The Obama administration on Friday took a key step toward approving construction of the controversial Keystone XL project, a 1,700-mile, $7 billion pipeline that would bring 700,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to Texas. govexec.com
The proposed pipeline from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast would not have "significant impacts" on the environment, the State Department has concluded, removing a major barrier to construction of the project.
Critics of the plan, however, say reject the government justification that "extracting the oil would have a devastating impact on the climate and that a leak or rupture in the 36-inch-diameter pipeline could wreak ecological disaster. In its impact assessment, the State Department said that the pipeline's owner, TransCanada, had reduced the risks of accidents to acceptable levels.
The 1,700-mile-long pipeline has been a contentious issue in part because the oil would be extracted from oil sands in Alberta. Oil sands are an unconventional source of crude oil that needs to be mined from the earth, which environmentalists say would lead to the pollution of waterways and the destruction of vast stretches of Alberta's forests. LA Times
Over the past week, hundreds of environmentalists have staged a sit-in protest in front of the White House begging Obama not to approve the pipeline, and more than 300 have been arrested. govexec.com
The National Wildlife Federation slammed Friday's environmental-impact statement as a "flawed review" giving a "rubber stamp" to the project. "Once again, the State Department has failed to do its homework, and they're leaving the American public to suffer the consequences," said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, international program director for the group Natural Resources Defense Council. govexec.com
"It is utterly beyond me how the administration can claim the pipeline will have 'no significant impacts' if they haven't bothered to do in-depth studies around the issues of contention. The public has made their concerns clear and the administration seems to have ignored them. If permitted, the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline will be a dirty legacy that will haunt President Obama and Secretary [of State Hillary Rodham] Clinton for years to come." govexec.com
In a statement, the Sierra Club bemoaned: "State Department endorses dirty tar-sands monstrosity." govexec.com
#Canada-Texas oil pipeline TWEETS
Carpediemgarden: President Obama has sold his soil to the oil barons. Won't vote for him again.
TomUsher: Airheads & liars: State Dept. suggests Canada-to-Texas pipeline would have limited impact on the environment. It's limited to disaster.
GeneticLiberal: Does anyone believe that Obama (who supports nuclear power, "clean coal" & drill baby drill) won't approve the Canada to Texas pipeline?
Jleimer: The Canada to Texas Pipeline is the NAU under smokescreen by the mainstream media.
JHaroldLowry: "Canada-Texas pipeline advances "... As the EPA is ready to shut down 1/5 of Nations Elect Power... Guitars will Play Unpluged.
CPHaddon: Canada-Texas oil pipeline moves forward so like the Great Depression we'll have a pipeline to go work on.
Hgil: Weather expert tells local Fox 5 News that one way to stop the hurricane is to not build the Canada-Texas oil pipeline.
Davidwearing: Does Obama not care what sort of world he leaves to his grandchildren, or is he just too weak to protect them?
Todayspolitics: US foresees no major environmental problems with controversial Keystone pipeline from Canada to Texas.
AnnaRebecka: Dear Obama, please stop the Tar Sand Oil pipeline
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