The U.S. State Dept. is in charge of deciding whether to issue a permit for the proposed TransCanada pipeline because it would cross the U.S. border as it moves diluted bitumen from Alberta, Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Cross the US border? How about cross the whole US?
The pipeline would also cross several major watersheds and the Ogallala aquifer, and against he backdrop of significant recent pipeline spills in Michigan and Montana — and 33 spills on the first phase of the Keystone line in just over a year — many are concerned about the potential environmental impact of the project.
And here’s the best part…
In testimony to Congress last month the director of DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, Cynthia Quarterman, said that current regulations were not designed for tar sands, that the agency has done no study on tar sands, and has not assessed existing regulations to see if they address the risks of diluted bitumen.[...]
Gooey raw tar sands is mixed with lighter chemicals (natural gas condensate) to make it thin enough to pump through pipelines. A recent report prepared by the National Resources Defense Council, Pipeline Safety Trust and Sierra Club warned that diluted bitumen is more acidic, has more abrasive quartz sand particles, and is moved at higher temperatures, significantly increasing corrosion dangers on pipelines.
[...]
Last year’s spill of a million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River in Calhoun County has demonstrated how much more difficult it is to clean up tar sands oil than conventional crude one it hits the water. Because it is so much heavier, much of the tar sands oil has sunk to the bottom of the river and is now breaking down and being released back into the water months after the spill was thought to be contained.
[...]
“We also need a study of the risks and cleanup challenges that tar sands spills create so new spill response methods can be devised and first responders can be prepared,” [Anthony Swift of the NRDC] said. “The pipeline safety bill does not yet address that problem.”
“It is ironic that some of the same Congressmen supporting the pipeline safety bill have advocated that Keystone XL be built before those safety measures are in place.”
Ironic is one of Congress’ defining characteristics.
[T]he House as a whole recently passed a bill that requires that a decision on the Keystone XL permit be reached by Nov. 1
The House, as a hole.
The House, as A-hole.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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