Keystone XL foes undaunted by State Dept. report

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By GRANT SCHULTE

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - With yet another obstacle removed for the Keystone XL pipeline, opponents were pressing forward with a lawsuit to challenge the project, public protests and an effort to inject the issue into the November elections.

Supporters and opponents both were quick to claim victories with the U.S. State Department report released Friday, which raised no major objections to the pipeline. The oil industry, some union groups and congressional Republicans called on the Obama administration to move forward with the project, while a coalition of landowners and environmentalists say there is still cause for denying a federal permit. The project would ship 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada to Texas Gulf Coast refineries.

Meanwhile, farmers and ranchers in Nebraska who oppose the pipeline are planning to run for seats on a state board that regulates power stations that are needed along the project route. And national activists say they have recruited more than 75,000 volunteers willing to participate in civil disobedience, should President Barack Obama approve the Keystone project.

The project now goes to a 30-day comment period and a review by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other agencies. Obama has 90 days to make the decision on the pipeline, but the White House on Friday disputed the notion that the report is headed to a fast approval. Oil began flowing last week through an Oklahoma-to-Texas section already approved by Obama.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140201/DABMKDTO3.html

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In this Sept. 29, 2014 file photo Atkinson, Neb., rancher Bruce Boettcher, who opposes the Keystone XL pipeline, kicks up sand on his land, to demonstrate the fragility of the sand hills near the planned route of the pipeline. The long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline cleared a major hurdle Friday, Jan. 31, 2015 as the U.S.State Department raised no major environmental objections to the controversial pipeline from Canada through the heart of the U.S. Republicans and some oil- and gas-producing states cheered, but the report further rankled environmentalists already at odds with President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

[Andy823]

1. I think it's a great idea

The farmers and ranchers running for seats on the state boards sounds great. I think if all the farmers and ranchers, and I bet a lot of them are republicans, who are against this get together and even run candidates in any local, state, or national elections against any elected official that is pushing this, they might get some attention, and even be able to stop it.

Most farmers around my area are republicans, yet a few years ago when republicans were fighting immigration reform, the local orchardists, who rely on a spanish work force, put up signs for the "democrat" who was running for congress. It was the first time I had ever seen signs for a democrat on their land.

I also think that they can get more than 75,000 people to protest against the pipeline. Republicans in congress don't realize that going against the will of the people, no matter what party they may belong to, is not a great idea. The live in their bubble in D.C. and make comments about how the "people" want this, yet fail to actually go out and talk with those people.

[MisterP]

2. time for the think tanks to start poisoning the well (in more ways than one)

maybe they'll call us ignorant creationists this time!

[bemildred]

3. It is not a credible report, it assumes its own conclusion. nt

[grntuscarora]

4. Here's a link to info on the Monday vigils mentioned in the article:

https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/kxl-fseis?source=credoconf

[proverbialwisdom]

6. More.

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/eshope/thousands_rally_against_keysto.html

Elizabeth Shope’s Blog

Thousands Rally Against Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline in 280 Vigils Across U.S.
Posted February 4, 2014

Yesterday, NRDC staff and supporters joined in candlelight vigils across the country calling on President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The 280 vigils in almost all 50 states were flash-organized over the weekend as a response to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, supported by CREDO, Sierra Club, 350.org, the Hip Hop Caucus, Energy Action Coalition, NRDC, and many other organizations and individuals.

This latest environmental review – for the first time – sets the stage for President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, showing that the pipeline could make a significant impact on climate change by causing an increase in tar sands production. Thus, as both Robert Redford and NRDC President Frances Beinecke write, Keystone XL fails the climate test set for the pipeline by President Obama. The outpouring of public mobilization across the country in almost every state once again shows how deep the concerns about Keystone XL are in America. Once people learn about what tar sands is, they don’t want it crossing their homes and communities and they know there are cleaner choices for American jobs and energy than this dirty energy project.

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[freshwest]

5. Thanks, OS. Best article on this so far. Sorry the RED majority in OK and TX are for this. Sigh. n/t