Feds to inspect Enbridge's Edmonton control room

Federal regulators are reviewing the operations of Enbridge's pipeline operations control room in Edmonton after staff was characterized as"Keystone Kops" by the United States National Transportation Safety Board.

The U.S. board found the Edmonton office ignored repeated leak warnings for 17 hours before shutting down a pipeline that poured 20,000 barrels of oil into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in July 2010.

Enbridge announced that changes have been made to a number of pipeline control and control centre operations, but Canada's National Energy Board wants to see the changes for itself.

In a letterto the chief executive officer of Enbridge Pipeline Inc., the board "will take all necessary actions to protect the environment and the public."

Theboardplans to meet with staff andinspectcontrol room operationson Aug. 8th and 9th.

The inspectioncomes as the company is fighting apublic relations warbeing waged over Enbridges proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through northern British Columbia.