Enbridge CEO acknowledges ‘Keystone Kops’ remark may hurt Canadian support for Northern Gateway route

But Calgary-based pipeline boss disagrees with chairman of U.S. National Transportation Safety Board

July 18, 2012

CALGARY – It will be tougher to convince Canadians to support Enbridge Inc’s plan to build a $5.5 billion oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast after a U.S. regulator compared the company’s response to a Michigan oil spill with the “Keystone Kops,” Enbridge’s chief executive said on Wednesday.

CEO Pat Daniel said he disagreed with the chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board in her harsh characterization of his company’s culture at the start of the 2010 disaster, but conceded it has complicated efforts to push ahead with the Northern Gateway oil pipeline through British Columbia.

“To cast doubt on the operational capability of a company that’s considered to be best in the world does create additional challenges for us,” Daniel said in an interview before taking a canoe trip on the Kalamazoo River, which was fouled by oil that spewed from an Enbridge pipeline.

“We just have to ensure that we explain fully to (British Columbia) residents that that was not representative of the culture and outline … the changes that we have made.”

(Reporting by Jeffrey Jones; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

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Original source article: Enbridge CEO acknowledges ‘Keystone Kops’ remark may hurt Canadian support for Northern Gateway route