A new study published by the National Academy of Sciences says some environmentalists may be overstating fears about the corrosive effects of tar sands oil on pipelines like the one across northern New England.
The Portland Pipe Line Corp. is using the study in the company's bid to get Vermont officials to change a recent decision that reversing the pipeline's flow would require a new state environmental permit.
Fears of pipeline corrosion by tar sands oil have been cited by opponents both of the northern New England pipeline reversal and the Keystone XL pipeline proposed to carry tar sands oil from western Canada to refineries in Texas.
A lawyer with the National Wildlife Federation says the study missed several key issues.
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