Reject KXL Before Threat of More Destruction to Habitat and More Wasteful Expenses

TransCanada announced that it has given up an effort to obtain approval for a route through Nebraska for its proposed Keystone XL pipeline using a Nebraska state law that is likely unconstitutional. Instead, TransCanada will ask the state’s Public Service Commission to review and approve the proposed route.

The announcement is another win for the landowners in the path of the Keystone XL and the many Nebraska and national groups that have been fighting against the tar sands pipeline.

President Obama should use this opportunity to formally reject the federal permit for the Keystone XL.

If the President delays rejection, TransCanada, Nebraska state agencies, local communities, citizen groups and others could spend months or years and precious dollars fighting over the route for a proposed pipeline that might never be built.

Win or lose, TransCanada would be on the hook for the cost to state agencies to assess and review the proposed route. However, Nebraska’s small towns, rural counties, Tribal governments and civic groups have no way to charge TransCanada for the money they will pay to review, understand and tell the public about the risks and impacts of the pipeline.

If built, the Keystone XL pipeline would speed the destruction of the evergreen forests in Canada, and the dirty tar sands oil it would carry would make climate change even worse. It would threaten the fragile Nebraska Sandhills, and the Platte, Niobrara, and other Nebraska rivers.

The Keystone XL is a project that should never be built. President Obama should save both supporters and opponents time, money, and anguish by rejecting the federal permit now.

Keep saying NO to Keystone and YES to Wildlife!

 

About the Author: Duane Hovorka is executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation.