On Dec. 7, 2022, a Keystone pipeline operated by TC Energy burst on account of stress and welding errors, spilling an estimated 588,000 gallons of oil in a creek in Washington, KS. It was the twenty-third spill in total along the Keystone system since the beginning of operations in 2010 and the largest to occur at the time of the spill according to federal data. The spill remains the second largest spill of tar sand crude oil to ever occur on U.S. soil. 

TC Energy is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The erupted Keystone pipeline runs from Canada to Texas and Illinois and does not carry conventional oil, but rather a product of the Canadian tar sands called diluted bitumen. The chemical composition of the substance drastically changes when removed from the pipes, allowing it to sink below surface level of the waters in a matter of days. When exposed to air, the diluted bitumen assumes a glue-like consistency. Not only do these qualities make it more difficult to clean or contain the spill, but also harder to detect or retrieve it. 

“It’s almost impossible to clean from surfaces,” said Steve Hamilton, a professor at Michigan State University and member of the National Academies of Sciences committee that wrote the 2016 report on diluted bitumen. “We tried hot water sprays and detergent and so on… It’s extremely sticky once it has been exposed to air for a while.”

In just the first few weeks, nearly a hundred animals were reported dead as a result of the spill. Determining the exact rate of death proved difficult, especially after TC Energy established a no-fly zone on December 16th preventing drone footage of the restricted site. The site had already been closed off to lawmakers, the media, and the general public. TC Energy stated that the closure was a necessary safety measure to keep the worksite clear and distraction free, though the decision raised questions regarding transparency. 

“If [third-party drones are] not going to be allowed to monitor the site,” said Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, KS, “then I think there has to be other ways that media or third parties can have greater information or access to what’s going on because that’s one of the best ways to hold all parties accountable for the best outcome possible.”

TC Energy resumed operations in unaffected areas on Dec. 14, just one week after the spill occurred. Operations resumed in the affected areas shortly after on Dec. 29, but at pressures reduced by 20% on account of requirements mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. At the time, the cause of the spill was to be determined though TC Energy claimed the spill was contained. State environment officials later reported contaminants detected beyond the two emergency dams installed by TC Energy. 

In February, thousands of cubic yards of oil-soaked soil turned up in Nebraska carrying chemicals that could be deemed hazardous, such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy expressed confidence that the materials did not pose any risk, though many were angered by the unwelcomed waste. 

“This is a foreign corporation that is using Nebraska as a dumping ground,” said Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, a progressive political advocacy group.

The spill has resulted in a push by environmentalists to strip TC Energy from their federal permit that allows the company to exceed what are typically maximum levels of pressure inside its Keystone system. In March, The U.S. Department of Transportation ordered that TC Energy adhere to standard pressure limits. Kansas Democrats have also pushed to cancel tax exemptions when pipelines leak. Such exemptions allow energy companies that lay pipelines in Kansas to refrain from paying taxes in the first 10 years. 

TC Energy is not required by law to repay all of the tax dollars spent to clean the spill. However, the company has vowed to repay cleanup costs and to match additional donations.  Clean-up of the spill has required months of labor from over eight hundred workers and has so far cost approximately $480,000,000. 

“I don’t think either of us were prepared for the emotion of this,” said Chris Pannbacker, referring to herself and her husband, Bill Pannbacker, whose farm was covered with much of the oil. “Some days we’re good and some days, we’re just kind of mad. It’s hard to explain, because some people say ‘It’s just grass,’ or ‘It’s just a pasture,’ or ‘It’s just a creek.’”

Bill Pannbacker initially disagreed with the company’s decision to build the pipeline over the hill. 

“I wish I would have held firm,”  he said. “And I bet now they wish I would have held firmer too because I’m assuming the flow against that bend in the pipe is maybe what caused some of the problem.”

It is unclear when the spill will be cleaned up entirely. It has been estimated that the clean-up effort will last at least several more months. TC Energy’s most recent update was posted to their website on Mar. 14 and states that over 95% of the oil has been recovered and a water filtration system has been installed, enabling the company to de-water the impacted creek area. In the same update, TC Energy also states that they have been following relevant guidelines and restrictions and have completed the second phase of their Diversion Plan, which involves the construction of a temporary bypass around a pipeline spill on a Kansas creek to aid in the cleanup and reclamation of Mill Creek.

The first bomb detonated March 2 on the front porch of Anthony Stephan House, who was killed in the explosion. This first death was initially believed to be related to gang violence in the area before later being investigated as suspicious.

On March 12, the second and third bombs detonated, prompting police to investigate the three bombings as related incidents. The second bombing killed 17-year-old Draylen Mason when his mother brought the package into their kitchen. His mother was also injured in the explosion. The third bomb exploded about 15 minutes from the location of the second bomb. A 75-year-old lady was injured and taken to the hospital after handling the bomb.

After the third bomb, law enforcement began reaching out to the bomber through media channels.

On March 18, the fourth bomb exploded and injured two men walking on a sidewalk in an Austin neighborhood. The explosion was triggered by a tripwire. The two men, 22- and 23-years-old, sustained “significant injuries” but were reported to be in stable condition in the hospital.

The fourth bombing prompted the police to increase the reward for information on the bomber to $100,000. The fourth bomb was later reported by Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to indicate a higher level of sophistication than previously thought. Additional law enforcement officers came to Austin to aid the investigation.

On March 20, a fifth package exploded at a FedEx sorting facility in Schertz, Texas. The package was delivered from and addressed to addresses in Austin yet was at the sorting facility outside of the city. One person sustained a small injury but was not taken to the hospital.

Later that day, another package was identified at a different FedEx sorting facility near the Austin airport. The suspicious package was determined by law enforcement to contain an explosive and was subsequently removed. FedEx confirmed that the two packages were sent by the same individual.

On March 21, law enforcement identified a suspect and traced him to a hotel parking lot in Round Rock, Texas. The suspect’s car was followed from the parking lot, but it was driven into a ditch where it exploded. The suspect, Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, died from the explosion.   

At a press conference that evening, Manley says that Conditt left a video confessing to the bombings. He claimed to have made seven bombs. Including the bomb that detonated Conditt’s car, all seven were identified.

After criticism of the police department for their handling of the investigation, Manley called Conditt a domestic terrorist during a press conference March 29. Some of this criticism was due to a perceived lack of police and media attention regarding the initial bombings believed to be because the first victims of the bombings were black and Hispanic. The first victims were prominent members of the African American and Hispanic communities, so this interpreted lack of attention has been especially criticized. It was only once a bomb exploded in a prominent, white neighborhood that the bombings received national attention.

Critics speculated that Manley hesitated to call Conditt a domestic terrorist because he was white. Manley attributes his hesitancy to use the term to “domestic terrorist” having a legal definition Manley was not comfortable with using without more information.

Despite speculation about the bombings being hate crimes, due to the racial makeup of the victims, or politically motivated crimes, Conditt’s confession did not mention a motive. Manley claimed the bomber’s motives may never be known.

Photo credits to CNN.

Other past deadly mass shootings include the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting in 2016, the  Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007, the Sandy Hook Shooting in 2012, the Luby’s Cafeteria Shooting in 1991, the McDonald’s Massacre in 1984, the University of Texas Tower Shooting in 1966, the U.S. Postal Service Massacre in 1986, the San Bernardino Attack in 2015 and the Binghamton Shooting in 2009.

The Harvest Music Festival that took place in Las Vegas Oct. 1 was the deadliest shooting in U.S. History. A gunman, later identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, opened fire on a crowd of at least 20,000 people from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Paddock was reportedly armed with around 20 rifles. He ended up killing 58 people and injuring more than 500. The shooter was later found dead. The authorities believe he killed himself.

On Nov. 5, 2017, a gunman later identified as Devin Patrick Kelley walked into a church in rural Sutherland Springs, Texas and opened fire on worshipers. He ended up killing 26 people and leaving several others injured. The shooter was later found dead by the authorities. It is unknown whether he killed himself. This was the deadliest shooting in Texas history.

The most recent shooting took place in northern California Nov. 14. A shooter later identified as Kevin Janson shot four people and started shooting at an elementary school before he was shot down by the police. It was later discovered that he also killed his wife and buried her under his floor earlier that day.  

Some argue that gun control would restrict gun violence-related crimes. Some rules have been suggested to limit the number of gun violence victims, including universal background checks, banning bump stocks and adopting micro-stamping of cartridges to track guns. On the other hand, some people believe that America needs more trained citizens carrying guns and argue that guns are not the problem and should therefore not be restricted. They blame mass shootings on mental illness and propose improvements to the mental health system. Still others believe that it is an issue of national security and propose the solution of having more armed forces in public events.

Photo Courtesy of Business Insider.