And the discredit a counterpoint pre-emptively, the factoid of 2.4 million miles of pipelines in the U.S. is true if you include every type of energy pipeline. If you restrict it to oil pipelines there are only 72,000 miles of oil pipeline.
So between 350 and 700 incidents every year over 72,000 miles of pipe. In the first two months of 2017 we’ve already spilt 322,000 gallons of crude oil in just three incidents (Ozark Pipeline for ~15k, Magellen Midstream partners for ~140k, Seaway Pipeline for 168k). In two months an equivalent of 4.5 gallons for every mile were spilt in just three incidents.
oh, not that much compared to other energy sources? wanna compare those numbers to deaths caused by nuclear meltdowns, which scares the living shit of just about everybody and for good reason?
but yeah, lets keep building pipelines. best possible option here. definitely.