Editorial

Keystone XL report updates 2011 study approving pipeline

Monday, March 4, 2013

The Keystone XL pipeline may or may not be more dangerous than other means of transporting oil from Canada's tar sands oilfields to refineries, but even if it's not built, those fields are likely to continue to be exploited.

The draft report basically updates a 2011 study that virtually approved the project, which is designed to carry about 800,000 barrels of heavy crude oil from Alberta across the Great Plains to the Gulf Coast.

That study was released before anti-pipeline forces got organized, however, forcing the Nebraska Legislature to require a new route avoiding the deepest parts of the Ogallala Aquifer.

Predictably, opponents seized upon the report to support their view that the pipeline should not be built, while those who support the Keystone say it will boost our economy and further cut ties to oil from the Middle East.

"This is an important project because it creates jobs and increases our nation's energy supply," said Sen. Mike Johanns, who has announced his plans to not seek re-election. Nebraska has approved the route, the State Department has previously examined the route and now this project should move forward. There is no reason for President Obama or the State Department to delay a project that is so clearly in the nation's best interest."

Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence welcomed the State Department's environmental report, saying "the operational finding here is that there was 'no significant environmental impact,' said Barry Rubin, spokesman for the NFJEI. "Nebraska completed a Keystone XL Assessment with Gov. Heineman fully supportive of the new route, the last step is for President Obama to approve the project," Rubin said. "We are asking him to do so as soon as possible."

The public will have 45 days to comment on the report after it is published in the Federal Register next week -- not enough, says Jane Kleeb of Bold Nebraska, an advocacy organization opposed to the pipeline. Her group had sought a 120-day comment period, saying many Sandhills ranchers are in the middle of calving season.

"All of the risks remain for Nebraskans," she told the New York Times. "There is no scientific study as to what a tar sands spill will do to our water and our soil. And, our landowner property rights continue to be ignored by both state and federal officials."

But it's clear to supporters that Bold Nebraska and other opponents would not favor a pipeline under any conditions, and the new route demanded and won by the Legislature will not change that opinion.

"In 2010, we went through this process, and it took nearly a year between when the State Department released the draft environmental impact statement, and draft supplemental report," U.S. Rep. Lee Terry of Omaha said. "So while I'm pleased to see this process is again moving forward, I have zero confidence that this matter will be resolved in a timely fashion. We've been to this rodeo before."

Yes, the danger of a spill is real and should be avoided at all costs. But pipelines of all types already crisscross nearly every portion of the Ogallala Aquifer, from North Dakota to Texas.

And, there's no guarantee gasoline derived from crude delivered by the Keystone XL pipeline will wind up in American vehicles at all -- oil flows to the highest bidder, even if they pay in Yuan or Euros.

But with even ethanol "enriched" gasoline climbing toward that $4 mark, a new supply of oil certainly won't hurt.

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  • Jobs for many people. Not as much oil needed from countries not friendly to the US. This project needs to be a go!

    -- Posted by dennis on Tue, Mar 5, 2013, at 10:09 AM
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