Nebraska Governor Approves the Keystone XL Pipeline Route

[Purveyor]

Source: KCAU TV

Gov. Dave Heineman Tuesday approved the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route reviewed in the final evaluation report, which avoids the environmentally-sensitive Sand Hills region of Nebraska.

Gov. Heineman sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, notifying them of the accepted Nebraska route.

In the letter Heineman states, "TransCanada has provided assurances to the State of Nebraska that the company would implement mitigation measures. These measures would include: developing an Emergency Response Plan for a crude oil release associated with the operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, providing fast access to the product's Material Safety Data Sheet in the event of a release, and providing at landowner request baseline water well testing prior to construction for wells within 300 feet of the centerline of the route as well as providing an independent public employee to asct as a liason between Keystone and landowners."

Read more: http://www.kcautv.com/story/20648374/nebraska-governor-approves-the-keystone-xl-pipeline-route

[kimbutgar]

1. I wonder if the people of Nebraska feel the same way?

If the risks and the benefits are presented to them they would realize the only ones who benefit are the oil companies. The short term job gains (probably given to low wage workers) would not be worth the environmental damage. But the people of Nebraska vote republican so they have to live with the consequences.

[DallasNE]

2. An Emergency Response Plan Needs To Be Part Of The Approval Process

And not an afterthought after construction begins. Otherwise there is no leverage to have a plan with teeth. "Trust me" is not good enough. Not by a long shot.

A leak, depending on the location, could put the drinking water at risk in cities like Sioux City, Omaha, Lincoln and Kansas City in addition to a lot of other smaller communities. I don't think Gov. Heineman has done a very good job of looking after the citizens of his State (I reside in Omaha) by giving TransCanada a blank check on the emergency response plan.

I have always thought that the route should have stayed north and east of the Missouri river and followed ridges rather than river valley's where spills are instantly in major streams and threaten drinking water. It also seems to me that TransCanada should be required to carry super-cat insurance to cover costs of large spills.

[NickB79]

3. This will be THE test of Obama's commitment to fighting climate change

Opening the Alberta tar sands for full exploitation would be so devastating to the environment, it would be virtually impossible for the president to do anything else in his 2nd term to offset the decades of destruction the XL pipeline would cause through global warming.

This is where Obama has to put his money where his mouth is, and stand by his principles and deny the construction of this pipeline. Anything less and he's just another useless, spineless hypocrite who is willing to put short-term political gain ahead of the survival of future generations.

[Berlum]

4. Is Obama really serious about dealing with climate change?

This is reality. If he gives a go to Keystone, then that just encourages the further trashing of the tar fields in the north -- an epic environmental travesty.

At his inauguration earlier this week Obama spoke strongly about getting serious right now about climate change.

Meanwhile, also in the north, the frackers are creating yet another epic environmental travesty -- one visible from space.

NPR has a story about the Fracking Fields of North Dakota - massive and getting bigger each day. The burning off of the natural gas has created a Mysterious Patch of Light....



NPRs fracking story: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/01/16/169511949/a-mysterious-patch-of-light-shows-up-in-the-north-dakota-dark?sc=emaf