<P> On February 26, 2013 Alberta's Energy Resource Conservation Board issued four high - risk enforcement actions against the pipeline owner, Calgary - based Plains Mainstream . The investigation by the ERCB revealed operational failures by the company, including inadequate leak detection and emergency response . Plains Mainstream will be required to engage a third - party audit of its ability to manage communications during a crisis . The company was also responsible for a spill near Sundre, Alberta in 2012 . An ERCB high - risk enforcement action indicates that the incident has both public safety and environmental impacts . It is the most serious offence companies can be found in non-compliance with . According to the ERCB, the pipeline was shut down for 122 days . "This spill was one of the largest we've seen in Alberta...We wanted to make sure the message was sent to Plains and we're hoping beyond Plains all of the pipeline industry sees how seriously we're taking this and how seriously we will be taking this going forward ." </P> <P> The company responded in a press release: "Plains is carefully reviewing the ERCB's investigation report to determine whether any further findings and improvements can be applied to our operations . We have finalized the results of our own detailed investigation and have applied those lessons learned to improve our overall operations ." However, Greenpeace Canada said that the ERCB should have taken stronger action with Plains Midstream. "The Energy Resources Conservation Board's report is a damning indictment of pipeline safety in Alberta as yet another pipeline company has failed to protect Alberta's environment and people and only received the lightest slap on the wrist," said Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner Melina Laboucan - Massimo . </P> <P> On April 26, 2013 Plains Midstream Canada was charged with three counts of violating environmental protection laws relating to the spill . The charges pertain to: "the spill itself, failing to take all reasonable measures to repair the problem and not pursuing all steps possible to remediate and dispose of the oil that contaminated over three hectares of beaver ponds and muskeg in a densely forested area ." </P>

How did they clean up the little buffalo oil spill