All right, do you want to respond to that?

　　ANDREW BLACK:I'm not going to disagree with the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

　　And this issue is being studied right now by the National Academy of Sciences. If it's done fairly, as I believe it will be, it will show what the decades of experience have showed us, that there's not a concern for corrosion. It's no more corrosive than any heavy crude.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Some people look at what's happening with the pipelines that run across this country and say it's inevitable³¹ that they're going to be some spills, some ruptures. It's just by the very nature of what's going through these lines.

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:Look, we have seen—I mean, the question is, are the risks worth the benefits?

　　You take a look at Pegasus and Keystone XL. Pegasus is a pipeline with a 10th of the capacity of Keystone XL. You build Keystone XL, you have a more significant—a 10 times more significant risk if there is a spill. And the question is, what is the benefit to the U.S. public?

　　You're dealing³² with a low-quality crude that increases climate emissions well above conventional crude, has increased risk to U.S. water bodies and communities, and is meant to go through the U.S. in order to bring tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries which are now exporting over three million barrels a day of refined products.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:So he's making the argument for—I mean, against the XL—the Keystone XL pipeline, for expanding it.

　　ANDREW BLACK:We have not reached the goal yet of zero pipeline accidents. The industry works hard for that. The safety record has improved.

　　Over the last 10 years, the number of accidents per miles of pipe has dropped 60 percent. The industry spent $1.1 billion dollars in just 2011 on this. It continues to work every day on this.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Making safer pipelines? Working on the oil? How? How are they safer?

　　ANDREW BLACK:We—we're building pipelines today safer than ever before using modern techniques, modern coating, modern welding practices.

　　And that's what Keystone XL Will have. But, also, the technology is improving to inspect pipelines and learn more about what is happening. Now, all—all of that is contributing to, again, that 60 percent drop in accidents over the last 10 years.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:Is either—go ahead.

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:Well, I was just going say just take a look at TransCanada's first pipeline, Keystone one in the Midwest. It was a new pipeline in 2010 and it spilled 14 years—in its first year of operation and had to be shut down by federal regulators.

　　ANDREW BLACK:It has had a couple of accidents at facilities.

　　The pipeline right of way has never been affected³³. The integrity of that pipeline has not been found at fault yet. I would like that add, as you were mentioning, about Keystone XL, and Anthony, the pipeline should be considered as an alternative to other modes of transporting crude oil, which our country needs, that can move on rail, truck, barge³⁴.

　　Nobody disputes that pipelines are the safest method. So if we're going to be bringing those barrels of crude oil into the U.S., it should be on a pipeline.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF:We're going to leave it there.

　　Anthony—Andrew Black, Anthony Swift, thank you.

　　ANTHONY SWIFT:Thank you, Judy.

1 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

2 busted   

adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• You are so busted! 你被当场逮住了！
• It was money troubles that busted up their marriage. 是金钱纠纷使他们的婚姻破裂了。

3 rupture   

n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂

参考例句：

• I can rupture a rule for a friend.我可以为朋友破一次例。
• The rupture of a blood vessel usually cause the mark of a bruise.血管的突然破裂往往会造成外伤的痕迹。

4 ruptured   

v.（使）破裂( rupture的过去式和过去分词 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交

参考例句：

• They reported that the pipeline had ruptured. 他们报告说管道已经破裂了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wall through Berlin was finally ruptured, prefiguring the reunification of Germany. 柏林墙终于倒塌了，预示着德国的重新统一。 来自辞典例句

5 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

6 bitumen   

n.沥青

参考例句：

• Bitumen paper can be burnt to gain energy.沥青纸可以焚烧以获得能量。
• In fact,a speciality crude is suitable only for bitumen production.事实上，这种特性的原油只适宜于生产沥青。

7 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

8 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

11 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

12 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

13 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

14 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

15 ruptures   

n.（体内组织等的）断裂( rupture的名词复数 )；爆裂；疝气v.（使）破裂( rupture的第三人称单数 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交

参考例句：

• Fault ruptures may consist of a single narrow main break. 断层破裂可能只包括单独一条狭窄的主裂隙。 来自辞典例句
• The dry seed ruptures and the green leaf uncurls. 干瘪的种子裂开了，卷曲的绿叶伸展了。 来自辞典例句

16 gaseous   

adj.气体的，气态的

参考例句：

• Air whether in the gaseous or liquid state is a fluid.空气，无论是气态的或是液态的，都是一种流体。
• Freon exists both in liquid and gaseous states.氟利昂有液态和气态两种形态。

17 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

18 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

19 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

20 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

21 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

22 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

23 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

24 toxins   

n.毒素( toxin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins. 海洋成了各种有毒工业废料的大容器。
• Most toxins are naturally excreted from the body. 大部分毒素被自然排出体外。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

26 riskier   

冒险的，危险的( risky的比较级 )

参考例句：

• Now they are starting to demand higher returns on riskier assets. 而今他们开始在风险更高的资产上要求更高的回报。
• The problem with that: RIM's business is getting riskier every quarter. 不过问题也随之而来：RIM面临的业务风险正逐季增大。

27 corrosive   

adj.腐蚀性的；有害的；恶毒的

参考例句：

• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。
• Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。

28 corrosion   

n.腐蚀，侵蚀；渐渐毁坏，渐衰

参考例句：

• Corrosion is not covered by the warranty.腐蚀不在保修范围之内。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

29 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

30 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

31 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

32 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

33 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

34 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。